College and Community Innovation Program grant will support renewable energy research and commercialization

March 29, 2011

Oshawa, Ont. – Durham College announced today that it has been approved for $200,000 in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), enabling it to pursue further research and innovation in the area of renewable energy within Durham Region and its surrounding areas.

The funding, which will be provided over two years through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program, will help increase the college’s ability to work with local companies and community partners on the development of renewable energy devices.

The CCI Program, managed by NSERC in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, is designed to increase innovation at the community and/or regional level by helping Canadian colleges increase their ability to work with local companies, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, through applied research and collaboration.

“We are extremely grateful to NSERC for its generous support of our strategy to pursue an innovative research agenda that is designed to respond to industry needs,” said Don Lovisa, president of Durham College. “This funding will enable us to engage in applied research and small- and medium-sized business collaborations that will facilitate the commercialization, technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies focused on sustainability. This will ultimately result in a positive, long-term impact on the economic development of Durham Region and its surrounding areas through the creation of high-quality jobs based on technological innovation.”

The funding will further support two research projects already identified at the college in addition to several new initiatives including the establishment of a Faculty Technology Transfer Fund designed to fund technology transfer projects related to renewable energy technology development. Individual college faculty members or teams of faculty members will work with industry to transfer their technologies and expertise and assist with the commercialization of the new technologies.

In addition, the college will develop a marketing and outreach plan to support its work with new and emerging businesses that support innovation in the renewable energy sector and increase its applied research capacity by creating awareness of its renewable energy expertise.

-30-

About Durham College
At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2010, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 7,400 full-time post-secondary students as well as part-time, Second Career and continuing education students; apprentices; and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including business, information technology, energy, media, art, design, general arts and sciences, skilled trades, justice, emergency services and health care, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus is currently underway. Phase 1 opened in September 2009 and Phase 2, nearing completion, is creating expanded shop space for several building trades and will also feature two homes where students will learn about sustainable construction and building. Phase 3 will be a building focused on food, hospitality and tourism. In addition, a new Student Services building opened at the Oshawa campus in January 2011.

For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Allison Rosnak
Communications, Marketing and External Relations
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.