$ 8.9M is the highest amount ever granted by a government institution to a university in Canada. According to the Member of Parliament of Waterloo, Bardish Chagger, this funding comes from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
A total funding of $27 million is intended for the development of this additive manufacturing lab. In addition, researchers will work with other Canadian companies on this initiative.
For Feridun Hamdullahpur, President and Vice Chancellor at Waterloo, “additive manufacturing is poised to fundamentally change the way things are made. Fueled by a culture of innovation and backed by broad expertise in the advanced manufacturing sector, [they] look forward to playing a key role with [their] partners in unlocking the potential of this exciting technology.”
The lab will aim at using innovative sensors to print with metal, creating quality assurance software and improving machine intelligence.
It goes without saying that this initiative will create new jobs in the region. We are talking about 80 new positions in manufacturing and technology. They will include fourteen professors, dozens of engineers, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students and co-op students.
On the other hand, while the university will keep progressing in patented technology, it also intends to invest in 18 new partnerships.