KINGSTON, ON, April 29, 2019 /CNW/ - Changes to federal funding for science and innovation are good news for CMC Microsystems (CMC) and Canada's National Design Network® (CNDN), says Gord Harling, President & CEO of CMC. "The increase to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Major Science Initiatives (MSI) Fund announced today is a significant investment and will directly benefit the CNDN," he says.
CNDN, managed by CMC and hosted by Queen's University, is recognized by CFI as a Major Science Initiative. Enhancements to CFI's MSI program will directly benefit seven of Canada's 16 MSIs.
"We welcome changes that enhance Canada's innovation ecosystem and help address gaps in CMC's funding," says Dr. Bozena Kaminska, Chair of the Board of CMC. "We applaud Minister Kirsty Duncan for this investment in research, and we continue to look for other strategic partners, federal and provincial, to help us address their science and innovation priorities."
"These recent developments mean our services for developing micro-nanotech innovations will continue to be accessible to more than 10,000 academic and industry researchers in the coming year," Mr. Harling observes. "But we are also adapting to ensure long-term sustainability of our programs."
CMC is developing new revenue sources for base operating funds. These include expanding services to industry, developing technology platforms for use in Canada, extending design software access services to U.S. universities, and performing contract R&D where there are gaps in Canada's innovation ecosystem. The organization will remain not-for-profit, supporting research in advanced technologies, especially hardware that powers everything from the Internet of Things to products with embedded Artificial Intelligence.
"We're sharpening the focus on growing our user base and simplifying our service delivery to give researchers more choices while still being affordable," Mr. Harling says. "We're also enhancing our areas of strength – design software, fabrication of research prototypes and lab services. We will continue our efforts in training, support, and best practices, because these underpin our success in creating highly skilled personnel for industry."
"Researchers and entrepreneurs across Canada have been extremely active in advocating for the value of our offerings, and our new mission reflects that feedback," Mr. Harling adds. "As we look to the future, our mission is to support research and we will continually improve delivery of services to our clients."
Mr. Harling is available for interviews in both English and French.
About CMC Microsystems:
CMC Microsystems works with researchers and industry across Canada's National Design Network®, providing access to world-class tools, technologies, expertise and industrial capabilities for designing, prototyping and manufacturing innovations in microsystems and nanotechnologies. CMC reduces barriers to technology adoption by creating and sharing platform technologies.
www.cmc.ca
Backgrounder: CMC Microsystems impact
CMC Microsystems provides low-cost, simplified access to tools, engineering services and manufacturing capabilities (CAD, FAB, LAB), to 10,000 researchers at 66 postsecondary institutions across Canada's National Design Network.
In 2017-2018 CMC's support of research, innovation, education and training has resulted in:
- 3,780 publications
- 110 national/international awards
- 1,040 graduate and undergraduate courses taught
- 8,820 students trained
- 300 new technology prototypes developed
- 500 collaborations with industry valued at $26M
- 15 startups created
- 160 patents applied for/issued
- 780 highly trained individuals hired by industry
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SOURCE CMC MICROSYSTEMS
Gord Harling, President & CEO, P: +1. 613. 449. 6820, E: [email protected]
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