NorQuest College to benefit from $95.3 million government investment in applied research and innovation

NorQuest College is excited to be part of a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing entrepreneurship skills and commercialization capacity across Canada’s academic and research communities. The Government of Canada’s announcement of a $95.3 million investment over five years, through the Lab to Market grants, will have a significant impact on NorQuest’s applied research efforts and partnerships, positioning the college as a key player in driving innovation and tech development.

A new era of collaboration in applied research

This funding, announced by the Honourable Terry Duguid, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, formalizes an ongoing network of collaboration between post-secondary institutions (PSIs) and organizations from the private, public, not-for-profit, and health services sectors. For NorQuest College, this represents a new era of applied research partnerships that will build stability and continuity in the network.

Historically, NorQuest has engaged in one-off collaborations with various institutions, but with this new initiative, those interactions will evolve into long-term, systemic partnerships. This ongoing collaboration will ensure that researchers and innovators from across the country have the expertise and resources they need to take their ideas from the lab to market, no matter where they are located.

Filling critical gaps in technology development and commercialization

In addition to expanding our network, this grant will enable NorQuest College’s Colbourne Institute for Inclusive Leadership to contribute unique expertise in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in technology development, scale-up, and commercialization. This expertise is currently a significant gap within Canada’s innovation ecosystem. By integrating IDEA principles into tech development, NorQuest will help ensure that new technologies are not only cutting-edge but also accessible and equitable for all communities.

As the demand for tech-focused applied research teams across the country grows, NorQuest’s capacity to provide complementary skillsets in these areas will elevate the entire ecosystem. This will further our mission of ensuring that innovation is inclusive, diverse, and accessible, making a lasting impact on both the technology sector and the communities we serve.

A collaborative funding model for greater impact

Under this new funding structure, the hubs across Canada will play a central role in providing resources and distributing funding to individual partners based on the needs of each project. Projects will be driven by customer demand—organizations seeking support for tech development, testing, validation, and commercialization. If NorQuest College is identified as a partner in a specific project, we will receive funds to conduct the work, which will help offset staff costs and enable us to expand our capacity to contribute to these transformative projects.

Looking ahead

The Lab to Market grant is an exciting milestone for NorQuest College and our commitment to advancing applied research, fostering innovation, and creating real-world solutions. Through this initiative, NorQuest will continue to grow as a leader in promoting inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility within the Canadian innovation ecosystem.

We are thrilled to collaborate with our academic and industry partners, and to continue supporting the development of technologies and innovations that will shape the future. This grant will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our goals and ensure that we remain at the forefront of applied research and commercialization in Canada.