Lambton College is collaborating with three others to help regional bio-cleantech companies with their research and commercialization efforts.
Creation of the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network (CBARN) was made possible in part through a $3-million investment under FedDev Ontario.
Lambton College VP of Research and Innovation Mehdi Sheikhzadeh is looking forward to the partnership and said it'll be beneficial for local companies.
"Biofuels, biomaterials, biochemicals and natural health products are some of the focuses that we have," said Sheikhzadeh. "We are targeting to work with at least 65 companies collectively between all colleges through the network in the next two years. That will result, potentially, in 110 permanent jobs for southern Ontario."
Sheikhzadeh said the network is expected to lead to the development of 80 technologies.
They'll focus on things like new low-carbon processes and products, greenhouse gas reduction and other environmental benefits. That could include materials for water bottles, construction, pharmaceuticals, and the auto industry.
Sheikhzadeh said they've started the intake process for interested companies, noting Lambton College is no stranger to this type of work.
"We've been working with companies for the past ten years at least," he said. "We established the Bioindustrial Process Research Centre in 2016. The college also established the Centre of Excellence for Energy and Bioindustrial Technologies in 2018. So, the capacity has been built incrementally at the college. We've worked with over 350 companies in the past ten years in this domain."
Fanshawe, Mohawk and Loyalist colleges are also part of the network.
The total investment for CBARN is around $9.4 million.
At @LambtonCollege today on behalf of @FedDevOntario Minister @HelenaJaczek announcing $3M for the Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network. This will see colleges, including Lambton and @FanshaweCollege, work w/ 65 sm. businesses to develop innovations in GHG reduction. pic.twitter.com/katzW9N7by
— Peter Fragiskatos (@pfragiskatos) July 27, 2022
