By Ian Ross
Spinning off fledgling businesses in northeastern Ontario which are related to welding and materials joining is behind a vision put forward by Northern College.
The college is awaiting a response from FedNor and Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. for money to investigate whether there is a business case for a research and development facility affiliated with the Kirkland Lake campus school of welding engineering technology.
To be known as the Materials Joining Institute of Canada, regional director Peter MacLean envisions a future research and development institute being a local economic driver that combines the college’s expertise in materials joining and metallurgy with local entrepreneurial spirit.
The study will develop the business case to determine what shape such an institute might take, along with the nature and scope of its relationship with industry. The information gathered will determine the next development phase.
The institute will be styled after Sudbury’s Northern Centre for Advanced Technolog, a successful non-profit corporation attached to Cambrian College, geared to high-end prototype and product development
Northern’s proposed welding institute has identified the aerospace sector, along with heavy industry, petrochemical/energy and automotive as its primary fields of interest.
Pending funding approval, the college has put out a request for proposals for consultants to develop a business plan for the institute and provide direction for the next phase of development. The college applied to the heritage fund and to FedNor for funding of about $99,000. FedNor has already committed $13,875 towards the project.
