Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Backgrounder

Details of the four projects announced for Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) are as follows:

• A $1,207,500 (non-repayable) contribution is being provided to support a project to help boost applied research in local clean technology, agriculture, fisheries, as well as in the marine and manufacturing sectors.

This project contains four distinct components:

1. A deployable micro-grid will be added to Dartmouth’s NSCC Waterfront Campus to meet global clean energy needs. The micro-grid will demonstrate wind, solar, tidal and other energy in an easily-transportable container unit.
2. Additive-manufacturing (3D printing) informatics technology will be acquired for Dartmouth’s NSCC Waterfront Campus for design and manufacturing systems. The post 3D metal printing technology will result in improved manufacturing methods for sectors such as marine maintenance and repair.
3. An advanced visualization lab for geographic lidar-based data will be created at NSCC’s Middleton Campus. The visualization lab will allow students and scientists to use computers and virtual-reality headsets to better understand coastal, seafloor and other terrain conditions and changes.
4. An integrated UAV crop-management system for precision viticulture will also be acquired for the Centre of Geographic Sciences in Lawrencetown. The crop-management system will use drones and sensors for real-time crop-scouting to yield bigger crops at lower costs.

The funding for this project is being allocated through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund, which helps Atlantic communities to develop competitive industry sectors; strengthen infrastructure; enhance environmental performance; overcome economic challenges; and build on their strengths to create long-term employment and economic growth.

• A $750,000 (non-repayable) contribution is being provided to support NSCC as it assists 40 Nova Scotia firms to increase their capacity in the fields of Human Resource Management, Occupational Health and Safety, and Industrial Engineering Technology. This will allow local companies to build the internal skills that they need to scale-up and grow while providing graduates with well-paying jobs in their field of study.
• A $123,266 (non-repayable) contribution is being provided to support the hiring of an advanced manufacturing technician whose focus will be to incorporate new technologies and methods in the curriculum to meet the evolving needs of industry partners and better prepare graduates for the jobs of the future. The new technician will work directly with NSCC Engineering students to help them develop new skills through industry sponsored research projects. The funding will also enable the Design and Innovation Centre, which creates technical solutions to industrial design problems for local businesses, to remain open during the summer months to better serve businesses year-round.
• A $75,000 (non-repayable) contribution is being provided to support entrepreneurial skill-building opportunities for NSCC students, staff and faculty across all 13 campuses from June 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018. Through added curriculum, workshops, business start-up tools, professional development, and mentorship opportunities, NSCC will play a key role in growing the entrepreneurial minds of the future and strengthening the Nova Scotia economy.

The funding for the last three projects is being allocated through ACOA’s Business Development Program, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises and not-for-profit organizations that provide support to Atlantic businesses.