Manufacturing is critical to Canada’s economy, accounting for 11 per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP) and employing approximately 1.5 million Canadians. In today’s global marketplace, Canadian manufacturers face increased competition from emerging economies to produce high-quality, specialized manufactured goods at lower costs and in shorter time frames.
These pressures on Canada’s manufacturing sector demand a transformation of present factories towards increasingly agile, reliable, and energy-efficient machinery to deliver service-oriented and specialized manufactured goods.
The Government of Canada recognizes that companies need to develop, adopt, and deploy advanced manufacturing technologies and processes to be more competitive in producing high value-added activities and products.
On November 24, 2014 the Prime Minister announced a $5.8-billion investment in infrastructure projects across the country, the majority to take place over the next three years. As part of this announcement, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) received up to $60 million to build a new facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba as part of the Factory of the Future program.
The National Research Council’s new facility in Winnipeg will provide Canadian companies with access to various research tools, including process design, simulation and integration, maintenance, repair and overhaul research, and manufacturing life cycle assessment. In addition, the facility will offer a flexible manufacturing pilot train laboratory as well as support the development of advanced manufacturing systems engineering, and composites and biocomposites (highly strong and lightweight materials).
These investments will strengthen the Canadian manufacturing landscape by giving Canadian companies access to state-of-the art technology, NRC expertise and support in composites and biocomposites manufacturing, design and simulation, information and communication technologies, processes and systems. It will also assist Canadian firms in overcoming technology barriers, in de-risking the development of new technologies, and in deploying innovative solutions to complex technological problems. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing a skilled workforce, encouraging collaborative partnerships and cross-sector applications, and developing highly agile, networked enterprises to be more competitive in the marketplace and able to grow in the global economy.
Contact
Media Relations Team
National Research Council of Canada
613-991-1431
1-855-282-1637 (24/7)
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Twitter: @nrc_cnrc
