An Ontario innovation cluster is being formed by Lakehead, Laurentian, Nipissing and Trent universities with the aim of accelerating the development and adoption of new technologies critical to the decarbonization transition.  

The one-year pilot project, led by Laurentian University, will focus on critical minerals, cleantech and electric vehicle batteries.   

“This cluster will enable researchers to benefit from a variety of connections, mentors and expertise, which will increase the velocity and impact of their innovative work,” said Tammy Eger, Laurentian University’s vice president of research, in an April 21 press release. “Our communities hold exceptional potential within these sectors and this funding will help us unlock that potential. It will allow businesses to strengthen their capacity to grow, enhancing economic development through collaboration.” 

Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), a provincial agency formed in 2022, will provide $294,000 for the initiative. IPON provides intellectual property supports and services for businesses and researchers to encourage growth and innovation in the province.   

Ellen MacKay, director of innovation development at Lakehead University, told CIM Magazine that Lakehead University faces similar challenges to its partner institutions when it comes to maximizing resources, finding expertise and building capacity.  

“Northern Ontario’s dynamic mining sector is booming, which raises questions regarding how best to undertake sustainable economic development while ensuring environmental protection and respecting constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Treaty rights,” MacKay said. “Sharing intellectual property capacity resources across a common geography and within common sectors will help prioritize potential commercialization projects to support and better utilize the existing ecosystem.” 

The funds earmarked for the cluster will be used to pay for an industry liaison officer, who will be shared among the four institutions to support commercialization efforts related to the new technologies by linking university researchers with the mining, transport and energy sectors and other partners focused on innovation.  

MacKay said the new position will help advance intellectual property literacy within the university, provide mentorship and professional development for existing research and innovation staff, enhance networking opportunities and support technology transfer services.  

In an April 24 press release, Trent University stated the initiative will allow the university to share its academic expertise in sustainable mining, environmental geoscience, biomaterials and clean energy innovations with its partners and industry sectors.  

“Universities have long been hubs of innovation—we are driven to discoveries that often produce new approaches, products and other research outcomes that have commercial value,” said Christopher Rooney, Trent University’s senior director, office of research and innovation, in the release. “This new collaboration and expert role will help realize and translate those ideas and research outcomes into economically important contributions in the mining, transport and energy sectors.” 

Nipissing University stated the project will foster Northern and rural innovation in critical minerals in an April 24 press release. 

“For Nipissing University, the collaborative nature of this pilot project means we will be able to benefit from the expertise of our partner institutions, build meaningful connections with industry and offer education on intellectual property to our researchers that will ultimately enable us to pursue more commercialization opportunities,” said Barbi Law, interim dean of graduate studies and research at Nipissing University, in the release. 

MacKay added the initiative aligns with Ontario’s critical minerals strategy by linking post-secondary institutions and their research and commercialization expertise to industries that need it.  

The critical minerals strategy aims to position the province as a global supplier of critical minerals. The strategy document identified the need for an increase in government collaboration with post-secondary institutions to address skills gaps in the mining sector, and said that more collaboration is needed between the mining industry and other partners to develop new critical minerals supply chains. 

“Ultimately, our hope is that this will help accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies in this sector,” MacKay said.