CORNER BROOK’S NEW CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

By Melanie Callahan, BA'97

Dr. Vianne Timmons, president and vice-chancellor, visits a local research site. This agricultural site is an example of the collaborative research that will be facilitated by the Centre for Research and Innovation. Also visiting were Dr. Mumtaz Cheemah, researcher and professor; and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills.PHOTO: submitted
Dr. Vianne Timmons, president and vice-chancellor, visits a local research site. This agricultural site is an example of the collaborative research that will be facilitated by the Centre for Research and Innovation. Also visiting were Dr. Mumtaz Cheemah, researcher and professor; and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills.PHOTO: submitted

CORNER BROOK will soon be home to the Centre for Research and Innovation, a partnership that will support research and development, business diversification and a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Located in the former Human Resources Building of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPPL), the renovation is turning heads in the city’s downtown core.

The centre, which is expected to open its doors this spring, is the result of a $8.9 million investment from the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and an allocation from Memorial University through its Emera Entrepreneurship/Innovation funding. Project partners include CBPPL, Grenfell Campus, the Corner Brook Campus of College of the North Atlantic, the City of Corner Brook and community sectors locally and throughout the province.

“The Centre for Research and Innovation will enable high-impact research and innovation for social, cultural and economic development in the province, while breathing new life into an important example of mid-century modernist architecture,” said Dr. Ian Sutherland, vice-president (Grenfell Campus).

Regional and community partners are critical to this initiative, which aims to provide the foundation to spark larger, longer-term transformational change in the western Newfoundland region.

The centre has three main purposes:

  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Forestry and mill-related research
  • Training through College of the North Atlantic programming as identified by CBPPL

The centre will include the Navigate Business Incubator (with co-shared workspaces, meeting rooms and professional offices for clients) and the Navigate Makerspace (with tools and technologies to help develop prototypes and explore new business ideas).

Some examples of the research that will take place include:

  • Ash and sludge research waste as agricultural soil amendments
  • Prototype and new product development
  • Bioeconomy logistics, moving forest products across an integrated industry
  • Greenhouse facility to use residual mill heat and by-products

The training component taking place at CRI will be led by College of the North Atlantic, and address the specific needs of CBPPL in human resources succession planning.