Loyalist College’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis (ARC) has been awarded $150,000 in funding from the Government of Canada’s College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program – Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grant through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This grant will support the purchase of research equipment to enhance the ARC’s capacity to respond to industry and support innovation.
On November 5, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced investments to support 94 forward-thinking partnerships, including Loyalist College, to address challenges that affect all Canadians, locally and nationally. These projects will receive over $45 million through the CCI Program and the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF). The CCI Program is one of the largest vehicles for funding applied research at colleges, polytechnics and CÉGEPs across Canada. This research helps businesses innovate, grow and train the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs.
Loyalist’s ARC is an 1,800-square-foot state-of-the-art laboratory which provides industry with access to a hub of resources and expertise in clean technologies, including innovative supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and advanced analysis of commercially relevant biologically active compounds, with applications in the natural health products, beer, hops, cannabis and hemp industries.
In April 2018, Loyalist introduced Canada’s first Cannabis Applied Science program, an eight-month Ontario College post-graduate certificate, created in response to the burgeoning cannabis job market. The new program was the first of its kind in Canada to allow students to build on their Biosciences degree or diploma with in-depth skills to support cannabis product development, inform process optimization, and address natural product quality, consistency and safety.
Quotes
“On campuses across the country, colleges are pursuing exciting research opportunities and at the same time helping companies enhance their products and processes, bringing promising ideas to the marketplace. With research areas ranging from advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence, the projects being funded today will have real-life benefits for all Canadians.” – The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport
“Canada’s commitment to science supports our Applied Research Centre in doing what it does best – breaking ground with industry and elevating our students’ educational experiences. We’re very grateful to receive this grant for lab equipment to further enable our students, faculty and technicians to innovate with natural products and medical cannabis.” – Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President and CEO
About Loyalist College’s Applied Research and Innovation Department
Loyalist was the first College in Canada to have a laboratory approved to conduct research activities with cannabis under the Narcotic Control Regulations, as listed on the Government of Canada’s website. Through Loyalist’s Applied Research and Innovation Department, the College collaborates with industry partners in various fields on applied research projects, creating amazing learning experiences for students and faculty of all disciplines. The College has had success with funding support through Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) on a variety of projects. This allows Loyalist to increase capacity to work with local industries and businesses, support faculty who are committed to conducting research and to facilitating student research experiences. It has increased the capacity of Ontario industries to conduct applied research and attract new investors, stimulating innovative product development and job creation in the region. For more information, visit loyalistcollege.com.
