Northern Alberta Institute of Technology opens innovation centre for business

November 20, 2018 – The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) has opened a brand-new Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC), a facility that aims to help Alberta businesses become more competitive. 

As part of its mandate, PIC will imagine, develop and test new products, and make improvements to existing ones. Using technology labs and manufacturing spaces, it will also develop applied research solutions for industry issues, introduce new technologies to businesses, assess business practices and provide training. 

The 17,650-square-metre centre, which NAIT heralds as one of North America’s largest innovation spaces, was built with a $34.9-million contribution from the federal government’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund and is designed to encourage clients, partners and staff to collaborate.

PIC is the new home of NAIT’s Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability, Centre for Sensors and System Integration, as well as other emerging research centres.

“Albertans deserve great education and training opportunities,” says Marlin Schmidt, minister of advanced education for the Alberta government. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide research and learning opportunities for businesses and industry-focused learning and future entrepreneurs. All this supports a province with jobs and a modern and diversified economy.”