NGen partners with Springboard Atlantic to bring advanced manufacturing supercluster to east coast

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) is taking its Canadian Advanced Manufacturing (AM) Supercluster to Atlantic Canada thanks with the help of Springboard Atlantic.

The collaboration is designed to increase the awareness of the AM Supercluster among Atlantic Canadian companies and research institutions.

Springboard Atlantic is Atlantic Canada’s commercialization network, representing the collective academic research and development expertise of 19 universities and colleges across the region.

“NGen is dedicated to leveraging the strengths of our manufacturing and technology sectors and our highly skilled workforce right across Canada to build world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities for the benefit of Canadians,” says Jayson Myers, CEO of NGen, in a release. “We want to ensure that Atlantic Canada can benefit from the collaborative project opportunities NGen supports, and that advanced manufacturing capabilities in Atlantic Canada play a bigger part in our country’s economic future.”

A general information session will be hosted via webinar on March 25, including an overview of the AM supercluster and how Atlantic Canada’s business and research communities can participate.

On May 28, Springboard Atlantic and NGen will host the Advanced Manufacturing Collaboration Day for Atlantic Canada’s manufacturing sector at Pier 21 in Halifax.

Outcomes for AM Collaboration Day include conversations regarding manufacturing sector challenges in Atlantic Canada, identifying potential projects that could leverage AM Supercluster funding or other non-supercluster funds, and an Atlantic Advanced Manufacturing Research Expertise and Capacity report, which will be made available regionally and shared via NGen to their membership.

“I’m pleased that Springboard has the opportunity to introduce NGen to Atlantic Canada,” says Daryl Genge, CEO of Springboard Atlantic. “We have deep research expertise and innovative businesses in our region that can increase sector competitiveness and sustainability while generating new economic opportunities for Canada.”

Manufacturing is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy, accounting for approximately $174 billion of Canada’s GDP and representing more than 10 per cent of the total GDP. With more than $354 billion in exports each year, it represents 68 per cent of all of Canada’s merchandise exports.