Building an Advanced Manufacturing Cluster in Rural BC

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Like many other rural regions in Canada, the Kootenay region in southeast BC has a history of natural resource**reliance and these foundational industries remain today. However, as a result of economic restructuring and an**increasingly globalized economy, natural resource industries must seek new ways to remain competitive. The**proposed program builds on over 15 years of industry-driven research and workforce development support and**is aimed at supporting the advanced manufacturing needs of companies in southeast British Columba. The**program will focus initially on the opportunities within the wood and metals manufacturing cluster in the**region, with the long term goal of expanding its reach to include emerging sectors (e.g. health related**prototyping) and industry partners from across Western Canada. The research agenda will focus on large**format additive manufacturing, integrated large format additive and subtractive manufacturing, wood and**metals bi-product utilization, and digital fabrication-focused technology transfer. Research, industry training**and educational programming will be delivered in partnership with the Kootenay Association for Science and**Technology's Centre for Metallurgical Industrial Development Acceleration and Studies (MIDAS) which was**launched in 2015 with funding from Western Economic Diversification. The MIDAS facility is a 6,500 sq. ft.**MIT-certified Fab Lab that houses leading-edge digital fabrication equipment including 3D scanning, 3D**printing, CNC milling equipment, wood and metal woodworking and electronics, and a suite of related**engineering, CNC and software applications. It is anticipated the research and workforce development agenda**will help industry partners to optimize business processes, decrease costs, enhance efficiency, and increase**productivity and competitiveness. Through links to educational programming and experiential learning, the**program will also promote development of highly qualified personnel entering the workforce with in-demand**skills upon graduation.