Seneca Centres for Innovation: A New Framework to Enhance our Impact on the Regional Innovation Ecosystem

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For nearly 20 years, Seneca has responded to the regional need for applied research support through faculty-led research. Over the last three years, Seneca has focussed on identifying key research areas based on alignment with academic programming, local industry need, and cross-disciplinary opportunities providing the greatest benefit to our faculty, students and industry partners. Seneca's applied research expertise lies in six areas: software and data sciences, life sciences, design and animation, engineering, health sciences, and business and finance, and this has led to the establishment of three research centres; Seneca Centre for Innovation in Life Sciences (SCILS), Centre for Innovation in Artificial Intelligence Technologies (CIAIT) and Seneca Centre for Health and Social Innovation (SCHSI). Two other centres are currently in development: Centre for Innovation in Resilient, Circular and Localized Economy (CIRCLE) and Seneca Centre for Innovation in Pervasive Computing (SCIPC). Environmental scans of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), reveal strengths and an innovation focus in life sciences, technology, advanced manufacturing, agri-food and green initiatives which correspond with four Seneca research centres: SCILS, CIAIT, SCIPC and CIRCLE. The primary objectives of Seneca's Mobilize proposal are to support faculty-led, industry-driven applied research with students, continue the funding for existing research centres, provide funding for new centres needed by partners, and build an inclusive and equitable research enterprise. The grant offers stability and flexibility through predictable five-year base funding for a wide range of uses, from faculty course off-loads and student salaries, to business development, conference participation and knowledge dissemination. It will partially fill the void left by the elimination of key NSERC programs (Engage, IE and IRCC) permitting Seneca to maintain a sustainable capacity to serve new partners and meet the growing industry demand for applied research, while securing longer term continuous funding. It will enable Seneca to promote the formalized centres and firmly establish them in the regional innovation ecosystem. Finally, it will facilitate a broad range of research than was previously possible, since Mobilize welcomes health sector and not-for-profit organizations as research partners.