Niagara College is getting $14 million from the federal government to expand the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation, known as SONAMI.
Vice-President of Research and Innovation for Niagara College Marc Nantel explains what the network is. "SONAMI is a network of several post-secondary institutions in and around Lake Ontario that have great expertise and equipment and facilities to help manufactures and folks related to manufacturing develop new products, adopt new technology, and become generally more innovative."
SONAMI is spearheaded by Niagara College and includes partnerships with Mohawk College, Sheridan College, McMaster University, Conestoga College, Fanshawe College, and Lambton College.
The funding will allow SONAMI to add three more post-secondary institutions to the network.
This morning's announcement was made by Minister of Infrastructure and Communities François-Philippe Champagne. "The Government of Canada proudly supports our advanced manufacturing sector, a pillar of the regional ecosystem in southern Ontario. SONAMI’s award-winning partnership model offers a single window for smaller manufacturers to access leading-edge expertise and facilities. With this FedDev Ontario funding, SONAMI will expand its network, allowing even more businesses to access the support they need to innovate, grow and compete in the economy of the future."
240 businesses are expected to benefit from the expanded technical knowledge and expertise.
The project will also create and maintain more than 550 jobs and providing new training opportunities for 360 students and researchers.