Federal Budget 2011 creates new opportunities for industry to work with colleges

Sheridan today applauded Budget 2011

For Immediate Release: June 7, 2011
Oakville, ON

Sheridan College today applauded the Federal Government’s Budget 2011 announcement for its recognition of the important role that colleges and polytechnics can play in advancing innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Three key strategic announcements in the Budget are of particular import:

• Supporting 30 new Industrial Research Chairs at polytechnics and colleges with $3 million this year and $5 million annually on a permanent basis starting in 2012/13;
• Providing $80 million in new funding to the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)to help SMEs accelerate their adoption of key information and communications technologies through collaborative projects with polytechnics and colleges; and
• Allocating $12 million over five years to support joint college-university commercialization projects.

“These additional funds will make it possible for institutions like Sheridan to expand our research capacity, develop new partnerships with industry, and support curriculum enhancements to ensure industry relevance,” said Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, President and CEO. He noted that the college is already actively engaged in applied research, with fifteen Fed Dev projects currently underway, and two NSERC -funded CCI projects that have engaged industrial and community partners. The college has also established strong research ties with leading universities such as Waterloo. “The University of Waterloo is engaged with us in our Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT), which is rapidly gaining recognition as a world-class collaboration centre,” added Zabudsky.

About Sheridan:

Sheridan College provides students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world. We serve 16,000 full-time and 35,000 continuing education students at our campuses in Oakville and Brampton, with a new campus opening in Mississauga in September 2011. Sheridan offers an innovative learning environment celebrated for academic excellence, applied research and creativity. Program options range from one-year certificates to four-year Bachelor’s degrees, in the arts, business, community service and technology fields. We prepare students for career success; 82 percent of graduates are employed within six months of graduation and 95% of employers are satisfied with the quality of our graduates. Sheridan is a proud member of Polytechnics Canada.