North Bay’s Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping (ICAMP) has received $1 million in provincial funds to get its newest division off the ground.
The Concept Development Lab, which was announced last year, will help business startups define their business idea, conduct market research, and develop a prototype.
The 5,000-square-foot facility will have equipment for prototyping, and staff will be available to provide guidance on everything from prototyping to funding assistance.
Over the next three years, the lab will complete technology audits and help businesses develop and commercialize new or modified products, processes, services or technologies.
The project is expected to create 44 jobs and maintain 60 more.
Established in 2012, ICAMP is an applied research facility that helps companies with manufacturing and prototyping new products and processes.
The facility houses equipment including precision 3D scanners, CNC machines, robots, microscopy, design and simulation software, and additive manufacturing equipment, which helps with product design, prototyping, materials testing, and more.
In 2020, ICAMP completed 25 applied research projects – the highest single-year tally in its nine years of operation.
Funding for its new lab was part of a larger announcement of $2.8 million for the North Bay college.
Another $750,000 will help establish an Indigenous Clean Water Learning Lodge.
It will offer training and education programming on the delivery of clean water for First Nations communities. Once completed, it will feature a fully operational water treatment facility and demonstration lab. It’s expected to create 25 jobs.
Another $1,000,920 will go toward a Digital Public Safety Centre at Canadore.
ThinkOn, an Etobicoke-based firm that specializes in cloud computing services, will develop a secure facility to host a Secret Cleared Security Operations Centre, which will identify and resolve security events and incidents.
It will also include a Digital Evidence Management Archive, which will manage content and archive evidence for public safety agencies and groups in Ontario and Canada.
It’s expected to create 28 jobs over two years.
The final $25,000 will go toward an information sessions to help educate seniors on financial literacy and promote awareness of elder abuse among seniors.
