Saskatchewan Polytechnic will host the Saskatchewan Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at its Saskatoon campus.
The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) officially launched the centre Nov. 24, which coincided with the start of Saskatchewan Manufacturing Week.
“Manufacturing is going on at an unprecedented rate here in our province,” said Bill Boyd, the province’s economy minister.
He said the rapidly growing industry employs more than 28,000 people and has received billions of dollars in investment funding.
The provincial government said it is committing $1.5 million over three years to the centre and is working with the CME to develop its programming. Athabasca University and the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program are also involved.
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The United States grain and oilseed markets are currently dominated by two factors, said Ryan Ettner, broker with Allendale Inc. in McHenry, Ill. Ettner said those are the absence of a trade deal with China and the ongoing United States government shutdown.
“What we’re able to do is really produce a partnership with industry and Saskatchewan Polytechnic where we can really listen to their needs. We’re all about being student-focused and industry-driven,” said Larry Rosia, chief executive officer of Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
Boyd said the province’s manufacturers are leaders in satellite communication technology, dry land farming equipment and mining machinery and robotics.
“A large part of our manufacturing sector here in Saskatchewan is agriculture related. There are opportunities in terms of the competitiveness, in terms of productivity, all of those types of innovations that are important,” he said.
“I think this centre of excellence will certainly help with respect to that.”
– Contact william.dekay@producer.com
