The University of Guelph will receive more than $30 million from the federal and provincial governments to enhance research and innovation facilities.
The funding will allow the University to undertake one of its largest-ever infrastructure improvement projects, involving six initiatives across campus.
“This critical investment will allow us to expand our world-class facilities, and the reach and impact of U of G innovations,” says president Franco Vaccarino. “The new spaces and resources will also facilitate the exchange of new ideas and opportunities, providing benefits for decades to come.”
About $26.2 million will come from the federal Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF). The province will commit $4.7 million and U of G will contribute $35.7 million, for a total investment of $66.6 million.
A key SIF project is a dedicated bio-carbon innovation and commercialization centre to be housed in U of G’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre.
As the first such lab in the world for enhancing bio-carbon manufacturing, this new bio-carbon centre will make plastics from engineered green composites and study their use in sustainable manufacturing, specifically the automotive sector.
Other funded projects are:
- A biosafety Level 2 production animal research isolation unit that will improve research and training, and will enhance researchers’ ability to identify and prevent threatening infectious diseases;
- A food innovation centre to accelerate research and innovation, foster industry partnerships and expand food manufacturing training;
- Expansions and renovations in U of G’s Library;
- Renewal and renovation of research spaces in the MacNaughton Building; and
- New research and collaborative spaces in the Reynolds Building.