“Show Me the Innovation” on October 4 showcased a number of funding opportunities and research facilities in the area of Digital Innovation and Technology.  Participants traveled by bus to the three locations, and additional attendees joined via videoconference for the funding presentations.  It was a great day spent with members of the business and research communities.

The first part of the day was featured “Show Me the Money”.  Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Mitacs, NSERC Prairies, and Research Manitoba gave short presentations follow-up by a time for question and answers.  Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) was also able to participate in answering questions from interested attendees.

The remainder of the day featured “Show Me the Research”, where researchers guiding participants through a tour of their institution’s research facility.

University of Manitoba 

The digital agriculture team from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences kicked off the tour at the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Discovery and Learning Complex at Glenlea Research Station. The participants viewed their modern dairy barn featuring robotic milking and feeding systems.  Researchers demonstrated remote sensing applications via a multispectral drone and soil moisture sensors, and indoor GPS technology that tracks dairy cattle movement.

Red River College Polytech

The research team at the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing led the group on a tour of the Smart Factory, an experiential learning and applied research space with capabilities in metal and polymer additive manufacturing (3D printing), robotics and automation, 3D digital non-destructive inspection technologies, mechanical and electronics design and simulation, data acquisition, and much more.

Canadian Mennonite University

Business professor and social entrepreneur James Magnus-Johnston capped off the tour with a visit to CMU’s Centre for Resilience. The Centre is both a workplace and think-tank for resident entrepreneurs working towards environmental and social resilience. And at the Centre, through the Social Innovation Lab, entrepreneurs pose problems that CMU students engage.