[PETERBOROUGH] The Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster (GPIC) is welcoming 20 PhD students from Wageningen Universtiy, in the Netherlands, while they visit Trent University today as part of a 10 day tour of Ontario. For many students this will be their first introduction to Peterborough and the research that is underway in our region.
The student’s visit will include stops at several institutions including the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Guelph, Niagara Falls, Western University and Trent University.
With a goal of establishing international collaborations, the students hope to learn about the work and research being done locally in the areas of mineral recovery, renewable energy, water treatment and soil remediation. In the afternoon, the students will be presenting their own research followed by an interactive discussion with a variety of companies and organizations from the region, and Trent University and Fleming College researchers. The visit also includes a stop at SGS Lakefield to discuss the work that is being conducted at that facility.
“We are pleased to host such an aspiring group of students as they tour our region,” stated Dan Taylor, President & CEO of the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation and Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster. “We look at this tour as an introduction. This is our chance to shake hands and show off the world-class research that is happening in our region. This is the first step in attracting new researchers and potentially new investment to our community.”
In March 2011, the Innovation Cluster established a formal partnership with Oost NV (Development Agency East Netherlands) which will allow the Innovation Cluster to collaborate with water related businesses and researchers in the Netherlands on three levels; business-to-business, business-to-science, policies and strategies on regional developments.
The relationship provides an overseas portal for Dutch water based businesses seeking to launch commercial ventures in North American. This partnership will help facilitate trans-Atlantic collaboration for knowledge-sharing and new product development. This visit is a direct result of that partnership.
GPIC is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to support R&D resulting in commercialization of new technologies/processes that create high paying jobs and drive the Peterborough region’s Knowledge-Based Economy. GPIC undertakes the development activity of the Innovation Pillar of the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (GPA EDC) to create new wealth opportunities for the region.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Partnership with Oost NV
In March 2011, the Innovation Cluster established a formal partnership with Oost NV (Development Agency East Netherlands) which will allow the Innovation Cluster to collaborate with water related businesses and researchers in the Netherlands on three levels; business-to-business, business-to-science, policies and strategies on regional developments.
The relationship provides an overseas portal for Dutch water based businesses seeking to launch commercial ventures in North American. This partnership will help facilitate trans-Atlantic collaboration for knowledge-sharing and new product development.
Peterborough is a competitive region for water development due to our extensive water/aquatic research expertise, access to water research infrastructure, a significant private sector water manufacturing supply chain, and the ability to train a skilled work force in water technology and application.
Partnership History at a Glance
September 2009 GPIC first visits Holland to meet water companies, visit Wageningen University, and start discussion with Oost NV
March 2010 First Dutch Water company visits Peterborough
Summer 2010 Two Dutch companies work with Fleming College’s International Trade and Marketing students to develop market penetration strategies
March 2011 GPIC and Oost NV Formalize Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate
April 2011 Second Dutch company visits Peterborough
Summer 2011 Dutch intern works in Peterborough to map trans-Atlantic opportunities for attracting investment, and collaboration in water R&D
The Peterborough Water Industry
In 2010, the Industrial Transition Investment Program study identified over 19 companies active or interested in becoming active in water, as well as gaps and opportunities for our community to address together. See the full report results at http://www.gpaedc.on.ca/expand-energy.php
Our region is home to Trent University’s Water Quality Centre (WQC) and Institute for Watershed Sciences (IWS) – that boasts over 17 aquatic scientists, as well as Fleming College’s Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT) in Lindsay. These facilities lend themselves to the development of innovative water quality and wastewater treatment technologies and monitoring processes that when partnered with industry can help address water quality and treatment concerns around the world – and drive the local knowledge-based economy.
Posted by: Kate Young, Communications Officer
