The federal government has announced more than $18 million in funding for research infrastructure projects at post-secondary institutions across the country.

The contributions, which are being made through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI’s) College Fund, will help these institutions obtain the state-of-the-art labs and equipment they need to attract, train and inspire the next generation of innovators, and to build research collaborations with public, private and not-for-profit partners. These partnerships will seek to address social, business, health or environmental needs of Canadian industries or communities.

Conestoga College in Cambridge is among the organizations receiving money. Researchers at the college have identified challenges that need to be addressed to help build and sustain Canada’s skilled trades workforce. These include high rates of injury, an aging workforce, and barriers to job accessibility for underrepresented groups.

Over the next 10 years, researchers at the college’s Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning estimate a shortage of more than 170,000 workers in the province.

Federal funding will provide CONSTRUCT: Centre for Ontario’s Network of Skilled Trade Researchers, Unions, Contractors, and Tradespeople with equipment to measure workplace demands and hazards as well as workers’ physiological and cognitive responses.

The government says the information collected will help the research team collaborate with a range of partners to develop real-world solutions to reduce the risk of injury and attract a more diverse workforce.

Additional funding is being provided to establish the Agriculture Biotechnology Cool Climate Centre at Nova Scotia Community College in Middleton, N.S. Researchers at the centre will work with local businesses to develop short-term solutions for disease mitigation and climate adaptation.

“Our communities benefit from the partnerships Canadian colleges foster across public, industry and non-profit organizations,” said Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation. “CFI support helps bolster their capacity to conduct meaningful research that positions them to develop the innovative products, processes and services the country needs to stay competitive.”

The CFI College Fund supports projects that enhance the capacity of Canadian colleges to carry out applied research and technology development and foster partnerships that generate innovative products, processes or services that address the social, business, health or environmental needs of a Canadian industry or community.

Projects supported through the fund will also receive additional funding through the CFI’s Infrastructure Operating Fund to cover the costs of operating the research infrastructure.