McMaster University is involved in the local supercluster.
Rob Baker, the school’s vice president of research, called the initiative a “win-win” for everybody involved.On Thursday, federal Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains named five technology groups in Canada that will each get a piece of up to $950 million in what the government calls its “superclusters” initiative, a high-tech collaboration strategy aimed at fostering growth and creating jobs.The supercluster concept is designed to bring together small, medium-sized and large companies, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations to generate forward-looking, job-creating ideas and innovationOntario’s Advanced Manufacturing supercluster, based in Hamilton, Toronto and Waterloo, will connect technology strengths to the manufacturing industry to prepare for the economy of tomorrow.LISTEN: Huzaifa Saeed, policy and research analyst with the Hamilton Chamber of CommerceClick here to viewThe money will be distributed over five years to the winners, which will be required to match the federal funding they receive, dollar for dollar.McMaster University, one of the partners in the project, is investing $25 million over the next five years.“We are going to be able to bring our manufacturing processes in Southern Ontario and in Hamilton to a level that is competitive with other parts around the world,” Baker said.He adds McMaster will utilize its close to $60 million in equipment and infrastructure to help make the advanced manufacturing supercluster a success.ArcelorMittal Dofasco president and CEO Sean Donnelly said the company believes its supply chain will benefit greatly from the supercluster, including its customers.With files from the Canadian Press