Niagara College is pleased to announce a significant investment aimed at advancing manufacturing in southern Ontario.

On October 16, 2024, Niagara College received $4 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to support the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI). This announcement was made by Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, along with Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructureand Communities and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.

With this new funding, SONAMI will further build the capacity of southern Ontario’s advanced manufacturing sector with an emphasis on clean growth through programming that supports commercialization, scaling of firms, and fostering innovation solutions. In addition, the network plans to develop the future workforce and talent by engaging and training students on real-world projects with participating companies, acting as a hub for clients and partners to support industry needs through referrals and collaborations. The project will support federal key priorities by collaborating with partners and stakeholders to drive emerging growth opportunities and industrial transition in areas such as zero-emissions vehicles, clean growth, and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, the collaborative applied research and development projects will enhance greater diversity and inclusion in economic growth.

SONAMI plans to build upon the current regional ecosystem to bring robust technical and industry leadership, equipment, expertise, and solutions to manufacturers across southern Ontario. Through a “single-window” service model, SONAMI partners will offer specific expertise areas, allowing companies to access a broad range of knowledge and resources across its network.

Since 2016, SONAMI has been awarded $21.3M from FedDev Ontario, leveraging over $31.5M from its network members and industry partners (companies within the manufacturing industry). The wide-spanning network completed over 460 applied research projects, with over 379 industry partners (companies), creating and/or maintaining over 871 permanent jobs, engaging over 660 students in experiential learning opportunities.

With the newly awarded funding, the network aims to support up to 90 businesses as they work to commercialize 45 new products, services, or processes. In addition, its goal is to create and maintain an additional 90 permanent and temporary jobs and provide skills training and development for 130 students and researchers, preparing young Canadians for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

The Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) is a Niagara College-led network of postsecondary institutions, who, through their respective Research and Innovation Centres, collaborate with small- and medium-sized companies to tackle their manufacturing-related challenges. SONAMI leverages faculty, students, and state-of-the-market equipment, together with funding from the Federal Government, to support manufacturing in Canada. Learn more at sonami.ca.

For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring ourinvestment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 100 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.