Marc Nantel, PhD
Vice-President of Research, Innovation & Strategic
Enterprises,
Niagara College
Xavier Toby
CEO,
Axe Buildings
A unique network of Ontario colleges and universities is helping Canadian businesses facing increasingly intense competition to gain a strategic advantage.
Led by Niagara College, the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) boasts a network of 11 post-secondary institutions. Through their respective research and innovation centres, they collaborate with small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) to tackle their manufacturing-related challenges. This model leverages faculty, students, and state-of-the-market equipment, with funding from the federal and provincial governments. And it’s paying off.
Supporting economic development
SONAMI has worked with 379 companies across Southern Ontario and supported over 460 research projects. Through this work, it has created or maintained over 870 permanent jobs and engaged 660 students, whose learning experience has been enhanced by solving real business challenges.
Most SMEs, which comprise 99 per cent of businesses in Canada, don’t have the time, expertise, or equipment to research and develop new products. “Our work helps companies become more competitive, which creates more investment, allowing them to grow, not only in Ontario, but also so they can export their products, services, and technology across Canada and globally,” says Marc Nantel, PhD, Vice-President of Research, Innovation and Strategic Enterprises at Niagara College. “It makes sense to leverage our collective expertise to help commercialize products and support job creation.”
SONAMI identifies projects that foster clean growth and economic development in Southern Ontario through programs that support commercialization, firm scaling, and the development of innovative solutions. While not exclusive, SONAMI focuses primarily on emerging growth opportunities and industrial transitions in areas like zero-emissions vehicles and advanced manufacturing. Furthermore, SONAMI’s collaborative applied research and development projects contribute to greater diversity and inclusion in economic growth. Additionally, SONAMI helps SMEs commercialize their innovations and protect their intellectual property.
A model that works
“Companies that work with us are very happy with the results,” says Nantel. “They’re realizing new contracts, and it feels good knowing that often these organizations are hiring our graduates. We’re developing the future workforce and they’re getting the brains that solved their problem.”
We’re developing the future workforce and they’re getting the brains that solved their problem.
One of the companies that’s seeing results after working with SONAMI is Axe Buildings, a startup that’s revolutionizing how housing is done. “There’s a big push to manufacture offshore, but we believe that if we can build efficiently, we can create well-paying manufacturing jobs locally,” says Xavier Toby, the company’s CEO. “One challenge we identified was how to get our modular buildings from our factory to a job site.” Axe Buildings worked with Niagara College’s Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre for about six months and found a custom solution in modified shipping containers.
“If businesses are prepared to put in some time on the project, it’s definitely worth exploring,” says Toby. “There’s a lack of innovation in Canada compared to other countries, and networks like this create an environment that encourages innovative ideas and products, and job growth in Canada.”
To get started on tackling your manufacturing challenges, fill out the contact form on SONAMI’s website at sonami.ca/apply-now. The SONAMI team will connect you with one of its post-secondary network members, whose specialized capabilities align with your needs.
