Winnipeg Transit will soon begin daily service using up to four battery-electric transit buses developed and designed by a consortium that includes researchers from Red River College.
The New Flyer Xcelsior^® buses will be in daily operation on a 40-kilometre, two-hour route starting at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, making its way through the city centre to East Kildonan, and returning to the airport.
The route was chosen because its length, speeds and loads are typical of many central business district routes in Canada and the U.S., and because the Winnipeg Airports Authority permitted New Flyer to install a high-power charging station at the airport – a project that was completed in October 2014.
“We didn’t want an easy route,” says Paul Soubry, New Flyer’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We encouraged Winnipeg Transit to select a route that would showcase the technological capability of our Xcelsior battery-electric bus in a real life in-service situation that will experience a wide range of weather and traffic conditions.”
The project is a continuing collaboration between New Flyer, the Province of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Red River College and Winnipeg Transit. The project team – which started the effort in May 2011 – received additional assistance in October 2012 when Sustainable Development Technology Canada announced funding of $3.4 million to take the project from prototype to full production and field demonstration, and in 2014 when Manitoba’s Vehicle Technology Centre provided an additional $94,000 for charging station development.
“This electric bus project is a key element in Manitoba’s Clean Energy Strategy and supports our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of effective, cost-efficient, renewable energy,” said Eric Robinson, Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro. “Our innovative advancements in clean energy technologies have contributed to our placement as the first in Canada to employ the new, unique on-route rapid charging system, promoting affordable public transportation and electric vehicle knowledge which will create jobs.”
Zero-emission battery-electric propulsion transit buses are expected to significantly reduce green house gas and smog-causing criteria air contaminant emissions. In Manitoba, where the electrical grid is highly renewable (nearly 100 per cent of electricity is generated without burning fuel), the use of electric propulsion buses are expected to translate to an estimated reduction of 160 tonnes of green house gas emissions, per bus, per year.
“Red River College is proud to support community economic development as a participant in this project,” said David Rew, Interim RRC President. “Our instructors, staff and students have all contributed to the success of the consortium and we look forward to the zero emissions bus going into commercial use at many transit authorities across North America.”

Already a model of the potential for success through partnerships with community organizations, Red River College stands to benefit even further from a new pilot project aimed at strengthening communities through social innovation research.
Announced today by the Hon. Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), the new Community and College Social Innovation Fund will increase colleges’ capacity to engage in collaborative projects with community organizations and businesses to address such social issues as poverty, crime prevention, community safety and economic development.
“Our government understands that local community organizations are essential in addressing social issues like economic development, poverty, education and integration in Canadian communities,” says Holder (shown above, fifth from left). “The Community and College Social Innovation Fund will connect the innovative talent of researchers and students at colleges and polytechnics to meet the research needs of local community organizations to build stronger, safer, healthier communities.”
Administered through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the fund allows colleges and polytechnics to partner with community organizations and businesses to apply for funding of up to $200,000 (plus an additional 20 per cent to offset overhead and administrative costs) to undertake collaborative projects that address community issues.
The new fund will provide $15 million over three years in support of social innovation projects, which could take the form of products, processes or programs that create positive social outcomes for communities.
“Social innovation requires breakthrough ideas, applied research and community collaboration,” says David Rew, Interim President of RRC. “We welcome the government’s recognition that colleges like RRC are instrumental in making meaningful contributions to advancing solutions to issues that face communities, not only in Manitoba, but [throughout the globe].”
Holder made his announcement from RRC’s Roblin Centre, where he also met with Janet Jamieson, Research Chair of the School of Health Sciences and Community Services, to discuss her department’s Science of Early Child Development initiative.
Developed in collaboration with a host of national and international partners, the SECD web portal delivers the latest in scientific research to those offering early childhood development training programs, and to those providing frontline services to children and families around the world.
“We are delighted to have our SECD initiative acknowledged as a model for the kinds of projects that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities,” says Jamieson.
“We created a terrific online learning resource that is making a real contribution to the quality of education and training of parents, social workers, early child educators, nurses and other professionals working on the front line with children and families, not only here in Winnipeg, but across Canada and around the world.“
(Above photo, from left: Ken Doyle, Director of Research, Polytechnics Canada; David Rew, RRC Interim President; Pat Wege, Executive Director, Manitoba Child Care Association; Janet Jamieson, Research Chair, School of Health Sciences and Community Services at RRC; Hon. Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology); Lawrence Toet, MP, Elmwood-Transcona; Denise Amyot, President, Colleges and Institutes Canada; Rod Bruinooge, MP, Winnipeg South; and Brent Herbert-Copley, Vice-President, Research Programs, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.)
The Community and College Social Innovation Fund description is now available on the SSHRC website at the following link: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/social_innovation-innovation_sociale-eng.aspx#4

Don’t miss this applied research presentation by Said Hassan on the work he has done to assist a local health product manufacturer with product modification and development.
You are welcome to join us on-campus or via live streaming.
Date: Wednesday November 26, 2014
Time: 12:05-12:55
Location: eTV Studio B
Register to attend in-person: Click here
View via live-streaming: Visit this link at event time – http://blogs.rrc.ca/etv/streaming
Said will discuss his work on modifying and developing formulation of a liquid health product for a local manufacturer. In the context of this work, he will highlight some opportunities and challenges in conducting industrial applied research with external industry partners through the applied research platform at RRC.This session will be of interest to individuals in the areas of Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical QA-QC, Allied Health Sciences and other health related RRC programs such as nursing.
Presenter Bio:
Said Hassan (BSc., MSc.) has worked on several research projects including extraction and identification of rare seed oils, researching lipid profile of oleaginous microorganisms, biotransformation of lipids and synthesis of biologically active molecules. From 1997 onwards, he has worked in the areas of drug analysis, formulation and quality. Since joining Red River College in 2005 to help start the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing program, Said has been awarded four CARD grants, two of which involve working with external industry partner
For more info:
Claudius Soodeen (TEIR) – csoodeen@rrc.ca or 204-632-2147

This article is the third article in the College Applied Research Series by Ray Hoemsen, Director, Applied Research & Commercialization, Red River College.

• industry partners have the ability to use the research results for commercial purposes;
• institutions and their researchers are able to use the research results for academic purposes; and
• students are able to publish their thesis and acknowledge their participation on their resumes.

With the support of NSERC, the Association of Canadian Community Colleges has developed an “IP Toolkit[1]” which contains college-based IP-related practices and agreement exemplars. In contrast to the university sector, Canadian colleges tend to have relatively similar IP policies[2],[3], which generally exhibit the following characteristics:

• mandatory institutional ownership of IP developed with college resources;
• mandatory disclosure of inventions; and
• equitable sharing of any net returns from commercialization activity.

However, since there is a strong desire by colleges to see research results used for economic benefit in the community, rather than as a source of royalty revenue, coupled with minimal interest in patenting by the institution; there is little need to negotiate licenses or royalties, which can be a very time consuming (and often irritating) exercise for little (potential) return for all concerned.
As a result, colleges frequently grant commercial rights to research results to their industry partners, while retaining rights for academic (research and education) purposes. For example, under Red River College’s Intellectual Property Policy (A10), the College has mandatory institutional ownership of IP (to enable maximum clarity if a licensing situation may arise), including any IP which is created by students employed on the project. The policy is flexible enough to accommodate transfer of ownership, in the event the private-sector partner(s) require ownership. The College’s normal practise is to grant private sector partners commercial rights (royalty free), while the College retains rights for further research and education. As a result, there have never been any IP-related problems or issues between the College and industry since this practise was instituted in 2004. Industry finds the College to be very “IP friendly” and agreements on applied research projects are normally negotiated and signed rapidly.
There are several advantages to such college-based IP policy and practise commonalities, such as:

• industry partners working with multiple colleges tend to find similar practises dealing with IP;
• there is clarity with respect to IP ownership, in the event a licensing situation arises;
• IP does not create barriers to collaboration, fostering greater industry engagement;
• institutional IP protection (and thus legal) costs are non-existent or greatly minimized, since patenting by the institution is relatively rare;
• the time to negotiate project agreements is minimized, resulting in faster turnaround; and
• IP is NOT an impediment to industry-academic research collaborations!

[1] http://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/what-we-do/applied-research/ip-toolkit/
[2] Intellectual Property Policies in Colleges and Institutes. Ray Hoemsen, P. Eng., Red River College. Presentation to the Association of Canadian Community Colleges Applied Research Symposium, Edmonton AB. February 27, 2008.
[3] National Model of Intellectual Property (IP) Practices in College/Institute Applied Research Projects. Association of Canadian Community Colleges IP Working Group. Report for NSERC. March 2012.

Red River College’s commitment to social development was recognized today with an International Award of Excellence from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP).
The bronze award, presented at the WFCP’s World Congress in Beijing, China, recognizes colleges and polytechnics from around the world for their commitment to community engagement, diversity and sustainability — with an emphasis on international campus collaboration, best practices and technologies, and advancing institutional diversity.
“This is another outstanding achievement for the College,” says David Rew, RRC’s interim President and CEO. “Sustainability, international collaboration and diversity are  key focus areas for the College. Our staff and students make substantial investments in these areas, so it is very satisfying to receive this type of recognition.”
The College’s award application focused on international applied research collaborations relating to the Zero Emissions Transit Bus, the Science of Early Child Development (pictured above), sustainable infrastructure, and clean water technologies.
In 2013, RRC marked a decade of applied research, and in recent weeks was ranked one of the Top 10 Canadian Research Colleges for the second year in a row.
“From day one, we have been very engaged in sustainable infrastructure research in response to local industry demand and community needs,” says Ray Hoemsen, Director of Applied Research & Commercialization at RRC. “Social development is a key strategic heme for the College and related research initiatives have been advancing rapidly. We are also seeing the results of our relationship-building efforts with international partners.”

PITCH. VALIDATE. CONNECT.
Pitch’Day is Manitoba’s foremost quick pitch competition, where hustling entrepreneurs, academic innovators, and businesses with innovative new ideas come to pitch, validate, connect, and win awesome prizes!

Date:               November 12, 2014
Time:               4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location:         RBC Convention Centre
Register/Enter: Online | Competitor deadline is: Oct. 31, 2014
Pitch’Day 2012 and 2013 participants have gone on to accelerate their growth at Launch’Pad and Venture’Challenge, as well as raise angel investments and earn local and international recognition!
Who Should Attend?

• Entrepreneurs looking to kick-start their ventures.
• Anyone interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, or new business and investment opportunities!

By taking part in Pitch’Day you can:

• Participate in a fun and interactive event
• Network and build relationships
• Witness an exciting competition as entrepreneurs present their business ideas in two minutes or less to an expert panel
• Enjoy pre- and post-event networking receptions with delicious food

How do I Register?
Registration is open! Enter to compete or purchase a ticket to enjoy the competition!
 

For the second year in a row, Red River College has ranked among the top Canadian research colleges and polytechnics, climbing to sixth place on the list of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges, released this month by Research Infosource Inc.

The College posted $5.82 million in research income during the 2013 fiscal year, an increase over the previous year, when it ranked seventh with $4.37 million.

“Red River College has been a leader in applied research over the last decade, and we’ve seen a steady increase in research income each year,” says David Rew, Interim President at RRC. “Applied research is an integral part of our overall strategy — it contributes in a very productive way to our communities and the experience of our students.”

RRC remains best known for applied research capabilities relating to extreme climate and cold weather technologies and applications, but a number of other research thrusts are rapidly emerging.

“We have built our applied research enterprise in response to community needs, especially our partners in industry.” says Ray Hoemsen, RRC’s Director of Applied Research & Commercialization. “With the support of both the federal and provincial governments we’ve been further developing capacity based upon our core capabilities within the schools and their respective faculty, staff and students.”

International collaboration emerged as an evolving theme over the year, with two efforts standing out: the Zero Emissions Transit Bus project — a partnership that includes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) — and the Science of Early Child Development (SECD), developed with multiple partners and funders, including the Aga Khan Foundation, the World Bank, and others.

Earlier this year, a prototype electric bus developed in partnership with Mitsubishi, New Flyer Industries, the province and Manitoba Hydro successfully completed its field testing stage during one of the coldest winters on record.

SECD, meanwhile, continues to strengthen its reputation as a “living” online resource that helps educators, students and child care professionals better understand the impact of children’s early years on longterm development, often replacing expensive and unattainable textbooks in countries around the world.

Both projects give Hoemsen reason to be excited about the year ahead.

“In an increasingly connected world, there has never been more reason to collaborate on an international level. These are exciting projects that will not only benefit our local communities and students, but communities and learners the world over.”

“Green to Gold: Environmental to Financial Benefits of Composites”
CANCOM2015 has a focus on the development and commercialization of composite materials and technologies. This technical forum facilitates the sharing of information and ideas about composite materials, process technologies and structures by bringing together international participants from industry, government and academia. The event will commence with a one day special symposium (Aug 17) that will consist of industrial presentations and an exhibition combined with industrial tours of companies that produce composite parts for aerospace, ground transportation and civil infrastructure markets. A three day technical conference (Aug 18-20) will follow featuring a variety of international keynote speakers and technical presentations.
Call for Papers – EXTENDED DEADLINE IS OCT. 17, 2014

Cancom 2015 has a focus on research, technology and product development in emerging and growth sectors, in addition to the traditional fields of composites application – aerospace and transportation. This technical forum facilitates the sharing of information and ideas about composite materials, process technologies and structures by bringing together international participants from industry, government and academia. The event will commence with industry focused events on August 17. During this day, industry presentations, workshops and tours are planned. A three-day technical conference (Aug. 18-20) will follow featuring a variety of international keynote speakers and technical presentations.
The following session topic areas are being considered for CANCOM 2015:

• Aerospace
• Bio-Materials: Natural Fiber and Resin Composites
• Civil Infrastructure
• Ground Transportation
• Marine
• Nano-Materials and Technologies
• Renewable Energy
• Smart Structures
• Automated Processes
• Bonding and Joining Methods
• Fiber Materials
• Liquid Molding Processes
• Inspection Methods
• Materials Characterization and Testing
• Process Modelling
• Repair Methods
• Resin Systems: Thermoset and Thermoplastic
• Structural Design and Analysis Methods
• Composite Design and Analysis – Case Studies
• Durability, Fatigue And Damage Tolerance – Methods and Case Studies
• Product Certification: Approach and Case Studies

LEARN MORE ABOUT SUBMITTING ABSTRACTS
Conference Outline:

• Monday, August 17:
  Committee and sponsor meetings, industry focused workshops, tours to companies
• Tuesday-Thursday, Aug.18-20:
  Technical conference interspersed with keynote addresses and additional technology demonstrations/tours
• Tuesday:
  Reception combined with student competition, Executive/keynote speaker dinner
• Wednesday:
  Banquet at conference venue
• Thursday:
  End of conference at lunch time

Susan Crawford-Young, instructor and CARD-funded researcher explores answers to the question “How does an embryo grow and develop?”  This presentation shares what she has discovered about how physics relates to embryology through research regarding the characteristics of salamander embryo tissue.
Check out her presentation!
Want to attend presentations like this in person? Interested in delivering a presentation yourself? Have any content suggestions? Please contact:
Claudius Soodeen | csoodeen@rrc.ca | 204.632.2147