North Bay, Belleville and Toronto, Ontario, December 15, 2021 – Unifying genomics-based applied research, education and training across the province, Loyalist College and Canadore College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ontario Genomics to drive economic growth, improve quality of life and provide leadership to support key sectors in the province.
Students will benefit as new and enhanced work-integrated learning opportunities and genomics-based solutions will be applied to real-world business challenges. The three partners will work together to spur industry-led applied research opportunities in genomics-related fields for the purposes of advancing local/regional economies and advancing the overall global competitiveness of the participating industry partners. The overall goal of this partnership is to advance the bio-economy across the province of Ontario.
Loyalist College brings programming in advanced biotechnology and applied research capacity for key industry sectors to access facilities and expertise to advance innovative products and processes. The experience of Canadore College and its commitment to enhance applied genomics research through their state-of-the-art laboratory facilities will increase productivity and catalyze new product development. Together, with the resources and province-wide network of Ontario Genomics, businesses in the province will benefit from the opportunity to accelerate the development of their products or services through genomics-related lab to market advancements.
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“This collaboration with Loyalist College and Ontario Genomics supports Canadore’s firm direction for our applied research initiatives. It will enhance our students’ learning opportunities and lead to creative solutions for real-world challenges. We are a solution-focused institution, and our specializations in biotechnology and functional genomics will open the door to cross-training opportunities for students and employees, as well as opportunities to collaborate on applied research. We are pleased to be collaborating with these two institutions on this important work.” – George Burton, President and CEO, Canadore College.
“Our partnership with Canadore College, a leading Canadian college in the field of genomics, and with Ontario Genomics and its network, aligns perfectly with Loyalist College’s Bio Economy & Agritech cluster of programs and applied research. The synergies we create across the natural products and medical cannabis sectors and related industries will benefit regional employers and contribute directly to the economy. By sharing expertise, knowledge and research data, we’ll collectively provide students with invaluable work experience, while allowing them to contribute directly to innovative projects.” – Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO, Loyalist College.
“Now more than ever, we understand the power of genomics to unleash innovations across industries, drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for people in Ontario, Canada and the world. Genomics and engineering biology provides an opportunity to reimagine global food systems and sustainably feed the world in times of crisis and beyond. We are thrilled to be working with two strong colleges devoted to using genomics to advance Ontario’s bio-economy to provide a competitive advantage for Ontario companies.” – Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO, Ontario Genomics.