Our Strategic Direction

Niagara College Strategic Research Plan 2009-2014

Strategic research plans at Niagara College are made within a regional context that aligns with the priorities and goals of the Niagara Region, and more generally with those of the province of Ontario. Niagara Research’s role in research and innovation activities arises out of its mandate to support regional economic development. We do this through the provision of well-trained and knowledgeable graduates, support for new development through partnerships and relationships to stakeholder groups, and, more recently, through industry-led applied research and development activities.

Strategic research priorities are established annually by the Research and Innovation division in consultation with the Vice-President, Corporate Services and the College’s Executive Team. Current strategic research priorities are set in the context of the Niagara College Strategic Directions for 2009-2014, and in the context of Niagara Region priorities and economic development plans.

Following are key elements of context for college research activities for the period of 2009-2014.

• Economic development depends on innovation, or the adoption of new knowledge, science or technology to make changes, develop new or improved products / processes, and enhance business models.
• Niagara College has the mandate and the capacity to help industry, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), innovate through research and development activities. SMEs generally do not have the time or resources to conduct applied research that will help them innovate and are quick to turn to the College for help.
• Increasing awareness is being paid to colleges and their role in research, development, and commercialization support by governments, granting councils, and other funding organizations.
• Increasing awareness is being paid to the specific needs of colleges for research administrative support, release time and other support for faculty to conduct research, and support for short term industry-led research projects designed to solve problems or meet short term goals.
• Colleges are increasingly developing research units across Canada, although the structures are modest, as colleges are not funded through their basic grants to support research, unlike universities. Niagara College has a well-established, albeit lean, research administration infrastructure, and policy framework for the conduct of research.
• Niagara College sees its knowledge transfer priority in applied research through research teams of industry, faculty, and students. Student teams are diverse, mainly undergraduate and cross-disciplinary in nature.
• There is a growing acceptance among universities of college-based research and the complimentary nature of college applied research. It is a goal of Niagara Research to proactively seek out university collaboration in areas that make sense to both the college and the university.
• Niagara College was one of the six pilot projects under the NSERC College and Community Innovation program, which has now been made a permanent program of the Canadian government with initial funding of $48 million over 5 years. Niagara College is well positioned for the permanent fund with a highly successful pilot, and a clear direction for the next stage in capacity building to support industry-led applied research in land use planning and management.
• Niagara College is a founding member of CONII, the Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation, funded by the Ministry of Research and Innovation’s Ontario Research Commercialization program
• Niagara College has been successful in applications for grants to the Ontario Centres of Excellence that support collaborative research and development with industry partners through the involvement of faculty and students.
• Niagara College has been active in advocacy committees for college-level research at both the national level (ACCC – National Applied Research Advisory Committee), and the provincial level (Applied Research Committee of Colleges Ontario, and CONII).