Sheridan to bolster local research and innovation needs in AI and manufacturing with $400,000 NSERC grant

Sheridan’s capacity to conduct cutting-edge applied research in support of industry and community needs in artificial intelligence (AI) and manufacturing has been bolstered by two $200,000 Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grants awarded from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

The NSERC grants will fund the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies essential for advancing innovation in AI and manufacturing for two of Generator at Sheridan’s research centres. In turn, this equipment and enhanced capacity will fill a critical gap for regional industry and community partners and increase their ability to innovate, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who lack in-house knowledge and capacity.

This includes the purchase of a high-performance 3D printer system for applied research of automated processes and medical devices at the Centre for Intelligent Manufacturing (CIM) to support companies developing medical applications and products for heavy industry. This new 3D printer system, combined with CIM’s advanced smart manufacturing approaches that leverage advanced analytics and connectivity, AI, robotics and advanced engineering tools, can help regional manufacturers maintain their competitive edge and advance Canada's overall manufacturing productivity. Companies that adopt 3D printing over more traditional manufacturing processes report increased output, capacity utilization and labour productivity through rapid prototyping, the design and print of more highly-complex parts, on-demand customization and production and reduced material waste.

Funding will also help Canadian companies thrive in the new AI-driven landscape by refreshing the core computational infrastructure at the Centre for Applied AI (CAAI). The grant will fund a system that offers much more graphics processing unit (GPU) power than CAAI currently has. GPUs can accelerate data processing tasks, such as sorting, filtering and collecting datasets, for intensive computing applications like modelling and simulation. This capability is vital in AI and can significantly speed up the training, testing and subsequent commercialization of AI models for partners. CAAI’s new system will bridge a significant gap in small- and medium-sized enterprises’ ability to adopt and leverage the full power of AI to automate business processes, gain insights through data science and analysis and engage with their customers and employees.

“We are thrilled to receive these grants from NSERC, which will enable Sheridan to further expand our capabilities in applied research,” said Andrea England, Vice Provost, Research at Sheridan. “This continued federal investment will not only benefit our faculty, staff and students, but also strengthen our partnerships with collaborators by driving innovation and growth in our communities and beyond.”

ARTI grants are part of NSERC’s College and Community Innovation (CCI) program, the primary federal vehicle for funding college applied research in Canada with five distinct grant types to support colleges. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, Sheridan received 15 grants from the CCI program totaling more than $3.1 million — vital funding that has contributed to meaningful change in our communities and among our partners. Previous CCI program funding awards include the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre’s designation as the first digital media Technology Access Centre, and over $3 million awarded to Sheridan through the Mobilize grant to accelerate community health and well-being through research and innovation.

About Generator at Sheridan

Generator at Sheridan is where purpose and passion unite the extraordinary research, innovation and entrepreneurship undertaken by Sheridan’s faculty, staff and students, working across disciplines and sectors, to drive meaningful impact for an everchanging world. For more information, visit sheridancollege.ca/generator.