How to Get Support for Polymer or Metallic Manufacturing Breakthroughs

The rapid increase in digital technologies and environmental concerns has put significant pressure on the Canadian manufacturing industry. Many factories wish to adapt their operations to smart manufacturing, but this strategy requires adequate financial support and expertise. If your metallic or polymer manufacturing company needs funding to evolve processes, assistance from National Research Council Canada’s (NRC) Advanced Manufacturing program or Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) may help.

What Is the NRC’s Advanced Manufacturing Program?

The goal of the NRC’s Advanced Manufacturing program is to situate Canada as a leader in smart manufacturing. This initiative enables transportation equipment manufacturers, such as aerospace, train, and ground transit, to harness digital technologies that support operations. By collaborating with the Advanced Manufacturing program, your company can access expert advice and state-of-the-art research facilities to develop innovative solutions to manufacturing processes.

The NRC takes a comprehensive approach with this program. By facilitating collaboration with government agencies, academic institutions, industry leaders, and supercluster groups, the program exposes Canadian organizations to diverse industry expertise. Its abilities in advanced manufacturing extend to the three following areas:

• Composite and polymer manufacturing
• Digital manufacturing
• Metallic manufacturing

How Does the Advanced Manufacturing Program Help Manufacturing Businesses?

By supporting industrial and scientific research, the Advanced Manufacturing program helps improve current techniques used for assembling composite, metallic, and polymer components in Canada. The program also promotes research and development (R&D) into new digital technologies that can enhance process data in factories and manufacturing value chains, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and embedded sensors.

The program investigates additive manufacturing and methods for converting industrial byproducts, biomasses, and waste into valuable items to address environmental concerns. Additionally, it seeks opportunities for lightweight transportation equipment. These strategies help collaborating companies create more energy-efficient, sustainable products while using fewer non-renewable resources. Some of the other benefits of the Advanced Manufacturing program include:

• Increasing the number of advanced technologies in Canadian organizations to raise their position in the global market
• Assisting with the adoption of emerging and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies
• Developing novel value chain networks
• Decreasing product time to market
• Elevating digital maturity

What Is NGen?

NGen belongs to Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters (formerly known as the Innovation Supercluster Initiative) and serves as the leading group of the nation’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster. This organization believes a digital revolution in advanced manufacturing can positively impact the lives of Canadians by providing high-quality products and rewarding jobs while fostering long-term economic growth.

The Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster helps Canadian manufacturing businesses compete globally by supporting the development of technologies and processes with the potential to have a substantial impact on the industry. It also assists manufacturing companies that facilitate the adoption and deployment of these technologies.

How Does NGen Help Manufacturing Businesses?

Besides workforce development and project collaboration, funding is one of the primary strategies NGen uses to support Canadian manufacturing. Through financial assistance, the program enhances the country’s capabilities in manufacturing, research, and technology. Some of the specific initiatives NGen funds include:

• Cluster building: This funding helps businesses working together in a membership-based organization to enhance their capabilities.
• Challenge programs: These initiatives involve the R&D of unique solutions to some of Canada’s most significant manufacturing issues.
• Manufacturing Supercluster projects: This financial assistance goes toward companies spearheading or participating in collaborative, world-leading manufacturing and technology efforts.
• Pilot project and feasibility studies: These programs seek to reduce risk with advanced manufacturing development and implementation.

Since each of these funding streams comes with a distinct set of eligibility requirements, Canadian metallic and polymer manufacturing businesses should research each project funding opportunity to ensure they meet the necessary criteria to apply.

Accelerate Your Manufacturing Grants and Incentives with Easly Advances

If your company qualifies for NGen financial support, connect with Easly to accelerate those funds. With Easly Advances, you can receive government funding on a schedule that suits your needs. This includes SR&ED tax refunds as well.

Get started today to learn more about funding for innovative projects at your metallic or polymer manufacturing business.