A new hub for research and innovation

Remediation work is under way at the former human resources building, to make way for the recently announced Centre for Research and Innovation.

Within the next year or so, Corner Brook will be home to a centre that will support research and development, business diversification and a stronger culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

In July 2020, $8.9 million in funding was announced for the Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI), which will be housed in the former human resources building of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. Funding partners include the Government of Canada, the Provincial Government departments of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Advanced Education, Skills and Labour and Fisheries and Land Resources, the City of Corner Brook, as well as Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPPL). These investments are making it possible for Grenfell Campus-Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic (CNA), to embark on this major renovation and research initiative.

"CRI hopes to be a space of idea sharing and creativity," said Dr. Mery Perez, CRI co-ordinator. "It will be home to Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre, as well as its incubator and makerspace, which allows public access to workspaces and technologies such as 3D printers."

To date, CBPPL has completed the internal remediation, to make the building safe for further construction, she said, adding that external remediation work will take place as the weather improves. Once renovations begin, the building is expected to be refurbished within 10 to 12 months.

"Since this is an older building, several things had to be done to it to prepare it for construction and renovation," said Dr. Mery Perez, co-ordinator of CRI. "Health and safety codes are different now than they were when the building was operational."

The centre will support local and regional economic growth through innovation, research and training, and will serve as the hub of the regional innovation system. There are three related components to the project: 1) development of an Innovation Centre in downtown Corner Brook; 2) research on the use of waste byproducts of the mill and new product development; and, 3) the development of training opportunities by CNA.

"The primary goal and hoped outcome for the Centre of Research and Innovation project is to provide the tools, resources and research that will promote the development of sustainable and resilient communities in the western region," said Dr. Perez.

To learn more about CRI, contact Dr. Perez: mperez@grenfell.mun.ca.