The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. (Supplied by SAIT)

By rdnewsNOW staff

$2.1M total package

RDC, Olds College getting provincial funding for tech equipment & research

Sep 21, 2020 | 12:08 PM

Students attending technology-related programs at Red Deer College, SAIT, and Olds College will soon have new state-of-the-art equipment to work with.

Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation Doug Schweitzer announced funding for these schools to lead research into areas like 3D printing, clean energy, and smart agriculture.

Red Deer College is getting almost $150,000 for its Integration of Alternative Energy Lab while Old College is getting $1 million for agriculture equipment, sensors, devices, and computers for its Smart Agriculture Applied Research Program.

Schweitzer says, for him, it all boils down to a simple concept.

“I came to Alberta as a young professional because it was the place of opportunity, it was the place where you could get ahead – it didn’t matter who your parents were, where you came from – if you came to Alberta, you could get ahead because you’re willing to work hard and get ahead. The younger generation is looking for those exact same opportunities.”

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With many companies developing new technologies where you can, as an example Schweitzer gave, order coffee from your phone, it is more important than ever to ensure Albertans are getting trained in advanced tech.

In Calgary, SAIT is getting $1 million to expand its applied research training programs.

“A key part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan is preparing our grads for jobs in the real world,” says Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicholaides. “By focusing on innovation and research, this announcement will help our post-secondary institutions ensure our students have the skills they need in a future economy.”

“This is not new money. This grant is less than 1% of the cuts already made to Alberta’s institutions over 2019 and 2020. This grant will not replace the over 3,500 jobs lost this year alone,” said NDP Advanced Education Critic David Eggen.

“Alberta’s post-secondary institutions are key to the economic recovery of our province, and the UCP are making our institutions fend for themselves. This will result in higher tuition costs and diminishes the ability of these institutions to support staff and students in their capacity to drive innovation and prosperity.”

Last week, the provincial government announced $9 million in funding for the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute run out of the University of Alberta.