Niagara College’s Research and Innovation division has been granted its third Technology Access Centre (TAC) with an investment of $1.75 million over five years, from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), expanding its capacity to support industry innovation across Ontario and beyond.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, as part of an overall $29.8 million investment from NSERC’s College and Community Innovation program.

“These researchers aren’t just imagining the future–they’re building it,” noted Joly. “Their work covers topics such as pandemic readiness and cutting-edge technology, and it reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to driving innovation, strengthening the economy and tackling the challenges that matter most to Canadians.”

Technology Access Centres (TACs) are specialized applied research and innovation hubs embedded within Canadian colleges and cégeps. Funded by NSERC, TACs are designed to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to state-of-the-art facilities, expert research staff, and technical services to help solve business challenges, accelerate product development, and improve processes. TACs support industry through fee-for-service, applied research projects, and innovation partnerships, enabling companies to reduce risk, increase innovation capacity, and bring products to market faster.

With this investment, the Horticultural and Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) joins Niagara College’s two other TACs – the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (WAMIC) and the Food and Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC) – as part of a prestigious national network of applied research centres.

HESIC provides applied research and technical services to companies innovating in the environmental and horticultural sectors, including controlled environment agriculture (CEA), greenhouse production, plant health and integrated pest management, genomics, cannabis cultivation and breeding, and sustainable growing practices. The TAC designation is accompanied by five years of renewable funding from NSERC.

“Securing this TAC designation for HESIC reflects the trust and recognition that NSERC places in our ability to support SMEs through applied research,” said Marc Nantel, PhD, vice-president, Research, Innovation and Strategic Enterprises at Niagara College. “Our team will now be able to scale our support to more businesses working on sustainable agriculture, agri-tech, and environmental solutions. We’re proud to further our mission of helping Canadian companies innovate and thrive.”

With the support of TAC funding, HESIC will broaden its impact by offering expanded CEA services, including integrated pest management strategies, variety testing, third-party validation, and commercialization-focused R&D.

“Our new specialized research greenhouse and plant growth facility is purpose-built to help businesses test, refine, and scale their innovations in real-world conditions,” said Kimberley Cathline, Associate Director, HESIC. “With precision-controlled growing bays, postharvest and analytical labs, advanced genomics tools, and a forthcoming Health Canada-licensed cannabis cultivation space, we can support a wide range of applied research needs. We also work with companies on soil and media amendments, fertilizer alternatives, and agri-waste diversion strategies–helping them reduce environmental impact while boosting productivity and market readiness.”

As a TAC, HESIC will offer its expertise to SMEs that are actively developing innovative, science-based solutions aimed at improving environmental sustainability and efficiency. Based at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, HESIC focuses on advancing new technologies and approaches through applied research collaborations, having partnered with hundreds of industry collaborators over the years.

Companies interested in exploring project opportunities with HESIC are encouraged to visit ncinnovation.ca/contact or contact David DiPietro, Manager, Business Development, at [email protected] to discuss their innovation goals and determine eligibility for support through the TAC.