Issue link: http://georgiancollege.uberflip.com/i/1547013
DID YOU KNOW? Georgian engages in changemaking, research and development initiatives of all kinds. We worked with 95 partners on 74 applied research and social innovation projects in 2025 – driving growth, boosting competitiveness, and strengthening the economy. This included collaborating with multiple manufacturers and community-based organizations to ensure our region thrives. Manufacturing is fundamental to Ontario's economic future – creating high-value jobs, strengthening domestic supply chains and positioning the province to compete in a rapidly changing global economy. Georgian has a unique opportunity, being where we're located, to enhance operational efficiency in agriculture, manufacturing, and health care across our region. Success depends on extensive reskilling and upskilling to prepare the workforce, alongside public-private partnerships to develop scalable pilot projects. Grants we received from the provincial and federal governments, including $1 million each from the Ontario Research Fund and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, are directly targeting these goals. A result of this is our new Centre of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping, Ontario's first Industry 5.0 sandbox designed to help manufacturers and technology companies test and adopt advanced technologies in a safe, controlled environment. The centre was designated a Technology Access Centre by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and is assisting companies to shorten implementation timelines, reduce costly errors, and improve operational efficiency. This capability is particularly important to small and medium-sized businesses, which often lack access to specialized infrastructure, technical expertise, and independent testing environments needed to adopt technologies with confidence. The centre is ultimately strengthening local supply chains, empowering workers, enhancing collaboration between humans and machines, prioritizing sustainability, creating jobs, and positioning our region as a leader in industrial innovation. Manufacturing the future 23 Insights Report | Fall 2026