Alberta is investing $12.9 million to expand the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC) at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP).

CIM-TAC is an applied research and innovation centre that gives companies access to prototyping and manufacturing equipment, along with a multi-disciplinary team that helps turn ideas into market-ready products.

Employers in the province are increasingly seeking talent with the skills required to work in advanced manufacturing. Construction will begin in early 2025 and will increase the centre’s applied research, education and training capacity.

The expanded CIM-TAC will eventually offer work-integrated learning opportunities for about 450 post-secondary students and training through workshops and events to an additional 2,000 students annually by 2030. More than 500 junior and senior high school students will also take part in dual credit programs at the CIM-TAC.

“The funding to expand RDP’s CIM-TAC is an investment that will allow Alberta companies greater access to the tools, technology and next generation of skilled talent that will allow our industry to solve real-world challenges, develop better products and ultimately increase productivity,” said Darryl Short, CEO of Karma Machining and Manufacturing, and president, Karma Medical Products.