REGINA, Sask. — A new two-year memorandum of understanding was signed Monday between Mitacs and the Petroleum Technology Research Centre.
The MOU was signed by Stephen Lucas, CEO of Mitacs, and Erik Nickel, president and CEO of PTRC, in Regina, with Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff also in attendance.
According to a news release from the organizations, the extension is aimed at turning Saskatchewan research strengths into economic opportunities.
They state the agreement will “connect industry-defined challenges with applied research, specialized talent and commercialization support to help Saskatchewan organizations test and adopt new technologies, improve productivity, attract investment and create skilled career opportunities in the province.”
They also said the agreement will create new opportunities to support Indigenous-led and community-informed projects, build skills and expand Indigenous participation in the energy economy through Mitacs’ Indigenous Pathways initiative.
This marks the expansion of what has been a nine-year partnership aimed at connecting industry to research talent.
To date, more than $12.8 million has been invested in 57 Mitacs-PTRC-supported research projects led by 32 professors and 113 student and postdoctoral researchers. The research has taken place across the country, including in Saskatchewan, according to their release.
“Building strong ties between innovators, students, and government is key to unlocking Saskatchewan’s next generation of energy technologies,” Lucas said in a statement.
“Through this collaboration, Mitacs and the Petroleum Technology Research Centre will help even more researchers and entrepreneurs turn ideas into commercial-ready solutions that drive economic growth, strengthen the province’s tech and energy sectors, and build the skilled workforce Saskatchewan needs to compete globally.”
“PTRC and our research partners have benefitted enormously from our partnership with Mitacs, with the development and retention of talent in the fields of engineering, geology, communications and administration,” Nickel said.
“PTRC has itself retained former Mitacs interns as full-time employees, assuring that the best stays in the province. Mitacs’ partnerships with industry and educational institutions are crucial in creating a Canadian advantage.”
“Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions are helping drive innovation across key sectors of our economy,” Cheveldayoff said in a statement.
“Through partnerships like this one, students and researchers gain meaningful opportunities to contribute to groundbreaking work while building the skills and experience employers need. We are pleased to see Mitacs and PTRC continue their strong collaboration to advance research, support talent development, and create economic opportunities for Saskatchewan.”
“This agreement reflects a strong and proven partnership that helps connect industry with research expertise to solve real-world challenges,” Kari Harvey, CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan, said in a statement. “Together, PTRC and Mitacs will continue to accelerate innovation and strengthen Saskatchewan’s global leadership in sustainable energy.”
