Red Deer Polytechnic has secured more than $1.6 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to advance healthcare technology and energy innovation projects, bringing new research jobs and improved services to central Alberta.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation announced funding of $652,008 for a project called Redefining Person-centred Care in Rural and Regional Communities in Alberta Through Technology and Data Innovation. The project will develop and test artificial intelligence, virtual reality, robotics, and advanced diagnostic tools for rural and underserved communities.
RDP has already lined up 28 partners for the healthcare work, including Bethany Care, Primary Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Acute Care Alberta, and Rocket Doctor.
A second grant of $992,109 will go to the Energy Innovation Centre at RDP, where researchers will test second-life electric vehicle batteries, simulate smart microgrids, and build prototypes of low-carbon data centres powered by renewables.
Across all 23 college projects funded nationally by CFI, the initiative is expected to create more than 30 jobs and train over 35 students each year. The Red Deer projects are part of a larger $118 million federal investment supporting 357 research projects at 68 postsecondary institutions.
“Red Deer Polytechnic has received more than $1.6 million in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support two projects of national significance, strengthening the Polytechnic’s applied research capacity in healthcare and energy innovation,” the institution stated.
