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By Rebecca Cohoe

More than $4.1 million in federal funding is being committed to Memorial’s Battery Facility to help support innovation and public engagement, provincewide.

Seamus O’Regan, member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, on behalf of Navdeep Bains, minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development, made the announcement Oct. 7 on Memorial’s St. John’s campus.

The funding is through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which is intended to support infrastructure development at Canadian universities.

Engagement and innovation hub

The funding will support Memorial’s vision for the Battery Facility as a provincial public engagement and innovation hub.

“The Battery Facility is strategically important to Memorial University as an institution that is both locally relevant and globally significant.” –President Kachanoski

The facility, and its tenants, programs and public partners, will play a vital role in the cultivation of new innovative programs and ideas around social and economic innovation; entrepreneurship; leadership and regional development; and public and civic engagement.

“The Battery Facility is strategically important to Memorial University as an institution that is both locally relevant and globally significant,” said President Kachanoski. “It is a key aspect of our long-term plans for fostering innovation and engagement in both our provincial community, but also nationally and internationally, for the benefit of the people and organizations of this province.”

From left, Colin Holloway, Seamus O'Regan, Premier Dwight Ball, Dr. Gary Kachanoski, Nick Whalen and Dr. Rob Greenwood.
From left, Colin Holloway, Seamus O’Regan, Premier Dwight Ball, Dr. Gary Kachanoski, Nick Whalen and Dr. Rob Greenwood at the Oct. 7 announcement.
Photo: Chris Hammond

Physical and virtual technologies

The facility will implement new physical and virtual technologies to make it easier and more productive for communities, both urban and rural, to connect with the expertise and resources of Memorial University, providing needed collaboration, dialogue and learning opportunities across Newfoundland and Labrador, and beyond.

“We’re connecting a broad range of expertise and abilities, from innovation leaders like the Genesis Centre to the talented graduate students who live at the facility, to committed and informed individuals across the province.” –Dr. Rob Greenwood

“This announcement is another positive step in our plans,” said Dr. Rob Greenwood, executive director, public engagement and the Harris Centre.

“We’re connecting a broad range of expertise and abilities, from innovation leaders like the Genesis Centre to the talented graduate students who live at the facility, to committed and informed individuals across the province. We believe that sort of collaboration is key to the future success and sustainability of Newfoundland and Labrador, and we’re committed to supporting it through the Battery Facility.”

For more about Memorial’s Battery Facility, please visit here.


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