Kingston, ON - Innovation Park, Kingston's Academic and Industrial research partnership, today welcomes two new members — CMC Microsystems and SWITCH Kingston — to its growing community.
"Both CMC and SWITCH are ideal tenants for Innovation Park," says Kerry Rowe, VP Research, Queen's University. "They've chosen Innovation Park because they see benefits to operating within that community, but what I see is that each of them increases the value of Innovation Park simply by joining it."
A multi-million dollar not-for-profit organization, founded in 1984 and now grown to a staff of more than 50, CMC Microsystems supplies researchers in academic laboratories with industry-calibre microsystems design resources, and access to state-of-the-art prototyping and testing technologies. They provide a national infrastructure that allows the products of academic research to be given the focus and rigour needed for application in the industrial sector. Under President and CEO Dr. Ian L. McWalter, CMC's services include computer-aided design tools and methodologies, prototype manufacturing in technologies sourced worldwide, packaging, assembly and integration technologies and fixturing and test instrumentation.
More than 650 faculty members in 42 universities across Canada use these tools. Their investigations bring new scientific insights and technologies are put to work in innovative configurations that annually lead to the formation of about 7 or 8 companies. This is a natural fit to the intent of the Innovation Park.
"I am especially pleased that CMC Microsystems are joining us," says Janice Mady, Director of Innovation Park, "because I know they looked carefully at other options in Kingston and then chose our facility. We offer many amenities, but CMC's decision was also partly shaped by the things you can't see, such as the bandwidth and systems access that an IT-driven group like theirs requires."
SWITCH Kingston is also a natural fit with Innovation Park. Originally created to bring together the numerous alternative energy initiatives in Kingston and the region, SWITCH has evolved into a network of dozens of businesses, research and educational institutions — including both Queen's University and St. Lawrence College — and public sector organizations, working with community-minded volunteers to position the Kingston region as a leading centre for sustainable energy. Numerous members of the Innovation Park family already share their expertise with SWITCH, and so it is fitting that SWITCH now officially joins Innovation Park.
Straddling, as they both do, the boundaries between universities and industry and the public sector, both CMC Microsystems and SWITCH are already proof of Innovation Park's concept, which is that progress occurs when the supply of creativity meets regularly with the demand for new ideas. Innovation Park is pleased to welcome CMC and SWITCH as tenants.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Innovation Park: Janice Mady, Director of Innovation Park at Queen's University (613-533-3376) CMC Microsystems: Beth Caulfeild, Communications Coordinator (613-530-4685) SWITCH: Ted Hsu, Executive Director (613-572-1452)
