SAIT ranked one of Canada's top five research colleges for 2022

^{The Intelligent Design and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory in the Centre for Innovative Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials.} 

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is one of Canada's top five research colleges for 2022.

Research Infosource Inc.’s Top 50 Research Colleges ranking was released Wednesday, Jan. 25, with SAIT taking fifth spot overall — improving one spot on last year’s results.

The ranking is part of the annual Canada's Innovation Leaders (CIL) report recognizing leading research universities, corporations, hospitals and colleges enhancing Canada's global competitiveness in the knowledge economy.

“Applied research works to address some of the world’s biggest challenges through innovative solutions and partnerships,” says Mark Butler, Vice President Corporate Development, Applied Research and International.

Teams of faculty, staff and students in SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) department work with industry, government and community stakeholders in established and emerging research areas to advance new technologies to market.

“As one of Canada’s top five research colleges, SAIT will continue to partner in driving economic growth through applied research and commercialization in Alberta and beyond.”

Applied research at SAIT

From design and development to fabrication and prototyping to product testing and verification, ARIS supports the development of new or improved technologies in response to the innovation needs of organizations from a variety of industry sectors. 

ARIS comprises 77,000 square feet of specialized research labs and facilities. SAIT researchers develop innovative solutions in green building infrastructure and clean energy, advance new applications for unmanned aerial vehicles, and identify and address challenges faced by industry as manufacturing and materials systems evolve into smarter and cleaner solutions.

Each year, ARIS works with almost 300 companies to build approximately 90 prototypes. SAIT received $12.9 million dollars in research funding through ARIS in 2022.

Innovative research projects underway at ARIS

• The building industry contributes 17% of all emissions across Canada. Research teams in SAIT’s Green Building Technologies (GBT) facility focus on net-zero and energy positive design and construction across building types, typographies and climate zones to help ensure Canada meets its targets for 2030 net-zero energy code and 2050 greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
  
  
• SAIT is working with industry partners to help commercialize emerging clean technologies for Alberta’s energy sector. Researchers in the Centre for Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions and GBT are testing clean energy applications such as battery, hydrogen and water technologies and developing solutions to reduce environmental impacts, including novel insulations, building materials, the use of sensors and strategies that optimize spaces for energy efficiencies.
  
  
• The Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems has established a research and development partnership with ANAVIA Switzerland, a specialist in the development, manufacturing and marketing of heavy payload vertical take-off and landing systems. In collaboration with other remotely piloted aircraft systems manufacturers and aviation regulatory agencies in North America and Europe, SAIT and ANAVIA are working to develop a Centre of Excellence for testing and certification of heavy-duty long endurance unmanned aircrafts.
  
  
• The Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials is rapidly building out solutions for automated manufacturing and the incorporation of novel materials in those processes.

 

Industry driven — industry driver

SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) team develops new or improved technologies in response to the innovation needs of industry.

Partner with ARIS