Translating world-class knowledge on composite materials and structures
The world has entered the Age of Composites Manufacturing: Stronger, safer, lighter, cleaner and cheaper materials are sparking innovation in every realm, from health, design and sustainability to transportation, aeronautics and space travel. Canada is one of 11 nations around the world that excels in advanced manufacturing, and our strength here lies in the diversity of our business base — large multinationals, sophisticated smaller companies, and most especially, small-to-medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs. But composites manufacturing is costly, brain-trust-intensive and dependent on access to state-of-the-art information, expertise and infrastructure. Being geographically disperse, with restricted resources, few or no engineering staff and limited visibility of the evolving science and technology, Canada’s SMEs face insurmountable obstacles to helping keep Canada competitive.
The Composites Knowledge Network (CKN) is a national network through which Canada can translate its world-class scientific research breakthroughs into practical application at production scale in real time. The vision of CKN is to be Canada’s leader in translating world-class knowledge on composite materials and structures to industry quickly and effectively to benefit small businesses, their employees and the communities they serve.
The CKN will:
- Reduce the barriers Canadian businesses face in accessing leading-edge composites manufacturing knowledge, thus enabling greater innovation.
- Intensify the uptake of composites technologies in new sectors, thus increasing the novel uses of composites technologies.
- Increase the domestic visibility of composites innovation in real time.
- Increase the collaboration across disciplines and sectors, with particular impact in marine, industrial, sports and recreation, infrastructure and the aerospace and automotive industries.
For more information on the CKN, please visit: www.compositeskn.org
The CKN is funded by the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada.