The Composites Research Network (CRN) was launched in January with the announcement of a C$9.8 million investment by the Canadian government. Based at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus, the network is a pan-western Canada initiative, led by UBC materials engineering professor, Anoush Poursartip.

From its hub at UBC, the CRN will establish nodes in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba where composites experts will work with companies to enable them to become more competitive by bridging the gap between theory and practice. The network builds on existing collaborations and aims to bring in new partners from across Canada and internationally in the future.

Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Lynne Yelich, who made the announcement, said, “By supporting this initiative, our Government is helping to provide western Canadian businesses with the means to capitalize on the evolving composites industry and the associated economic benefits.”

The CRN aims to better translate academic knowledge into industry practice. Recognizing the challenge for industry to take advantage of engineering research advances, the core mission of the network is to produce a new family of knowledge-based best practice documents. CRN participants will be able to access these as well as training facilities, materials and events, and linkages to key national and international organizations and institutions.

“This investment in the Composites Research Network advances important collaborative research between researchers and businesses,” said John Hepburn, VP Research & International at UBC. “These research partnerships drive innovation by developing and implementing manufacturing solutions faster and more efficiently than would otherwise be possible.”

The Composites Innovation Centre in Winnipeg, a key partner in the network, welcomed the announcement. “The CRN will provide western Canadian industry with a significant advantage in further understanding and refining their composites manufacturing processes,” said Sean McKay, executive director of the Centre. “Developing the necessary science and hence fundamental understanding of manufacturing issues and being able to assimilate them into everyday operations to reduce defects and improve efficiencies are essential to remain competitive in today’s global marketplace.” □