The partnership is to be formalized this morning with the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the park on Longwood Road South.

The CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory, a $60-million, 156,000-square-foot facility, is expected to open next year.

CANMET is part of Natural Resources Canada and its mission is to develop new materials and processes for industrial applications.

While McMaster University students and faculty will collaborate with CANMET on pure research projects, their Mohawk counterparts will work on applied research projects -- ones designed to solve specific problems -- in keeping with the college's strategic plan to build its capacity in applied research.

As CANMET develops new processes and materials, said the facility's director-general Jennifer Jackman, it is important to have trained technologists who can take innovations outside the lab and into industrial settings, which makes Mohawk engineering technology students a natural fit.

"This is a great step forward," said college vice-president Cheryl Jensen, who is responsible for technology, apprenticeship and corporate training. "This is just a great fit for Mohawk, McMaster and CANMET."

Jensen said Mohawk is closely involved with CANMET, the university and the city in planning the facility's move from Ottawa, and that the college hopes to help CANMET fill any personnel gaps that may flow from the move.

Mohawk graduates are already represented on CANMET's roster of about 100 scientists and technicians -- a team that includes Peter Newcombe, a Mohawk-trained metallurgist who helped create the new Canadian Victoria Cross and was named a distinguished alumnus last year.

Jensen said Mohawk plans to train students specifically to meet the needs of CANMET, partly by having them do applied research projects at the site itself.

The CANMET partnership will be the college's second formal step into McMaster Innovation Park.

In July, the college is planning to establish an arms-length, profit-making corporation in the first floor of the park's main building. Mohawk College Enterprise will offer corporate training and partnership services.

whemsworth@thespec.com

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