CPIA forum links industry with academia
Canadian Plastics
On Tuesday October 5, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) hosted its first Plastics Innovation Forum in Toronto. Approximately 210 people attended the event, including sales, manufacturi...
On Tuesday October 5, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) hosted its first Plastics Innovation Forum in Toronto. Approximately 210 people attended the event, including sales, manufacturing and management leaders from across the plastics industry, as well as government officials, retailers and stewardship organizations.
Attendees heard from eight university professors with emerging technologies in the fields of process optimization, materials and recycling. They also heard from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) about its new Engage Grants Program, which provides up to $25,000 for collaborative innovation projects, as well as Export Development Canada (EDC) about sources of financing for growth and exports. Presentations were followed by breakout sessions with academics.
“It was a great event, and just from the narrow viewpoint of ‘one professor giving a talk’ I made several important contacts and received some good ideas in return,” said Dr. John Vlachopoulos, professor emeritus at the Department of Engineering, McMaster University. “The breakout session was very useful, and it should be part of any future forum. Overall, it was rare to have academics talk to such a large audience of industry people, and both groups seemed to enjoy it.”
The CPIA’s second innovation forum will be held in Vancouver on November 29. Briefs will include polymer compatibilizaton technologies for recycling, process aids to improve efficiency and quality, and structural composites for industrial applications.