RDP Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing

06/04/2026

🌄🛻 It's National Accessibility Week, and what better way to mark the occasion than a road trip to Rocky Mountain Adaptive in Canmore with several of our summer applied research interns.

Rocky Mountain Adaptive is a charitable organization that opens doors to meaningful sport and outdoor recreation for individuals with physical, cognitive, or developmental challenges. Executive Director Jamie McCulloch welcomed our group, and talked to us about how RMA came to be, how it has grown over the years, and what it will take to keep expanding their impact on accessibility. ⬆♿

Getting our student interns out in front of real-world industry projects and giving them opportunities to hear directly from clients about their challenges is an important part of the learning experience. We're excited to explore ways that CIM-TAC could support RMA's efforts to better serve more people.

Want to learn more about accessible adventures? Visit RMA online:
🔗 https://rockymountainadaptive.com/

06/01/2026

We're looking forward to attending this new event next week! Come check it out if you'd like to connect with our team and discuss how we can help you with your R&D.

Ready to grow your business and connect with the leaders shaping our region?

Mark your calendar for the Central Alberta Industry Connector Forum! This is your chance to gain exclusive access to major projects happening right here in Central Alberta. Whether you are looking to network with industry professionals, secure new business deals, or find your next great hire, this is the event where leadership, business, and capital connect.

Event Details:
Date: June 12, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Olds College Alumni Centre (Olds, AB)
Tickets: $97 + fee

Don’t miss out on one of the biggest conferences in the region!

🎟️ Buy your tickets now on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/central-alberta-industry-connector-forum-tickets-1986546009591?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/30/2026

🛣 This week, members of our 2026 summer intern team hit the road to represent us at the Nisku Energy Show. Our booth was staffed by several talented Applied Research Technicians, who were on hand to discuss their hands-on experience working at Red Deer Polytechnic and how their academic coursework translates into the requirements of their roles.

Our 2026 intern cohort brings together expertise from a wide variety of disciplines, including:
💚 Engineering (mechanical, electrical, and biomedical)
💚 Marketing
💚 Computer Programming
💚 Data Analytics
💚 Animation

Client projects at CIM-TAC frequently require expertise from all these areas, and the students' contributions are vital to our clients' success. This internship provides them with the opportunity to put their course work to the ultimate test by applying it to real-world situations.

Our booth featured a special guest: Dr. Woof, who was on hand to welcome attendees. This also provided our students with the opportunity to learn a unique new skill—robot dog handling! 🤖🐾

We look forward to sharing more updates on the accomplishments of our intern team throughout the summer.

05/27/2026

Members of the team recently returned from Upper Bound 2026 in Edmonton, a premier AI gathering hosted by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii).

🌎 As the world of artificial intelligence continues to evolve, CIM-TAC is committed to staying at the forefront of these advancements to better serve our industry partners. Attendance at this conference allowed our team to engage with a global community of researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to discuss how AI can drive productivity, discovery, and collaboration.

We are excited to integrate the ideas and insights gained at Upper Bound into our ongoing applied research projects. Whether it is through optimizing manufacturing processes or developing new technology-enabled solutions, we remain dedicated to bringing the latest global innovations back to Red Deer Polytechnic to support the success of our clients.

A sincere thank you to Amii for hosting such a world-class event and fostering the collisions that spark the future of AI.

05/21/2026

🔍 Central Alberta's companies no longer need to search far and wide for solutions, as many new and advanced manufacturing technologies can be found in the CIM-TAC.

Not only are Canada's technology access centres incubating and advancing technologies and solutions in every industry, we are masters at solving problems through applied research and connecting and collaborating with SME's and big industry partners.

As a public good, TACs such as the CIM-TAC are designed to be a safe space for firms to de-risk the adoption of novel technologies. Our industry-friendly Intellectual Property (IP) policies put the IP in the hands of industry to commercially exploit, a tremendous benefit for small firms hoping to stay nimble and expand.

Over 80% of the companies TACs work with are small and medium-sized businesses, and we provide them with the expertise, equipment, and facilities they need to undertake R&D projects to develop and commercialize new innovations - right here in central Alberta.

Get in touch and see what we can do for you!

Learn more about the TAC network:
🔗 https://tech-access.ca/

05/15/2026

🏅 We are happy to see Visual Arts Instructor Marnie Blair receive the Distinguished Instructor Award from the Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association. 🥳

Marnie has led her students in many interesting projects in the CIM-TAC, turning STEM into STEAM by using our technology to create visual art.

"Working in the CIM-TAC has allowed me to bring interdisciplinary research directly into the studio, giving students insight into how art can connect with health and technology,” she explains.

In both arts education and advanced manufacturing, digital tools are driving new levels of collaboration and innovation, unlocking endless possibilities. Inside and outside the classroom, incorporating art and creative thinking into more right-brained areas of innovation is essential.

Read more about Marnie's award here:
🔗 https://rdpolytech.ca/news/rdp-faculty-member-receives-acifa-distinguished-instructor-award

One of our Visual Art instructors, Marnie Blair, has been honoured with the 2026 Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association (ACIFA) Distinguished Instructor Award! 🏅

This prestigious award recognizes outstanding post-secondary instructors across Alberta for their commitment to teaching, students and learning.

“At its core, teaching is about creating the conditions for students to take risks, fail, find their voice and build something meaningful,” says Blair, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Lakehead University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. “RDP has a caring community among faculty, staff and students. Teaching doesn’t always feel like work when you have that connection.”

Blair’s role at the Polytechnic has also opened doors for interdisciplinary exploration, particularly through collaborations with RDP’s Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing-Technology Access Centre (CIM‑TAC). These opportunities allow her to merge artistic inquiry with emerging technologies.

“The polytechnic model is a great fit for my practice as an artist,” Blair explains. “My research sits at the intersection of art, women’s health, medical humanities and technology. Working in the CIM-TAC has allowed me to bring interdisciplinary research directly into the studio, giving students insight into how art can connect with health and technology.”

Blair received the Distinguished Instructor Award at the 2026 ACIFA Conference held May 3-5 in Jasper, where she also delivered a presentation titled Collective Care and Creative Risk.

Read the full story here: rdpolytech.ca/news/rdp-faculty-member-receives-acifa-distinguished-instructor-award

Red Deer Polytechnic Arts

05/11/2026

Innovation is powering Alberta's future and Red Deer Polytechnic is helping to lead the way 🚀 May 11 – 15 is Canadian Innovation Week!

Innovation is about doing something better to make an impact. In the CIM-TAC, we have many clients who are making a difference - in ag-tech, medical device manufacturing, clean energy, Para sports, and the health and beauty industry to name just a few. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to support these innovators on their journey from idea to commercialization.

Through advancing innovation in digital manufacturing, robotics, or industry modernization, our applied research partnerships help local companies integrate new tools, streamline processes, and stay competitive in their space of relevance.

Created by the Rideau Hall Foundation, is a call to shape a better tomorrow. This year’s “Local Roots, Global Reach” theme celebrates how Canadian innovation begins in our communities and grows to make an impact around the world. Celebrate innovations that address today's many challenges whether they be within Alberta, Canada, or on the global stage. 🌎

🔗 https://canadianinnovationspace.ca/

05/08/2026

Our partners at the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network (CARIN) are bringing you another round of Catalyst Incubator - starting soon!

Catalyst Incubator, funded through CARIN and provided by Community Futures Central Alberta, is seeking participants for the Fall intake of its unique, cohort-based program.

The program is designed to help foster new ideas, make critical connections, and help start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in Central Alberta.

The Catalyst Incubator focuses on supporting start-ups in manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and energy as they determine how to get their product or service to market.

The program is 100% funded by CARIN through Alberta Innovates and is FREE to attend for all selected entrepreneurs

For the upcoming Incubator, CARIN is looking for entrepreneurs who have big ideas for Manufacturing and Agriculture.

Would you like to be a part of an Incubator? The fall intake is OPEN for registrations.

🔗 https://www.ca-rin.ca/catalyst-incubator

05/04/2026

Innovation Through Failure

Last week the team joined our RDP colleagues at Employee Day, which featured a series of "Ted talks" delivered by staff members. Among the presenters was Prateeksha Aggarwal, CIM-TAC Industrial Research Associate, who shared insights on the relationship between failure and discovery.

👩‍🏫 Prateeksha’s presentation explored the concept that innovation is built on a foundation of attempts that did not go as planned. In fields like science and engineering, the path to a breakthrough is rarely a straight line; instead, it's an iterative process where each setback provides the information necessary to move the work forward.

In an applied research environment like the CIM-TAC, we don't see experiments that fail or prototypes that break as just errors - they can be critical engines of creativity.

💚 Each unsuccessful attempt carries specific data that informs the next stage of development.
💚 Behind every major breakthrough is a long chain of iterations and rounds of testing.
💚 Contradictory results often provide the most valuable information for refining a final product or solution.

It's this commitment to persistent iteration that allows researchers to solve complex challenges for our industry partners. Thanks to Prateeksha for sharing these valuable insights with the wider RDP community.

04/30/2026

👋 Today we are saying goodbye to a valued member of team as Jennifer Dornstauder concludes her time as CIM-TAC’s Engineering Technical Lead after 5 years of innovation and collaboration.

Since joining us in 2021, Jennifer has overseen more than 60 collaborative research projects and contributed to nearly 200 projects in various capacities. Her technical expertise in mechanical design and analysis has had a measurable impact on many of our industry partners and clients.

Beyond her work in the lab, Jennifer has been a dedicated mentor to numerous student interns, guiding their work and helping them to realise their full potential. She has also provided technical expertise for participants in Manpower’s Career Moves program and instructed students in Red Deer Polytechnic’s Occupational and Physical Therapy Assistant classes on the technical aspects of medical device manufacturing.

Jennifer is continuing her academic and technical journey by pursuing a Master's in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the development of anatomical physical phantoms for Para athletes, a continuation of her commitment to human-centered design and adaptive technology.

Thanks Jen for your technical leadership and your commitment to advancing the manufacturing landscape in Alberta. Your contributions have left a lasting impact on our facility and the industry partners we serve.