Applied Research

Industry Sectors

Our applied research solutions are industry driven, and move at the speed of business, with our partners holding the intellectual property. We are focused on supporting the societal and economic benefits of these seven major sectors of industry. The continued sustainability, growth and diversification of these major economic sectors is essential, as is the foundation they provide for new fields of economic activity and competitive advantage for our province and its industries.

Energy and Environment

Alberta’s energy industry is critical to the province’s prosperity. Strongly tied to oil and gas activity is Alberta’s environmental services sector, known internationally for excellence in water treatment, waste management, soil remediation, forest-land reclamation and the development of climate-change solutions.

Alberta’s agriculture and forestry sector is the second largest component of Alberta’s economy.  It provides a significant source of raw materials, including agriculture and forestry fibre, for use in the province’s bioeconomy, which includes the production of food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy from renewable, biological resources. 

NAIT’s supports these vital drivers of western Canada’s economy through applied research essential to the region’s oil and gas, oil sands, and alternative energy subsectors. This includes our commitment to delivering applied-research solutions that strengthen the sector’s environmental sustainability.

Construction and Trades

Alberta's construction industry plays a key role in the provincial economy and employs a highly skilled workforce. In addition to infrastructure, commercial and residential construction, the industry works closely with Alberta’s resource sectors, providing globally unique expertise in winter construction practices, pipeline design, and oil, gas and oil sands development.

Bioeconomy

We have  established a reputation for applied research excellence in Energy and Environment and emerging capabilities focused on the province’s bioeconomic and bioindustrial sectors. Areas of projected growth include bio/nanotechnological applications for Western Canada’s renewable and non-renewable resource sectors, value-added products from forestry waste streams and epicurean innovation and novel agri-food opportunities.

Alberta’s bioeconomy is directly linked to the agriculture and forestry sector ,  providing a significant source of raw materials, including agriculture and forestry fibre.  Our projects focus on  the production of food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy from renewable, biological resources. 

Digital Economy

This sector is based on digital computing technoloiges including platform-based business models, network effects and economies of scale. We seek to develop and expand strategies for innovations in platform and content. Develop prototypes, pilots, and proof-of-concept elements to improve product and market fit and develop a collaborative, cross-disciplinary community of practitioners across different media sectors. 

Health and Care

Small- and mid-sized health-technology businesses want to develop and move knowledge from research to market more effectively.

NAIT’s programs offer industry partners expertise in areas like diagnostic imaging, laboratory technology, emergency medical technician training and dental health. Our state of the art simulation facilities enable companies to test their products in a clinical setting in silico and in live simulations. Other areas of focus include information and communications technology-focused rehabilitation technologies, health informatics, improved health and safety in the trades, and healthcare delivery operational efficiency.

Building on five years of collaboration on rehabilitation technologies, serious-gaming applications and assistive device design, NAIT and the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital have formalized a multi-year Strategic Applied Collaborative Research Agreement associated with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Research, Innovation and Technology Hub.

Manufacturing

Advanced manufacturing innovations like 3D printing and remote applications are revolutionizing the industry. The integration of new technologies with traditional fabrication methods is changing both how manufacturing is done and what is being manufactured.
NAIT’s applied research focus on advanced manufacturing builds on multidisciplinary expertise within the School of Skilled Trades, the School of Applied Sciences and Technology and our Campus Alberta partners.

Business and Entrepreneurship

Alberta’s increasingly competitive business environment means industry players need to continuously hone their entrepreneurial skills. On both the provincial and national levels, businesses face increased globalization, fast-paced technological change and limited financial and managerial resources.