WD funds applied research facility in Kelowna

Western Economic Diversification is providing $3.8 million to establish the Survive and Thrive Applied Research (STAR) facility at the Univ of British Columbia's Okanagan campus in Kelowna. STAR will focus on collaborative projects between academia and industry to develop ideas and commercialize products for use in human protection, survivability and performance in extreme weather conditions. Aimed at the manufacturing, natural resources, health care and defence sectors, STAR is a collaboration between UBC, Helios Global Technologies Ltd, Kelowna, and Imperial College London. The facility will feature product design and rapid prototyping, advanced materials and fabrication, device and materials testing and impact assessment, mental health and human performance. They will focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises with an emphasis on cooperation and regional economic development….