Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security Minister Nolan Quinn announces research funding for Georgian College at the institution’s campus in Barrie, Ont., Jan. 21, 2026. Photo-Julius Hern/Barrie360.
Georgian College is set to receive a $1 million investment from the Ontario government to enhance advanced manufacturing research, boost workforce development, and support local industries across Central Ontario.
The funding from the Ontario Research Fund was revealed Wednesday at the college’s Barrie campus by Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Minister Nolan Quinn along with Kevin Weaver, president of Georgian College.
This investment will aid initiatives at Georgian’s Centre of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping (CISP), which recently secured an additional $1 million in federal funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) last October.
“Partnerships are the key to accelerating innovation across all sectors,” Weaver stated during the announcement. “Innovation and ultimately meaningful change thrives at the intersection of government, post-secondary institutions, industry and community.”
Georgian College executive director of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mira Ray (left); former Ontario Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop (middle-left); Ontario Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Minister Nolan Quinn (middle); Georgian College president Kevin Weaver (middle-left) and Ontario Red Tape Reduction Minister Andrea Khanjin (right) pose for photos after a funding announcement at Georgian’s campus in Barrie, Ont., Jan. 21, 2026. Photo-Julius Hern/Barrie360.
Georgian College stands out as the first institution in Ontario to run an Industry 5.0 sandbox that allows manufacturers to explore new technologies within its facilities.
“We’re not just advancing technology,” said Mira Ray, executive director of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the college. “We’re helping to design solutions that put people at the centre, strengthening resiliency, sustainability and collaboration across sectors.”
Quinn emphasized that research has gained importance amid global economic challenges while praising Georgian’s CISP for its goal of creating up to 460 jobs since its launch in 2024.
“As we face international instability that threatens our economy, it is through groundbreaking research that we will create jobs, attract investment and improve lives throughout the province,” Quinn remarked.
“The centre is on the forefront of advanced manufacturing supporting local businesses with cutting-edge technology, workforce development and strategic collaboration.”
The recent announcements about three campus closures haven’t deterred government support; Quinn noted that over the past two years alone, the province has invested $2.3 billion into stabilizing post-secondary education amidst federal restrictions on international students.
“We are currently wrapping up a funding formula review which we have been engaging with our stakeholders including Georgian College to receive feedback for our small northern rural institutions to ensure that they are successful moving forward for the students they serve.”
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Officials from Georgian mention that this research funding will broaden hands-on learning opportunities for students by allowing them to work on real-world projects so they can graduate with job-ready experience.
Weaver believes this funding will spark more activity from outside partners while evolving their research space which will eventually benefit students significantly.
“We will be able to engage more students in that type of work,” he shared with Barrie360. “When we have learnings from research projects with business and industry often those insights find their way back into classrooms or labs or other learning environments.”
The province states that this $1 million investment at Georgian is part of a larger commitment totaling $47 million aimed at supporting 195 different research projects across colleges, universities and hospitals throughout Ontario.
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A potential beneficiary from Wednesday’s announcement is Giovanni Marcelli who chairs Northern Transformer Corp., which is utilizing provincial funds for constructing a high-voltage power transformer facility in Innisfil.
Marcelli depends on Georgian for supplying around 150 graduates ready to join their new facility as technicians. He cites proximity as a factor but also appreciates his previous experiences working alongside co-op students from Georgian at their facility located in Maple.
“We like what they bring to the table,” Marcelli told Barrie360 while discussing his aspirations for collaborating with the college. “We want to work with Georgian to refine curriculum aimed at training people capable of building transformers because it’s highly technical work where precision matters.”
“Predominantly our partners come from local businesses facing challenges who turn towards us seeking assistance with new technology or prototyping simulation testing whatever might be necessary,” Weaver added. “If they’re successful they’ll stay grow invest back into our communities creating more jobs.. And that’s simply a win-win.”
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Georgian College executive director of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mira Ray (left); former Ontario Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop (middle-left); Ontario Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Minister Nolan Quinn (middle); Georgian College president Kevin Weaver (middle-left) and Ontario Red Tape Reduction Minister Andrea Khanjin (right) pose for photos after a funding announcement at Georgian’s campus in Barrie, Ont., Jan. 21, 2026. Photo-Julius Hern/Barrie360.
Georgian College stands out as the first institution in Ontario to run an Industry 5.0 sandbox that allows manufacturers to explore new technologies within its facilities.
“We’re not just advancing technology,” said Mira Ray, executive director of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the college. “We’re helping to design solutions that put people at the centre, strengthening resiliency, sustainability and collaboration across sectors.”
Quinn emphasized that research has gained importance amid global economic challenges while praising Georgian’s CISP for its goal of creating up to 460 jobs since its launch in 2024.
“As we face international instability that threatens our economy, it is through groundbreaking research that we will create jobs, attract investment and improve lives throughout the province,” Quinn remarked.
“The centre is on the forefront of advanced manufacturing supporting local businesses with cutting-edge technology, workforce development and strategic collaboration.”
The recent announcements about three campus closures haven’t deterred government support; Quinn noted that over the past two years alone, the province has invested $2.3 billion into stabilizing post-secondary education amidst federal restrictions on international students.
“We are currently wrapping up a funding formula review which we have been engaging with our stakeholders including Georgian College to receive feedback for our small northern rural institutions to ensure that they are successful moving forward for the students they serve.”
🎧 Listen to the daily headlines that matter most
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts to get notified of new episodes every day.
Officials from Georgian mention that this research funding will broaden hands-on learning opportunities for students by allowing them to work on real-world projects so they can graduate with job-ready experience.
Weaver believes this funding will spark more activity from outside partners while evolving their research space which will eventually benefit students significantly.
“We will be able to engage more students in that type of work,” he shared with Barrie360. “When we have learnings from research projects with business and industry often those insights find their way back into classrooms or labs or other learning environments.”
The province states that this $1 million investment at Georgian is part of a larger commitment totaling $47 million aimed at supporting 195 different research projects across colleges, universities and hospitals throughout Ontario.
🎧 Local news stories that matter most to you
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts to get notified of new episodes every day.
A potential beneficiary from Wednesday’s announcement is Giovanni Marcelli who chairs Northern Transformer Corp., which is utilizing provincial funds for constructing a high-voltage power transformer facility in Innisfil.
Marcelli depends on Georgian for supplying around 150 graduates ready to join their new facility as technicians. He cites proximity as a factor but also appreciates his previous experiences working alongside co-op students from Georgian at their facility located in Maple.
“We like what they bring to the table,” Marcelli told Barrie360 while discussing his aspirations for collaborating with the college. “We want to work with Georgian to refine curriculum aimed at training people capable of building transformers because it’s highly technical work where precision matters.”
“Predominantly our partners come from local businesses facing challenges who turn towards us seeking assistance with new technology or prototyping simulation testing whatever might be necessary,” Weaver added. “If they’re successful they’ll stay grow invest back into our communities creating more jobs.. And that’s simply a win-win.”
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