Prairie Polytechnics Unite to Fast‑Track Mining Innovation

An applied research network launched in January 2025 continues to bring together six leading prairie polytechnics to accelerate innovation in Western Canada’s mining sector, tackling real-world industry challenges through rapid, collaborative research sprints.

The Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Accelerating Commercialization for Local Ecosystems, known as P2INACLE, brings together Saskatchewan Polytechnic, NAIT, Northwestern Polytechnic, Red Deer Polytechnic, RRC Polytech, and SAIT to advance applied research and strengthen Canada’s global competitiveness.

The latest P2INACLE applied research initiative, Innovation Sprints, resulted in four new projects focused on mining innovation. These applied research projects will deliver actionable insights on industry challenges identified by IMII, provide foundational research to guide future initiatives and strengthen collaboration across participating polytechnics by mapping shared expertise and facilities. Each project runs from January to March 31, 2026, with up to $25,000 in funding available from IMII, PrairiesCan and the lead polytechnic. 

“This collaboration is an example of how innovation is strongly connected to post-secondary education,” said NWP President and CEO, Vanessa Sheane. “Through shared knowledge and applied research, we are providing the foundation for industry solutions that will benefit the northern workforce.”

Project 1: Industrial Safety and Trades Innovation Sprint

Lorelle Warr and Dr. Brye McMorran, researchers from Northwestern Polytechnic, are analyzing trends in serious incidents and injuries across the mining and related industries, including utilities and oil and gas. With the goal of reducing high-risk incidents, they are examining safety solutions used in other sectors of Saskatchewan's industry and in other regions to determine their potential application in the province’s mining sector.

Project 2: Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Applications Sprint

Dr. Tonya Wolfe from Red Deer Polytechnic will explore how advanced manufacturing technologies - including cold spray, additive manufacturing and advanced welding - could enhance efficiency and performance in mining operations. This project will inform potential mining applications for advanced manufacturing opportunities by exploring market factors influencing adoption, their use in other sectors, knowledge gaps requiring applied research, cross-sector opportunities and underutilized capabilities in the prairie provinces.

Project 3: Impactful Innovations Scan

Led by NAIT researcher Dr. Lei Yang, this initiative identifies breakthrough industrial innovations from the past five years across global mining and major industrial sectors. Yang will evaluate opportunities to apply digital tools, sensing technologies, water and process solutions, tailings innovations and durable materials within Saskatchewan’s mining industry. The scan includes sectors such as oil and gas, marine, agriculture, nuclear sciences and construction, with a special focus on automation, machine learning and AI applications.

Project 4: Water Use and Reuse Technology

Led by Dr. Ehsan Aminfar, a researcher at SAIT, this sprint assesses water treatment and reuse technologies relevant to Saskatchewan’s potash and uranium industries. Areas of investigation include desalination, chloride removal, and treatment of contaminants such as heavy metals, arsenic, selenium, sulfate and ammonium in uranium effluents. In the potash sector, the project will also explore cost‑effective options for desalinating brine solutions currently managed through deep well injection.

“We’re thrilled to see such dynamic applied‑research collaboration and innovation happening across these polytechnics,” says Sabrina Kehoe, navigator and manager of P2INACLE. “The results of these Sprints will bring great value to IMII and its members. We’re grateful to PrairiesCan for supporting and investing in these forward‑thinking projects and forward-thinking network!”

Together, these Innovation Sprints mark the second wave of P2INACLE’s collaborative research efforts, laying the groundwork for future projects under IMII’s IDEATE 2026 initiative and helping position the prairie provinces as leaders in mining innovation. 

P2INACLE aims to drive economic growth and diversification through collaboration. It acts as a catalyst for regional prosperity by providing streamlined access to resources for industries, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and larger businesses. By leveraging the expertise and facilities of each polytechnic, P2INACLE offers tailored solutions for commercialization and diversification, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange. 

Northwestern Polytechnic’s applied research is focused on finding real-world solutions. We recognize the benefits of local knowledge and its impact on student learning and future program development. Through meaningful collaboration, we continue to enhance hands-on, practical education, and training that provide invaluable skills to the future workforce. 

Learn more about our research focus areas at NWP.me/Research