[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/innovation_park.jpg” caption=”Pictured at today’s announcement, from left, Mac Braid, acting deputy director of CANMET-MTL, the Honourable Tony Valeri, Peter George, president of McMaster University, and Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president research and international affairs at McMaster. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay”]The federal government's CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL) will relocate to the McMaster Innovation Park, bringing new opportunities for industry and for Hamilton. It will be the first major federal lab to be located in southern Ontario.

The announcement was made this morning by the Honourable Tony Valeri, leader of the government in the House of Commons, and member of parliament for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

The CANMET-Materials Technology Laboratory – a research centre dedicated to metals and materials fabrication, processing and evaluation – will become a key component of the University's new innovation park.

“Southern Ontario has the largest single cluster of industries and universities with direct tie-ins to MTL's materials and research thrust,” said Peter George, president of McMaster University. “It quickly became clear to us that bringing CANMET-MTL into this cluster of innovation and expertise would make Hamilton and the province a global centre for materials research. In addition, it will strengthen MTL's ability to provide relevant research to its stakeholders across Canada.”

The CANMET-MTL's unique facility will be able to test, create and process materials. Says George: “The steel industry, other metals industries, the automotive sector, and advanced material developers will be attracted to this centre of research. It will create new opportunities for established industries and developing enterprises that will recognize the advantages of being close to the federal laboratory and to McMaster's well-known research expertise in materials and manufacturing.”

“This is the sort of synergistic opportunity we're keen to foster,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president research and international affairs at McMaster University. “Minister Valeri recognized the natural fit between McMaster's areas of expertise and the CANMET lab. His vision and leadership have allowed us to take this crucial step in the development of the Innovation Park, which will act as a magnet in bringing research enterprises to Hamilton from around the world.”

“This is a great day for Hamilton,” said mayor Larry DiIanni. “The City is grateful to both McMaster University and Tony Valeri for their leadership in bringing this facility to Hamilton, and for showing once again the power of partnerships in moving this city forward.”

Planning will begin immediately to choose an exact site for CANMET-MTL at the McMaster Innovation Park. The building, which will house more than 100 scientists and support workers, should be completed in three years. The project's partners are expected to have invested a total of $60-million by the time the facility is operational.

CANMET-MTL has a special academic user program that allows its facilities to be made available to all Canadian university researchers. The program, supported by a major facilities access grant from the Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council, was spearheaded by professors at McMaster University.