WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - April 14, 2015) - Industry Canada
New research at the University of Manitoba will help Canadian manufacturers of Asian-style noodles boost their production, enhancing economic activity in an export industry that is a major source of foreign revenue. The announcement was made by Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), at the University of Manitoba.
Over half of Canada's wheat exports are used to manufacture Asian-style noodles. Dr. Martin Scanlon at the University of Manitoba and his research team are working with manufacturer VN Instruments Ltd. to develop a prototype acoustic sensor system that will make rolling sheet manufacturing processes more efficient. In addition, the Canadian International Grains Institute will provide Dr. Scanlon and his team access to a functional pilot-scale noodle manufacturing line to test the acoustic sensor system. The system will initially be applied to measure the properties of noodle dough sheets.
Mr. Bruinooge took the opportunity to tour the laboratory of Dr. John Page, a team member of Dr. Scanlon, whose lab received administrative support through the Research Support Fund. Dr. Scanlon and Dr. Page provided a first-hand demonstration of the effectiveness of an acoustic sensor system prototype for measuring noodle sheet properties.
Dr. Scanlon's research is being supported with an investment of $543,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC) Strategic Project Grants program.
In addition to this funding, the University of Manitoba is also receiving an investment of $7.4 million through the Research Support Fund for 2014-15 to help the university with the overhead or additional costs of research for all its federally funded research programs. Since 2006, the Government has provided $72.75 million in research support to the University of Manitoba.
Quick facts
Quotes
"The University of Manitoba is at the forefront of so many innovations. Our government is proud to support research that will help Manitoba wheat manufacturers improve the quality and production of Asian-style noodles-a growing sector in the Canadian economy."
- Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South
"Through our government's updated science, technology and innovation strategy, we are making the record investments necessary to push the boundaries of knowledge, create jobs and prosperity, and improve the quality of life of Canadians. Our government, through the Strategic Project Grants program, is supporting research that will address key industry challenges over the next decade in natural resources and energy, manufacturing, environmental science and technologies, and information and communications technologies."
- Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)
"The best research brings talented minds together to generate exciting ideas and create the advancements of tomorrow. NSERC is proud to support these strategic projects that extend our knowledge and create new innovations that will define our future."
- Dr. B. Mario Pinto, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
"The University of Manitoba congratulates Dr. Scanlon on his successful partnership with industry to help a much-needed sector of our local economy. The support of the federal government through this funding and its support of all research at the University of Manitoba through the Research Support Fund is critical to our success."
- Dr. Digvir Jayas, VP (Research and International), University of Manitoba
"We are grateful to NSERC and the federal government for continued support of this innovative project that partners university, industry and government laboratories. By applying cutting-edge concepts in physics to address manufacturing challenges in the agriculture sector, we expect market opportunities will arise for both manufacturing and production industries in Canada."
- Dr. Martin Scanlon, University of Manitoba
Associated links
- Recipients of 2014 Strategic Project Grants
- Information on the Research Support Fund
- Strategic Partnership Grants overview
- Science, technology and innovation strategy, Seizing Canada's Moment
- University of Manitoba Department of Food Science
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