Backgrounder
December 24, 2009
Projects Funded In Windsor
Today, through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure program, Ontario is investing more than $1.6 million at the University of Windsor to support four research projects and 64 researchers. This investment is part of a broader $268-million province-wide investment that will support 214 projects and more than 3,300 researchers in 14 cities, and help to create and preserve more than 1,300 construction jobs over the next four years across the province.
Investigation of Behaviour of Wrinkled Pipes and Ship Hulls Under Static and Cyclic Loads
Determining the lifespan of steel under the effects of fatigue and cold
Lead Researcher: Das, Sreekanta
Provincial Funding: $49,648
Researchers Affected: 19
The effects of cold and fatigue load on structural steel used in ship hulls is the focus of research being conducted by Dr. Sreekanta Das at the University of Windsor. It is work of great interest to the oil and gas and ship building industries, both areas of importance for Canada. Dr. Das’ research will help oil and gas companies determine pipeline lifespans and avoid costly infrastructure and environmental damage. And by making it possible to predict the lifespan of steel hulls, especially in cold weather, his research will help shipbuilders design and build safer ships for our northern waters.
Facility for Advanced Hybrid Drivetrain Systems
Developing next generation hybrid technology for the auto industry
Lead Researcher: Kar, Narayan
Provincial Funding: $178,820
Researchers Affected: 20
Hybrid vehicles use less energy and produce fewer emissions, and that makes them the vehicles of the future. Developing next generation hybrid technology is the focus of research being conducted by Dr. Narayan Kar at the University of Windsor. His work will help to give Ontario auto makers an important advantage in a very competitive environment – while reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and improving our air quality.
Synthetic macromolecular chemistry for well defined advanced materials
Developing new advanced materials
Lead Researcher: Wang, Zhuo
Provincial Funding: $48,169
Researchers Affected: 6
Developing new advanced materials with interesting properties and functions is the goal of research being conducted at the University of Windsor. Dr. Zhuo Wang is using advanced macromolecular synthetic equipment to develop new polymers and nanomaterials. Potential practical applications include light emitting diodes, solar cells, and programmed drug delivery. The research will help keep Ontario at the leading edge of advanced materials research and development.
To date, Dr. Wang has received $140,000 in funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
Centre for High Efficiency Clean Diesel and Hybrid Powertrain Research
Developing ultra-clean diesel engines
Lead Researcher: Zheng, Ming
Provincial Funding: $1,378,000
Researchers Affected: 19
Diesels are the engines of choice in large trucks, buses and off-road equipment because they are 30 to 45 per cent more efficient than gasoline engines. That fact, together with the lower cost of diesel fuel, has caused a renewed interest in using diesel engines in light trucks and automobiles. The problem is diesel engines emit relatively high levels of harmful toxins. At the University of Windsor, Dr. Ming Zheng is tackling the problem by addressing both fuel efficiency and emissions. His research will lead to cleaner diesel and biodiesel technology, as well as hybrid electric diesel technology – and give Ontario’s auto industry an important advantage in the race to become the automotive jurisdiction of the future.
The Ontario Innovation Agenda
Research at the University of Windsor is an example of Ontario leading the world in the quest for knowledge and discovery. Support for this kind of work is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the province’s $3.2-billion strategy to make innovation a driving force of Ontario’s economy. By targeting investments toward areas where Ontario already is, or is poised to become a global leader, and by building on our greatest strength – the talent and ingenuity of our people – Ontario is harnessing innovation to ensure ours is one of the winning economies of the 21st century.
Support from the Ontario Research Fund–Research Infrastructure program
Part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) is key to the province’s plan to move world-class research from the lab to the global marketplace. The role of the ORF is to help ensure that Ontario researchers have the tools they need to lead the world, or lead international collaborations, in their respective fields.
