Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) has granted $2.1 million (CAD) to the University of Waterloo in Ontario, to advance engineering education and additive manufacturing research.
Reported as the largest single donation by TMMC to any Canadian university, this investment will introduce an undergraduate engineering innovation challenge as well as dedicate a wing to faculty and student research in 3D printing renamed the Toyota Additive Manufacturing Wing. Pearl Sullivan, Dean of Waterloo Engineering. stated:
“Our partnership with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada allows our students and researchers to tackle difficult engineering and business challenges facing the automotive industry and come up with truly new and sustainable solutions that will strengthen the competitiveness of the Canadian sector.
“[The] gift of $2.1 million will go a long way in ensuring that we can offer them the resources and opportunities they need to make a difference.”
Additive manufacturing in the Automotive sector
TMMC is a wholly-owned North American subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, the Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer who previously partnered with FIT Additive Manufacturing Group.Most recently, its German subsidiary, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) partnered with leading 3D printer OEM 3D Systems to develop “first-to-market” additive manufacturing solutions. Moreover, the University of Waterloo has also made steps towards implementing 3D printing with its Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Lab (MSAM) in 2017.
The latest funding will commence the Toyota Engineering Innovation Challenge will involve a half-day “take-over” of the Waterloo Engineering Ideas Clinic®. Furthermore, the TMMC will be the title sponsor university’s annual AutoTech Symposium for the next five years which connects automotive and information technology innovators.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
TMMC is a past recipient of Waterloo Engineering’s Friend of the Faculty Award. It was given to the company due to its strong commitment to joint research ventures, financial contributions to student projects and awards, and mentoring and hiring numerous alumni and students. Feridun Hamdullahpur, President and Vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo added:
“The University of Waterloo is proud to have Toyota as a key partner in our automotive research, as well as a long-term employer in our co-operative education program. It is investments like these that have allowed our institution to undertake more automotive research than any other university in Canada.”
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Featured image shows 3D printed components from the University of Waterloo’s MSAM. Photo via MSAM.