Red Deer Polytechnic Applied Research (RDP Applied Research) is playing a vital role in Alberta’s transition toward a more productive, innovative, and circular economy. Guided by a mission to empower productivity and support provincial priorities, RDP connects industry partners with the expertise, equipment, and applied research capacity needed to solve real-world challenges, particularly in plastics, advanced manufacturing, and materials development.
Through its two major centres—the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing – Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC) and the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC)—RDP provides companies with direct access to advanced manufacturing tools, prototyping support, materials testing, and design expertise. These centres enable businesses to explore new solutions, validate products, and accelerate commercialization while supporting Alberta’s broader goals for circularity and sustainable growth.
Supporting Plastics Innovation and Circular Manufacturing
Plastics research is a growing priority at RDP, where teams work extensively with plastic and resin materials across various applications, including additive manufacturing. The institution’s 3D printing capabilities and injection molding lab scale unit allow for experimentation with both traditional and recycled plastics, creating opportunities to design products that use fewer resources and support circular material flows. RDP also offers expertise in design-for-manufacturing, design-for-circularity, and automation solutions tailored to the needs of plastics processors and packaging industries.
“Embracing sustainability and resource efficiency is essential in today’s evolving manufacturing landscape. By preparing to meet the needs of future products, investing in the development of advanced materials, and fostering a resilient supply chain, we can ensure long-term success and innovation across the sector,” says Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice President of Applied Research at Red Deer Polytechnic. “We can help businesses develop products and processes that minimize waste and maximize resource utilization throughout their lifecycle, creating products that are more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable.”
One example of this work is CIM-TAC’s collaboration with a small-to-medium (SME) enterprise to develop 3D-printed recycled-plastic pallets. The team is conducting rigorous testing to ensure the pallets meet durability and performance requirements, demonstrating how recycled materials can be transformed into functional, high-value products. In another multi-partner initiative involving FibreNx, Carbon Upcycling, EcoPlast, and Karmed, CIM-TAC is contributing to the development of next-generation bitumen-based composite materials—an important step toward expanding Alberta’s portfolio of sustainable, high-performance materials.
Driving Regional Innovation and Community Growth
Beyond its technical capabilities, RDP Applied Research is deeply integrated within Alberta’s innovation ecosystem. The team helps companies navigate emerging technologies, adopt new systems, and improve productivity. RDP maintains strong relationships with regional leaders, economic development professionals, chambers of commerce, and elected officials to stay informed about local priorities and align innovation support with regional needs.
RDP is also part of a national network of 67 Technology Access Centres, which enhances its ability to collaborate with partners across Canada. Through its leadership role in the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network (CARIN), co-managed with Olds College, RDP supports innovators by offering technical expertise, business planning guidance, market insights, and connections to funders. This integrated approach ensures companies receive the support they need to advance their ideas and bring new products to market.
The Value of APRA Membership
RDP’s membership in APRA is an important component of its applied research strategy in developing use cases for advanced materials. APRA provides a direct connection to Alberta’s plastics value chain, enabling RDP to collaborate with resin producers, processors, recyclers, and manufacturers. This connection offers insight into real industry challenges and helps guide RDP’s applied research priorities, especially those related to circular design, plastics reuse, and recycling innovation.
APRA’s data and technology tracking also support RDP’s work by providing market and infrastructure intelligence that enriches project planning and research direction. The partnership creates opportunities for joint initiatives across agriculture, packaging, construction, and manufacturing sectors that generate significant volumes of plastic waste and require practical, scalable solutions. Through APRA events and communications, RDP also gains greater visibility as an innovation hub and contributes to province-wide discussions on recycling standards and design-for-recycling practices.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Innovation for 2030 and Beyond
RDP’s future direction is guided by its 2030 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes four pillars: Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Innovation, Healthcare and Health Technologies, and Social Innovation. A key element of this strategy is the 15,000-square-foot expansion of the CIM-TAC, which will significantly increase capacity for prototyping, automation, materials testing, and product development.
Current priorities include sustainable product design, circular materials use, automation and productivity solutions, the advancement of materials research, and the adoption of artificial intelligence among Alberta’s small and medium-sized enterprises. Through these initiatives, RDP aims to turn innovation into implementation by helping companies bring market-ready solutions to life while strengthening Alberta’s reputation as a leader in applied, industry-driven research.
“Our applied research agenda is committed to driving digital transformation across Central Alberta,” says Dr. Wolfe. “We’re developing digital twins of our campus energy grid, advancing electronics and software development for prototype creation, and integrating artificial intelligence to improve healthcare in rural and remote communities. At every stage, we maintain a focus on human-centred design to ensure technology delivers real benefits for people and communities.”
Opportunities and Challenges in Alberta’s Circular Plastics Landscape
RDP sees significant opportunities in Alberta’s circular plastics economy, including growing demand for recycled materials, rising interest in design-for-recyclability, and strong potential for pilot projects that leverage CIM-TAC’s advanced facilities. At the same time, challenges remain. Alberta continues to face limited processing capacity for high-quality recycled plastics, gaps in data regarding the performance of recycled materials, and a need for stronger collaboration across manufacturers, recyclers, and policymakers.
By working closely with APRA and its provincial network, RDP Applied Research is well-positioned to help address these challenges, accelerate innovation, and support Alberta’s transition toward a more circular, efficient, and resilient plastics economy.
For more information:
innovation@rdpolytech.ca
rdpolytech.ca/innovation
