Skip to content

Our Purpose

The Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation (Barrett CTI) is more than just a building. It is a collaborative meeting place where inspiration, expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm all intersect to focus on solving challenges, developing ideas and bringing to life new, innovative ways of doing things.

The research and the projects that the Barrett CTI gets involved with, are developing game-changing innovations, enabling industry and small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to pursue digital transformation and advanced manufacturing techniques, while at the same time, protecting the environment with sustainable solutions. This is having a positive impact on various industry sectors and SMEs within Canada as well as internationally.

Small to Medium Sized Enterprises

One of the goals of the Barrett CTI is to reach out and work with SMEs to help them understand and successfully compete in digital transformation environments. We have a wide scope of resources, available to help SMEs transform their innovative ideas into:

  • Process improvements
  • Technological advancements
  • Potential new sources of revenue

Innovative ideas often come from SMEs however, they don’t always have the resources or means to get their ideas off the ground. Whether it is a need for research and development, expertise in a particular field, facilities, access to capital or difficulty in determining how to commercialize ideas, the Barrett CTI has the resources to help. We have assisted many SMEs develop their ideas into viable products or engage in research projects that help them develop innovative technologies. We offer access to:

  • Experienced faculty
  • Skilled student researchers
  • Industry partner expertise
  • State-of-the-art equipment
  • Assistance with grant applications

In addition, Humber respects the intrinsic value of innovation and invention. We have a fair and well-established Intellectual Property policy that gives industry partners and SMEs full control and responsibility for their intellectual property, from ideation to commercialization.

Get Involved 

Industry Partners

Our industry partners are part of a key strategy for the success and sustainability of the Barrett CTI. These relationships were formalized with the formation of the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Consortium at the time the Barrett CTI was opened in 2019. What started out as a simple relationship between academia and industry to provide for a higher skillset required of a modern workforce, has developed into a much deeper, mutually beneficial relationship that has resulted in:

  • Paradigm-shifting technology innovations.
  • Inspired and skilled students, career-ready for industry digital transformation.
  • Partner access to student talent through co-op placements.
  • A state-of-the-art facility that supports ongoing research and development of innovative technologies and products.
  • A learning centre where industry partners can provide training on equipment, technologies and up-skilling for:
    • Their employees
    • Their customer’s employees
    • Humber faculty and students- Other Barrett CTI partners
  • Partner access to free workshops offered through Humber departments.
  • Media exposure through Humber’s internal channels as well as external media publications (such as Automation Magazine and others).
  • Partner access to Humber’s Office of Research & Innovation for support with research initiatives and grant applications.
  • Participation in community outreach programs such as STEAM and Skills Varsity competitions.
More Partner Benefits 

Students

Student success is at the core of what the Barrett CTI is all about. The Barrett CTI provides an environment that integrates research, new learning, innovation and hands-on experiences. With a blend of classroom theory and project-based learning, students are provided with the critical-thinking skills, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial skills they need to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow.

How Students Get Involved 

Faculty

Our faculty members are key to the success of the applied research projects, industrial capstone projects, STEAM outreach and preparation for Skills Varsity competitions within the Barrett CTI. Many of our faculty and staff researchers are experts in advanced manufacturing, industrial design, social innovation and sustainability. In addition to teaching and mentoring students, our faculty members provide their knowledge and experience to:

  • Fulfill responsibilities of a Project Lead for collaborative research teams.
  • Engage students as active members of research teams.
  • Assist students, industry partners and SMEs in the development of new approaches to real-world challenges.
  • Assist in the development of applied research, industrial capstone and STEAM projects.
  • Mentor students to successfully compete in Skills Varsity competitions at the provincial, national and world level.
Setting Students Up for Success