SEPT-ÎLES, Canada - Rio Tinto is proud to highlight the inauguration of the Rio Tinto IOC Research and Innovation Pavilion of the Cégep de Sept-Îles, a major achievement made possible by the close partnership between the Cégep and a C$4 million donation from Rio Tinto IOC. This investment reflects Rio Tinto's ongoing commitment towards the development of Québec's North Shore region for over 70 years.
Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Rio Tinto IOC Pavilion is designed to promote applied research, training and innovation in sectors that are strategic for the region, while strengthening ties between academia and industry. This structural project supported by many public and private partners represents a total investment of over C$40 million.
The new pavilion houses three cutting-edge research units: the RAIL Centre of Expertise, the Industrial Maintenance Technology Institute (ITMI) and the Energy Intelligence Research and Innovation Centre (CR2ie). It also hosts the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Promotion on the North Shore (CEVI).
The General Manager of the Cégep de Sept-Îles, David Beaudin, said: ''Today's inauguration marks a historic milestone for the Cégep and for the entire North Shore community. It is a source of great pride to see a promising project come to fruition, one that demonstrates our region's expertise, boldness and capacity for innovation. This facility embodies our commitment to put innovation at the service of regional and national development, in close collaboration with our industrial and institutional partners. This is a structural investment that will enable the training of a highly skilled workforce, support applied research and position the region as an internationally recognised centre of expertise in strategic sectors.''
General Manager, Rail and Port, Rio Tinto IOC, José Riopel, said: ''The result of close collaboration between the Cégep de Sept-Îles, industry players and governments, the new Rio Tinto IOC Pavilion reinforces our region's position as a centre of excellence for specialised training and research in strategic sectors such as rail transport and maintenance. It also offers to the youth across all communities unique opportunities to develop their talents in the industries of the future, here on the North Shore.''
For many years, Rio Tinto IOC has been supporting the Cégep de Sept-Îles by providing equipment used in student training. Rio Tinto IOC donated a railway driving simulator, signalling equipment, switch motors, rail and a wagon to the Cégep. Since 2022, the company also donated $1 million to the RAIL Centre of Expertise as part of a partnership supporting research projects for security and preventive maintenance. Jointly developed training courses are also offered to Rio Tinto IOC employees to enhance their technical skills in areas such as rolling stock and railway maintenance.
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