New Brunswick Community College has launched a program allowing public and private sector organizations to spend $25,000 for six months of work from an NBCC researcher as part of a push by the institution to promote digital readiness in industry.

TechVilleNB, as the program is named, is administered through NBCC’s College Office of Research and Enterprise, or CORE, industry group Springboard Atlantic said in a press release. NBCC plans to fund two to three research projects per year until 2028.

“The mission of NBCC’s TechVilleNB is to develop a research ecosystem to promote sustainable and durable economic recovery and social development by cultivating meaningful partnerships to promote digitally enhanced advanced technology readiness,” says NBCC on its website.

“TechVilleNB is a model regional living technology implementation laboratory, powered by 5G technologies, that enables access to technology for communities in Fredericton and beyond, uniquely spanning not only city but rural and remote communities in New Brunswick.”

The college highlights the health, agri-food and clean energy sectors. Interested founders can apply via an expression of interest, which must be written in simple language and “address the social, business and cultural aspects of technology uptake.” You can learn more here.