Initiatives
Ecosystem Development
Innovation ecosystems develop when research, technology, and industry come together, supported by government initiatives and business services, to transform knowledge into solutions that can be applied to generate value and improve social and economic well-being.
In 2020-2021, NGen launched seven new initiatives designed to
enhance Canada’s advanced manufacturing workforce and strengthen the capacity of SMEs to manage the successful deployment and scale-up of advanced technologies for manufacturing.

NGen’s Advanced Manufacturing Youth Campaign
Learn More

Virtual Robotics Training Academy
is a cloud-based learning platform providing students with easy and low-cost access to virtual simulations that will help hone their skills in advanced manufacturing.
Learn More
Developed by InspireTech with financial support from NGen, the platform offers a variety of simulations that allow students to program and run virtual robots. Cisco has also joined the partnership by providing access to its Net Academy network and cybersecurity simulation programs via the platform. VRTA also offers online Python coding courses that will enable students to develop their coding skills and apply them to the simulations on the platform. Discover more at www.vrtaonline.com.
NGen is now working with InspireTech and Cisco to encourage school boards across the country to adopt the VRTA platform for practical learning purposes in their STEM, technology, and computer science courses. NGen will be encouraging its members to sponsor student seats on the platform, targeting in the first instance sponsorships for Black and Indigenous youth and youths at risk. Companies will be able to develop their own robotics simulations on the platform to engage students in customized contests, or to provide employee training or skills testing for potential employees.

Recover & Lead Supply Chain Resiliency Program
Learn More

AmpUp
Learn More
It provides access to high quality executive education and skills development programs relevant to advanced manufacturing offered by Canadian universities, colleges, and private sector training initiatives. Training partners provide NGen members with a discount on registration fees while NGen matches company contributions to employee training up to a maximum of $15,000 per company. The program was launched in October 2020. By the end of March 2021, it was providing access to 64 online courses offered by 17 academic and private sector partners from across Canada. Partners had discounted registration fees by $66,200 and NGen had provided $120,852 in matching funding to support 156 employees who were early registrants in the program. For more information about NGen’s workforce development initiatives, visit ngen.ca/workforce.

NGen & MFI
Learn More

What's Next?
Learn More

NGen's Transformation Leadership Program
Learn More
The program draws on best international management practices. It provides a modular approach to online executive education that will help business leaders and senior managers identify how they can best contribute to customer value, improve critical processes, and understand their business and skills requirements for successful advanced manufacturing transformations.