The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and miner Teck have partnered for the Teck Copper Innovation Hub, a facility that will advance research and testing of antimicrobial copper.
The Hub, located inside the BCIT Centre for Applied Research and Innovation, will use additive manufacturing (3D printing) to produce healthcare devices composed of copper and composites, which have been proven to kill bacteria. It will also advance research projects and education focused on exploring new ways that copper can be used to enhance health and safety in real-life applications.
Teck is providing $1.75 million in funding to support research, training and a curriculum program at the Teck Copper Innovation Hub. Over the next four years, research projects will focus on new health applications of copper.
BCIT officials said they have had a longstanding partnership with Teck, including Teck’s partnership with the school to install more than 1,000 antimicrobial copper patches on high-touch surfaces as an extra layer of protection.
“The new Teck Copper Innovation Hub will explore innovative new ways to use antimicrobial copper to enhance safety…and we applaud BCIT for advancing this important work,” said Teck CEO Jonathan Price.
Paul McCullough, interim president, BCIT, added: “The Teck Copper Innovation Hub combines the state-of-the-art research capabilities of BCIT Applied Research with the industry expertise of Teck to drive innovation across a growing interdisciplinary field. This partnership amplifies the collaborative strength of our organizations and establishes a new hands-on learning environment that will have meaningful impact in the healthcare field and beyond.”
Source: Teck Resources