Top
Conestoga Applied Research
Conestoga Applied Research

SMART Centre

Why partner with the SMART Centre? 

The SMART Centre is the region’s hub for innovation, helping small, medium and large business overcome challenges in manufacturing, information technology, automotive, health tech, food and beverage manufacturing, and zero-emissions industries. Our expert team and cutting-edge facilities provide tailored solutions through applied research, technical services, and specialized training.

Powered by industry collaboration, we continuously evolve to meet emerging innovation needs. Located within a thriving ecosystem of world-class incubators, accelerators, and research labs, the SMART Centre is the region’s only centre that seamlessly connects businesses with the expertise and resources needed to transform ideas into real-world impact.

START A PROJect with the smart centre

Take a virtual tour of Conestoga's SMART Centre

As part of Canada’s network of NSERC-funded Technology Access Centres, the SMART Centre is a leader in research and innovation, bridging the gap between industry needs and technological advancements.

Your innovation, your IP

When partnering with us, SMEs retain full ownership of their IP. Collaborating with the Centre for Commercialization, we provide comprehensive IP services and work closely with businesses to develop tailored strategies that capture and safeguard their innovations.

Specialized expertise 

SMART Centre projects

A solar panel against a truck

A solar-powered alternative to wood-fired cooking with Zacstar Ltd.

Zacstar Ltd. supplies solar panels to the Nigerian market. The company partnered with Conestoga’s SMART Centre to refine a solar oven prototype designed to provide households with an alternative to wood-fired cooking. The project focused on improving the oven’s functionality, durability, and affordability while preparing the design for potential manufacturing.
Sunset

A new approach to solar panel recycling with Sunset Renewables

Sunset Renewables, an Indigenous-owned company based in Hamilton, Ontario, partnered with Conestoga’s SMART Centre to advance purpose-built technology for recycling waste solar panels. Building on an earlier collaboration, the project focused on preparing the company’s recycling equipment for commercial operation while improving material recovery, efficiency, and scalability.
dexterra group logo

Smarter washroom maintenance through connected technology with Dexterra

Dexterra partnered with Conestoga to develop a smart washroom monitoring system for commercial facilities and high-traffic public washrooms. The project focused on designing a scalable platform that uses connected sensor technology to monitor washroom conditions and provide facility management teams with information to support cleaning, maintenance, and supply replenishment.

Our team

Colleen McCann

Colleen McCann, PMP

Senior researcher

Jeff Dukes

Jeff Dukes, P.Eng.

Director, SMART Centre

Jeff Paddock headshot

Jeff Paddock

Partnership development manager

Ramzy Ganady, CET

Ramzy Ganady, CET

Operations supervisor

Parker Christie

Parker Christie

Senior researcher

Belinda Pompey

Belinda Pompey

Research coordinator

By the numbers (2025) 

Students hired
Active projects
Partners

Contact

See how the SMART Centre can help you access faculty expertise, student employees, and the college's innovative lab spaces and equipment.

 

96 Grand Avenue South
Cambridge, Ontario N1S 2L9, Canada

We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services.