Saskatchewan Polytechnic is amplifying innovation with the launch of its new Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, an applied research centre located at the Moose Jaw campus designed to spark bold ideas and strengthen business growth across the province.
Built on Sask Polytech’s strong foundation in applied research and career ready education, the centre equips entrepreneurs and industry partners with tools, mentorship and expertise to thrive in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Through workshops, one-on-one support and applied research collaborations, the centre helps bridge academic insight with real world opportunity.
“The Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre creates a space where students, entrepreneurs, faculty and industry can collaborate, experiment and grow,” says Spencer Nikkel, director of the new centre. “It’s about sparking innovation that supports Saskatchewan’s economy and creates more opportunities for talent to stay rooted in Saskatchewan communities.”
A strategic initiative of the Faculty of Business and Management, the centre offers a province-wide platform for entrepreneurial development. Supported by experienced faculty and connected to Sask Polytech’s broader applied research network, the centre is uniquely positioned to help businesses innovate and scale.
“We have an award-winning applied research team,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “The team members at our research centres work directly with industry to solve real-world challenges and to improve productivity, products and processes. The Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre builds on this great work. After companies collaborate with our researchers, our business experts help them create new solutions and products, generating opportunities for business growth.”
Throughout the year, the centre will host networking opportunities, workshops, competitions and community events that bring students, faculty and innovators together to share ideas and build momentum.
“The centre is a strong example of applied learning in action connecting theory with practice as students tackle real-world challenges to develop solutions, create value and make meaningful contributions to both businesses and communities,” says Kristen Craig, dean of the Faculty of Business and Management. “We want our students to access as many workâintegrated learning experiences as possible, and this initiative offers yet another excellent opportunity for them to do so.”
The centre's first major initiative is the Sask Polytech Startup Challenge, a mentorship and pitch competition designed to help early-state entrepreneurs and students turn ideas into viable businesses. The at-capacity cohort brought together a diverse mix of Sask Polytech students and community entrepreneurs, representing a wide range of sectors from technology and trades solutions to leadership coaching and equine therapy highlighting both the creativity and economic potential emerging from Saskatchewan. The challenge concludes with a pitch event in Moose Jaw at the Town N Country Mall on April 16.
Sask Polytech’s applied research partners benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities, faculty expertise, research and development funding and a robust network of industry connections. Through collaborative research and development, companies can capture new opportunities, solve everyday challenges and contribute to economic growth and job creation across Saskatchewan. Research centres include the Centre for Health Research, Innovation & Scholarship (CHRIS), the Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE), the Sustainability Led Integrated Centres of Excellence (SLICE) and now the Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre.
Discover how Sask Polytech can support your next big idea with the Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre.