Building a better bulb

Lakehead University announced the development of a new research lab focused on creating greener technology.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the university and Meaglow Ltd developed the idea to create a semi-conductor research lab for the university. Officials made the announcement at Intercity Shopping Centre on Saturday.

Dimiter Alexandrov, associate-profession in electrical engineering at Lakehead University, said the lab would give opportunities to develop greener technologies including more energy efficient light bulbs.

"This technology provides a unique opportunity for a very wide spectrum of application in the field of electronics," Alexandrov said. "It is unique because it is the first time in the world the technology is being developed here in Thunder Bay."

Alexandrov said the new lab would give students the opportunity to complete a masters degree, a Phd and find employment without having to leave the city. The school also plans to have internship opportunities with Meaglow.

NOHFC provided more than $520,000 for the development of the lab. Michael Gravelle, chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, said the research lab would provide 14 well-paying jobs over the next three years.

"These are very high end jobs," Gravelle said. "The kinds of jobs in the future are going to require the best education you can get. An well-educated workforce is going to be a well-employed workforce. To compete globally we are going to have to be the best educated."

Gravelle said the decision to start a semi-conductive research lab in Thunder Bay was to capitalize on the growing economic interest in greener technology. The economy of Thunder Bay traditionally focused on natural resources such as pulp and paper. However, the city is transforming into a post-secondary education workforce, he said.

"This is really just the beginning," he said. "We are seeing tons of jobs being created in terms of the knowledge economy."