Our Key Areas of Focus

Nearly all companies and communities require mobile computing solutions. This typically involves apps and support for cloud and database services. Increasingly, organizations seek ubiquitous computing solutions. Ubiquitous computing is broader than and predates the Internet of Things and encompasses new product and service solutions that operate anytime and anywhere.

Mobile and ubiquitous computing is a research focus area of natural interest to NBCC. We offer nine programs in the Information Technology (IT) field, many of which include internships and co-op placements where students can potentially work on applied research and innovation projects.

We are also home to the Centre for Applied Research in Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing. The Centre is directed by Dr. William McIver, Jr. Through software engineering, human-centred design, and computer science theory, modelling, and simulation, the Centre is developing new practices in accessibility design, universal design, and security by design.

Security violations, data breaches, and privacy failures are ever-growing threats. New Brunswick is emerging as a regional leader in research and professional services aimed at addressing these. NBCC is part of this effort—academically, through our post-graduate certificate program in Cybersecurity, as well as through applied research.

The College has launched a Critical Infrastructure Security Operations Centre (CI-SOC) to provide students with real-world training on cybersecurity scenarios before entering the workforce, while also serving the needs of the many companies in southern New Brunswick that support critical infrastructure and the regional supply chain. To bolster this capacity, NBCC recently hired a Cybersecurity Researcher.

The goal of educational technologies is to create an immersive learning experience that gives students the flexibility they desire while preserving the feeling of being in the classroom. The disruption to business-as-usual experienced since 2020 has shown us that we can leverage technology to create immersive flexible environments effectively and efficiently.

Under the leadership of the NBCC Research Associate in Educational Technologies, students and staff contribute to applied research projects that assist partner organizations to boost traditional learning and meeting experiences and create new customized delivery options that help to reach more participants than ever before, including those in rural and remote areas.

The continued growth and strengthening of New Brunswick’s food system to supply both local and export markets is central to the growth of a sustainable and resilient agri-food sector.

NBCC applied research in agri-food aims to increase the agricultural resilience and self-sufficiency of the region, the visibility of New Brunswick-made food products, access to healthy food, and regional food security. This focus area is a natural fit with the skills and expertise of NBCC students and staff in the Culinary Arts, Graphic and Communications Design, and Business Administration Marketing program areas.

Historically, NBCC has assisted businesses in the development of prototype recipes, brand concepts, market research, and process refinement to support new food products through course-based projects. With the addition of a Research Associate in Agri-Food, NBCC is expanding the scope and scale of these efforts and increasing collaborations with local producers and businesses to help accelerate innovation.

NBCC offers healthcare programs at all six campuses and has a Research Associate in Health. As a regional leader in the training of health professionals, NBCC continues to drive innovation through inter-professional and inter-disciplinary opportunities for applied research projects with medical, allied health, nursing, and other professionals throughout the province, particularly in pulmonary rehabilitation, inter-professionals practice, long-term care, healthy aging, aging-in-place, pharmacy practice, patient education, mental health, and first responders.

We’re interested in creating innovative solutions to pressing social problems and assisting our community and industry partners in developing responsible and sustainable business opportunities.

Our goal is to increase our capacity to work with communities and develop partnerships that foster social innovation in education, integration of vulnerable populations, and community development.

Research in social innovation may involve faculty, staff, and students in any program but is of particular interest to our social science program areas, such as justice studies, early childhood education, human services, and human resources management. Project topics have included food security, affordable housing, intimate partner violence, and outdoor and living classroom models for early childhood education.

Our Research Associate in Social Innovation has experience in a range of social innovation areas.

NBCC’s nationally accredited Electrical Engineering Technology and Building Engineering Technology programs can help industry address issues of energy efficiency. Our Applied Energy Management program encourages students to actively engage in the real-world application of learning by employing energy solution strategies, optimizing conventional systems, and integrating viable alternate energy sources. The new Applied Energy Management post-graduate program will increase the pool of student research assistants with high-level competencies in this area. Faculty and students in these programs are interested in research and development collaborations with industry that can provide meaningful applied learning experiences.

Advanced manufacturing involves using innovative technologies to improve manufacturing processes, methods and products. Composite material and additive manufacturing (e.g., 3-D printing) represent growing sectors and present significant opportunities for New Brunswick companies.

NBCC can provide small businesses with access to engineering research and technical services to help achieve growth in the sector and help propel New Brunswick into a leadership role in the sector.