The chemical industry in North America is experiencing a resurgence and an upcoming conference in Edmonton will provide insights into how Canada can position itself to be a competitive player on the global chemical stage.
The Chemistry Canada Summit, September 24-26 in Edmonton, will offer an expanded technical program and exhibition as the business conference focuses on understanding the global industry, how to maximize Canada’s role, as well as regional opportunities and challenges.
Debbie Pietrusik, Conference Chair for the Summit, and Research and Innovation Consultant with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) which will be hosting the event, said the world is changing and advancements in technology are happening at a rapid and increasing pace.
“NAIT has worked closely with industry for more than 50 years. Building on our strengths and deep relationship with industry, NAIT’s industry solutions help companies to navigate and adapt to these changes. We help partners to adopt new technologies, develop and test new products, provide workforce training for productivity, develop applied research solutions for industry challenges and improve business practices,” said Pietrusik.
“Hosting events such as the Chemistry Canada conference are an integral part of NAIT’s industry solutions, bringing stakeholders together to exchange ideas, share knowledge and foster long-term relationships.”
Chemistry Canada not only builds awareness of the chemistry industry in Canada but also brings representatives from other regions around the globe to Canada to share their regional experiences for attracting value-add investments in their backyard, she said.
“This year’s conference includes a panel that will include representatives from the Port of Antwerp, the Port of Rotterdam and the government of Pennsylvania, to discuss the importance of downstream processing industries to their economies and the role government and industry play in
developing integrated industrial clusters,” added Pietrusik.
“Canada has an abundance of natural resources that provide a competitive advantage to attract chemical and fuel investments. Incentive programs have been launched in several provinces to assist in diversifying the energy economy and promote new opportunities for hydrocarbon and bio-based facilities.”
Mark Plamondon, the Executive Director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, said the association is a major supporter of the event.
“We have a 20-year history of collaboration amongst five municipalities with respect to economic development, promotion of primarily the petrochemical industry in our region and we are actively seeking additional investment into our region and that’s why our association exists. So it’s a natural fit for us with the Chemistry Canada conference,” he said.
“We’re quite excited to be able to showcase Alberta’s industrial heartland and show the delegates to the conference the assets out here in the industrial heartland . . . We’re taking quite an active role in this conference and we think it’s going to be a great success.”
The association’s five municipal partners are the City of Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont County, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County and the City of Edmonton. The association’s three associate members are the Town of Bruderheim, the Town of Gibbons and the Town of Redwater.
Chemistry Canada, organized by EventWorx Corporation, will be held at NAIT’s new Productivity and Innovation Centre. It brings together the primary industry players representing chemicals, chemical products, specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, and biochemicals. Its goal is to bring industry operators together with governments, academia and service and supply to meet, share knowledge and forge long-term relationships.
“Alberta is experiencing new growth in the petrochemical industry as demonstrated by the polypropylene investments announced by Inter Pipeline and the joint venture of Pembina Pipeline Corporation and Kuwait Petrochemical Industries Company, as well as increased fertilizer production announced by CF Industries,” said Pietrusik.
“Several other companies across the province are assessing expansion of their existing facilities converting natural gas to chemicals and fuels. Additionally, new investment opportunities are being evaluated by international groups based on the competitive price of Alberta’s natural gas feedstocks. It is expected that Alberta will see continued growth in its petrochemical, chemical and fuel industry through a diversified portfolio of feedstock supply.”
For additional information on Chemistry Canada, visit: chemistry-canada.com.
NAIT’s vision is to be the most relevant and responsive post-secondary institution in Canada and one of the world’s leading polytechnics. Central to this vision is NAIT’s relationship with industry and business. Industry is a partner in all that NAIT does. At 17,650 square metres (190,000 square feet), NAIT’s new Productivity and Innovation Centre is one of North America’s largest innovation spaces.
The Productivity and Innovation Centre is the place industry comes for solutions and to succeed. Through our work with our partners NAIT will support the creation of globally-competitive organizations, smarter communities and an Alberta that continues to lead the way.
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