On Saturday, February 19, 2022, Jason Michaud, CEO of Stardust Technologies along with several Ontario organizations and one international university unveiled plans for a proposed 115 acres research facility based in the Northeastern Ontario community of Cochrane. The facility will also focus on STEM education.
Stardust Technologies is known for developing AI, XR, and robotic technologies and is a strong advocate of including youth in STEM activities, especially for those in the remote northern areas of Ontario.
Jason Michaud made the official announcement at their first community event, called Rockets on Ice. After the announcement, a tour of the proposed area for the facility was provided to the organizations participating along with local community leaders. There was also a wide variety of activities available for kids.
The Stardust Space Centre campus will include the Stardust Institute of Technology and the Stardust Research Station. The research station will be “a space analogue research facility focused on isolation studies and on the mental health and wellbeing of astronauts and space explorers in medium and long-range travel.”
Initial organizations participating in the Stardust Institute of Technology include academic partners. Western University, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Technology Sidney (Australia). The Ininew Friendship Centre and Beaverhouse First Nations are the first representatives of local First Nations and Indigenous agencies. Peterborough based Beyond Blue Aerospace is a corporate partner. Michaud told SpaceQ that they will announce other partners “in short order” and which they hope will include government.
According to Michaud the “Stardust Institute of Technology will provide hybrid research and learning for Ontarian youth, with the aim of making STEM education more accessible, and foster interest in STEM degrees.”
Along with the new Stardust Space Centre, Stardust said it was “also using this opportunity to introduce the development of the Stardust Innovation Hub (SIH), an entrepreneurial incubator focused on attracting and retaining STEM investors, innovators, and entrepreneurs to/in Northern Ontario, developing a robust STEM ecosystem, and promoting Indigenous innovation.”
SpaceQ asked Michaud how the new Centre was going to be funded and what the cost was. Michaud said they weren’t prepared to discuss the details as they were in the final stage of negotiating funding. He said to expect more news on the Centre and funding later in the spring.