BCIT has collaborated with several local companies on applied research projects: 1) Rayne Longboards worked with BCIT to develop a test bench that subjects longboards to stresses to evaluate durability, generating data to improve designs and materials. 2) iProgen Biotech received assistance producing protein therapeutics from BCIT faculty with expertise in cell line engineering. 3) Business, computing, and engineering students gain real-world experience through projects sponsored by and providing solutions for local industries.

1. SME SUCCESSES
HIGHLIGHTS OF APPLIED
RESEARCH PROJECTS WITH
INDUSTRY
APPLIED RESEARCH LIAISON OFFICE
Joe Boyd

2. Rayne Longboards
Based in North Vancouver, Rayne
Longboards is the market leader for
performance longboards. They currently produce a diverse lineup
of 11 bamboo composite products. Rayne is currently committed to
developing and commercializing the use of Natural Fiber
Composites as a replacement for the fiberglass in their
skateboards.
There was no commercially available test equipment that could
perform accelerated life cycle testing on skate and longboards.
BCIT’s Product and Process Applied Research Team (PART)
developed a test bench that imparts torsional and bending stresses
to a longboard sample repeatedly for a specified duration for
accelerated life cycle evaluation.
The results are accurate measurement data that Rayne uses to
test, verify and validate their designs and materials performance.

3. Cell Line Engineering
BCIT Biotechnology faculty have
extensive experience in mammalian cell culture and manipulating
cells for a variety of applications. Joan Shellard has particular
expertise in engineering certain cell lines for high level recombinant
protein production.
With funding from an NSERC Engage Grant, Joan and Sarah
McLeod collaborated with iProgren Biotech Inc, an early-stage
biotechnology company focused on development of an intracellular
protein delivery technology. They assisted iProgen by producing
sufficient quantities of their candidate protein therapeutics for preclinical testing.
Biotechnology Industry Collaborations

4. School of Business Student Consulting
Projects
BCIT Business Consulting Projects
match a group of two or three students
with local businesses to provide
recommendations and solutions to a
business problem or challenge.
Most projects are completed between January and May of each
year.
Business Consulting Projects are available in marketing, human
resources, business operations, and information technology.
• BCIT Business Consulting Projects website
• Sample project:
Process Improvement Analysis for Coca Cola Refreshments

5. Industry Sponsored Student Projects
(ISSP)
Students in the School of Computing
and Academic Studies participate in
the Industry Sponsored Student
Projects program (ISSP).
ISSP provides students with real-life experience by
working on IT or software projects directly from industry.
Students work in teams or individually with an industry
sponsor, proceeding through the development life-cycle to
develop IT or software solutions.
• Sample ISSP projects
• Opportunities for IT and Computing Employers

6. School of Energy Capstone Student
Projects
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Capstone Projects allow students to be
involved in interesting, real-world activities.
Student teams (usually 2-3 students per
team) work on their projects and each team
is advised by a faculty member.
Projects selected are encouraged to have an industry connection or
solve a practical problem beneficial to industry.
• School of Energy Capstone Student Projects website
• Centre for Energy Education and Research (CEER) website