BCIT and Teck Resources announced the opening of the Teck Copper Innovation Hub to research the use of antimicrobial copper.

BURNABY, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2023 — British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Teck Resources Limited announced the opening of the new Teck Copper Innovation Hub. Made possible by a $1.75 million donation from Teck, the facility will enable BCIT researchers and students to research and test the use of antimicrobial copper in a range of healthcare devices, including prosthetics and orthotics. Copper has unique antimicrobial properties and is proven effective in eliminating up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria which can make healthcare applications safer for patients and healthcare professionals.

The Teck Copper Innovation Hub, located inside the BCIT Centre for Applied Research and Innovation, will use additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, to produce healthcare devices composed of copper and composites. The facility will also advance research projects and education focused on exploring new ways that copper can be used to enhance health and safety in real-life applications. In today’s fast-moving world, additive manufacturing can quickly create objects that will serve as prototypes for the healthcare industry.

BCIT has a longstanding partnership with Teck which includes collaborative efforts to advance research and education in British Columbia. Last October, Teck made the second-largest contribution to the BCIT INSPIRE Campaign of $5 million to support campus redevelopment and new teaching and learning innovations in trades and health care. Teck also partnered with BCIT to install more than one thousand antimicrobial copper patches on high-touch surfaces at the BCIT Burnaby Campus as an extra layer of protection for BCIT students, staff, and visitors.

Quotes:
Jonathan Price, CEO, Teck –
“Copper’s unique antimicrobial properties make it perfect for use in health care, making high-touch surfaces and medical devices like prosthetics safer. The new Teck Copper Innovation Hub will explore innovative new ways to use antimicrobial copper to enhance safety for patients and health care professionals and we applaud BCIT for advancing this important work.”

Paul McCullough, Interim President, BCIT “The Teck Copper Innovation Hub combines the state-of-the-art research capabilities of BCIT Applied Research with the industry expertise of Teck to drive innovation across a growing interdisciplinary field. This partnership amplifies the collaborative strength of our organizations and establishes a new hands-on learning environment that will have meaningful impact in the healthcare field and beyond.”