Dream machines
Nova Scotia Power Makerspace workshop officially opens in New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation
Startup costs for any business can be daunting but for entrepreneurs looking to make a go of it as a contractor in the world of electrical and mechanical systems, the expenses attached can be astronomical.
Justin Lewis reached out to Innovacorp, the province’s privatesector early stage venture capital firm, on funding options for small business when he was told about the new makerspace workshop at the New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation in north end Sydney.
If he became a member, for a nominal fee each month, he would have access to a computer numerical control milling machine, welding equipment and a manual and computer numerical control lathe machine, which removes material from a rotating workpiece using cutting tools such as drill bits.
“This is my wish list right here,” said the 32-year-old Coxheath resident, scanning the room Friday, pointing to pieces of equipment he would find most useful in his line of work.
“It saves me a lot of upfront investment for sure,” Lewis said.
“These machines are incredibly versatile but for that reason they’re also expensive. To get access to them is usually very, very high cost. But in a situation like this where we can all sort of share it, it makes the cost significantly less.”
A new initiative created by Innovacorp called Momentum will oversee the newly named Nova Scotia Power Makerspace workshop. The province’s electrical utility is spending $250,000 on the pilot project.
The Momentum initiative also includes an entrepreneur-in-residence, acceleration programs, training opportunities, mentorship and networking events. Bob Pelley, Innovacorp’s regional manager for Cape Breton and northern Nova Scotia, has been named its first executive director.
The workshop is divided into areas for youth, who have dedicated work stations for robotics, electronics, coding and 3D printing, and a separate area where adults can use the large pieces of machinery safely.
The makerspace also has three high-end 3D printers, a robotics lab, a computer station for computer-aided design and office space for the entrepreneurial hub.
The federal government, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, provided a $300,000 grant to purchase the tools, equipment and make the necessary renovations for the space.
Operational costs over the next two years are estimated to cost $315,000, Pelley said.
Momentum previously received a $1.9-million investment from the federal and provincial governments last year.
There are two years remaining for Momentum’s project, however Pelley said he’s confident the province through Innovacorp and Ottawa will be there for additional funding once the pilot program has concluded.
“During the first two years of operation, we’ll really get an understanding of how well a job we did in anticipating the community needs,” he said.
“We think there will be some fine tuning that will be required and we’re optimistic that we’ll have a plan for partial sustainability and we’re hoping that we will be able to come back to ACOA and the province to get some additional support to continue the operation of the makerspace.”
Over the past several decades, machine shops were a useful tool in advancing small businesses in Cape Breton, Pelley told a small crowd assembled Friday for the official unveiling of the makerspace workshop.
When Cape Breton University’s CAD/CAM Centre was open in the 1990s, it acted as the
playground for fledgling enterprises Advanced Glazings, Dynagen and Protocase Inc.
He said these companies also welcomed entrepreneurs working on their own prototypes until “their customer base grew to the point where they needed security protocols and had to restrict access somewhat.”
That’s where the Nova Scotia Power Makerspace comes in, as it’s the “key missing ingredient” to entrepreneurial growth in the area, Pelley said.
Lewis, who has a mechanical engineering degree from Dalhousie University, is in the process of registering his company Lewis Tech Engineering. He said he’s looking forward to getting his hands dirty in the makerspace.
“These machines here are very similar to what you would find in an automotive plant or anywhere
else making parts for big industry except that we have access to them here where we can make them do whatever we want them to do, to create one-off parts to test prototypes.”
Several partners are working with Innovacorp to ensure the makerspace has a successful launch. Those organizations include New Dawn Enterprises, the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Island Sandbox, Navigate Startup House and MentorConnect.
Matthew Swan, director of the makerspace, said it will be interesting to see the mix of people once the workshop catches on among members of the public.
“When you have a combination here of electronics people, woodworkers, machinists, and artists all working together, what will come from that we don’t even know but that’s going to be the magic, I would say.”
The first in-take session at the makerspace workshop will be held on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Brilliant Labs, a non-profit hands-on technology and experiential learning platform aimed at youth across Atlantic Canada, will set up part of its office in the makerspace.
It will be an opportunity to offer young people technology programming outside of the school environment.
Rachael MacKeigan, a program specialist with Brilliant Labs, said a schedule hasn’t been finalized yet but there are plans already for after-school robotics and coding clubs.
“And whatever interest there is from the community, we’ll try to fit that in,” she said.