Read the full 2025–26 SSF Annual and Final Report here: English | French
In 2025–26, the Composites Knowledge Network (CKN) completed its two-year term under the Strategic Science Fund (SSF), meeting every objective and performance indicator in its corporate plan and building lasting resources for Canada’s composites manufacturing community.
Key Highlights:
- Growing Knowledge Access: The Knowledge in Practice Centre (KPC) now offers more than 270 structured technical articles, with 50+ new pages added this year and more than 100 published over the life of the SSF project. New modules cover recycling composite technologies, finite element analysis, out of autoclave prepreg processing, and additive manufacturing of thermoplastic composites. The KPC welcomed an average of over 4,400 visitors per quarter, reaching users in more than 150 countries.
- Practical Training for a Skilled Workforce: CKN delivered 10 AIM Learning Events in each year of the SSF term, 20 in total, on high-demand skills such as composite repair, bolted joints, non-destructive testing (NDT), QA/QC, filament winding, and thermoset curing. Each session was recorded and linked to related KPC articles to create long-term learning pathways.
- Listening to Industry: Building on the bilingual 2024 National Industry Survey, CKN ran a follow-up survey in 2025 to understand how tariffs, shifting trade dynamics, and supply chain pressures are affecting Canadian manufacturers. These insights continue to shape CKN’s training and KPC content.
- A National Node Network: CKN formalized partnerships with 7 nodes across Canada, bringing academic and industry experts directly into co-authoring KPC content and co-developing AIM curriculum.
- Championing Inclusion: CKN launched a dedicated EDI module within the KPC and hosted inclusion-focused sessions on mental health, neurodivergent employees, and career access. As a 50-30 Challenge participant, CKN maintained 50% women and 30% representation from equity-deserving groups on its Board of Directors.
- Sustainability in Practice: Through a partnership with NGen, CKN captured case studies and testing data to help SMEs take manageable steps toward cleaner, lower-carbon manufacturing.
- Financial Stewardship: Over the full SSF term, CKN responsibly invested its $1 million in SSF funding, while securing more than $1.07 million in partner contributions, exceeding its 1:1 matched funding commitment.
CKN’s SSF term leaves Canada with a stronger, more connected composites ecosystem and growing momentum toward a more skilled, resilient, and inclusive composites sector in Canada.
Read the full 2025–26 SSF Annual and Final Report here: English | French