Imperial Oil donates $37M research lab to SAIT, largest-ever corporate gift to an Alberta post-secondary
Imperial Oil Limited has gifted a $37-million research facility to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), marking the single largest corporate gift to any post-secondary institution in Alberta, according to SAIT.
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The 40,000 square foot Imperial Energy Innovation Centre will support the expansion of SAIT's energy innovation applied research and aims to create opportunities for collaborative industry research and student training.
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'Imperial established the first petroleum research facility in Canada more than a century ago, creating many of the processes and technologies foundational to oilsands development and used across the industry to this day,' said Brad Corson, Imperial's chairman and CEO, in a release. 'We are excited that this space will create new opportunities for collaborations within the innovation ecosystem here in Alberta and expand SAIT's programs and facilities to support the next generation of STEM professionals.'
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'The new Imperial Energy Innovation Centre will help drive the next generation of energy research — fostering innovation and bringing together leading industry professionals with top researchers in their fields,' Ross said.
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SAIT, one of Canada's top five research colleges, says the donation represents a 'powerful' integration of Imperial's extensive research in the field of oilsands recovery technology with SAIT's own research.
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'As a conductor driving applied research innovation with SAIT students, ARIS and industry, this facility will bring together leading researchers in petroleum engineering with the next generation of thinkers and innovators,' the release states. 'The Imperial Energy Research Centre will be a launchpad for solutions to in-field challenges and will enhance the forward movement of applied energy research that drives Canadian industry.'
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We have BIG news! 🚨
SAIT has been donated a $37 million research lab facility from @ImperialOil in the single largest corporate gift to any post-secondary institution in Alberta. 👏 #HereAtSAIT #Research #SustainableEnergy https://t.co/BITAofatU3
— SAIT (@sait) May 6, 2025
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Imperial will continue to use the SAIT-operated facility to support its ongoing research focused on reducing the environmental impacts of its operations, the release states.
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Imperial is Canada's largest petroleum refiner, a major producer of crude oil, a key petrochemical producer and a leading fuels marketer.
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