The federal department that promotes economic growth in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan has invested nearly $900,000 into polytechnics across the prairies.

PrairiesCan announced the funding yesterday, which will benefit the Prairie Polytechnic Innovation Network Acceleration Commercialization for Local Ecosystems, or P2INACLE.

Led by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, PINACLE’s first pilot project, with the International Minerals Innovation Institute, is taking place this spring. The goal of the pilot is to identify obstacles for mining companies in Western Canada and hopefully find solutions.

Other polytechnics involved in P2INACLE include NAIT, SAIT, Red Deer Polytechnic, and Northwestern Polytechnic.