19 Number o f e xt ernally funde d applie d r es e ar ch pr oje cts 2 0 16 17 Bas eline 3 1 3 5 C onduct tw o 2 applie d r es e ar ch pr oje cts in R obo tics with tw o loc al c omp anies and one 1 pr oje ct r elat e d t o dr one t e chnology with T err eSky F aculty in Natural En vir onment will c ontinue t o w ork with e xt ernal p artners in r es e ar ch activities Number of partnerships collaborations with community industry firms 201617 Baseline 3 2 3 5 The Digital Film Production program will partner with the film company Tainted Production Inc Students in this program will actively work on set and production The Graphic Design and Digital Media program will continue with its newly formed partnership with the City of Sault Ste Marie Students in this program area will continue creating signage for various city assets The Natural Environment programs have recently formed community partnerships with the Kensington Conservancy which will include the use of conservancy property by the program The School of Business has a newly formed partnership with the young professionals group STRIVE The Culinary programs continue to form partnerships with community restaurants for student placement opportunities These partnerships provide opportunities for students to learn in various kitchens throughout Sault Ste Marie Three partnerships in applied research will be developed a Two in Robotics will be developed with local companies b One in Drone Technology with TerreSky a national drone company Provision of ongoing Indigenous student support services for PLATO learners Collaboration with the SSM Indigenous Friendship Centre to provide programming and supports to the Homeward Bound program APPLIED RESE ARCH Sault C olle ge fully r e c ogniz es the importanc e o f c ollaborativ e applie d r es e ar ch and its po t ential t o enrich the e xperiential le arning c omponents o f s tudent s e duc ation while f os t ering indus try inno v ation and e c onomic de v elopment in the r e gion T he C olle ge will c ontinue t o pr o vide s tr ong support f or applie d r es e ar ch thr ough the c ontinue d support o f the Applie d R es e ar ch C entr e and the c ontinue d ef orts t o gr o w and e xp and its applie d r es e ar ch c ap acity S y s t emwideIns titution Metrics 2 0 17 18 A c tual 2 0 192 0 T ar get R ange Depar tmental Initiativ es