Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, Cambrian R&D Partner to Promote Animation and Game Design

SUDBURY – Re-drawing the economy of Greater Sudbury. The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC) and Cambrian College view the animation and game design industries as rising stars in the local economy.

To help grow them, GSDC is providing $200,000 over two years to Cambrian R&D to launch an initiative called Storyboarding: Bringing Greater Sudbury’s Animation Potential to Life.

Under the Storyboarding initiative, animation and game design firms pitch a proposal to Cambrian R&D. If the proposal meets the necessary criteria, including a $2,500 investment from the client, up to $10,000 in funding could be made available.

The criteria includes providing learning opportunities to students in Cambrian’s Animation and Game Design programs. Other criteria include the client’s level of business activity in Greater Sudbury, the project’s viability, and confirmed timelines for production.

“Animation and gaming are multi-billion-dollar, multi-national industries,” says Meredith Armstrong, Director of Economic Development at the City of Greater Sudbury. “Teaming up with Cambrian R&D means we’ll be able to harness their expertise and experience in supporting up-and-coming businesses, while at the same time giving companies the opportunity to develop the local talent base in game design and animation.”

Since 2012, more than 180 film and television productions have been shot in Greater Sudbury, with an average of $20 million in annual local direct spending, not including indirect benefits.

“The film production industry continues to expand in Greater Sudbury, and this is a win for everyone involved,” says Dr. Mike Commito, Director of Cambrian R&D. “Industry partners have access to financial support to grow animation and game design production in this area, our students have more opportunities locally to expand their skills and find work in the field, and our research capacity expands as this is a new sector for us at Cambrian R&D.”

For more information about the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, visit www.investsudbury.ca.

To learn more about Cambrian R&D, visit www.cambriancollege.ca/rd.

To learn more about Cambrian’s Animation and Game Design programs, visit www.cambriancollege.ca/programs.