In 2011, a partnership between Teck Trail Operations and Selkirk College created an annual fund to provide support for Selkirk College students to undertake a community-based research project in the West Kootenay Boundary Region. Up to $10,000 in student research internship funding has been made available each summer to conduct an applied research project that supports rural development at the community or regional level.  Applied research involves the use of new or existing knowledge to solve real-world challenges or questions.