The following list is an abbreviated summary of organizations listed by the Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) as part of Ontario's Regional Innovation Networks, a precursor to the integrated Ontario Network of Excellence called for in former Minister Wilkinson’s speech June 24, 2009. Each grouping listed below is a network in its own right. Numbers 7, 8 and 9 on the map, BioDiscovery Toronto, York Biotech and the Greater Peterborough Area DNA Cluster, with a focus on biomedical / health care sciences, are omitted from this list.
Details presented here are indicative only, as each network will work to some extent in its own way. Not all details could be confirmed by time of publication.
The MRI also works with a number of organizations and think tanks that function at a higher level of abstraction, such as the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity, which studies the factors behind Ontario’s economic progress; the Ontario Network on the Regional Innovation System and the Centre for Innovation Studies, which study the innovation process itself; and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, where Stephen Hawking is a visiting professor. Although basic scientific research is a critical component in innovation, this issue of IPPSO FACTO is focused on the more commercially-oriented end of the spectrum, and does not address the activity underway in more basic research.
Southwestern Ontario Bioproducts Innovation Network (SOBIN)
From their self-description: Dedicated to advancing new bioproducts and finding new uses for biobased feedstock in manufacturing primarily in the automotive, chemical and energy industries.
Areas of interest / potential applications include: cogen, biofuels
Funding: no
Stage of support: commercialization
Contact: Matthew McLean, Executive Director (519) 674-1605 Email:
Guelph Partnership for Innovation
From their self-description: Grow the size and capacity of the Guelph agritechnology cluster by connecting people, money and ideas and by advocating for improved research and commercialization infrastructure.
Areas of interest / potential applications include: biogas
Funding: no
Stage of support: commercialization
http://www.guelphinnovation.com/
Contact Laurie Iversen, Project Coordinator, at
or Jim Wadleigh, Executive Director, Cell – (519) 830-8919,
Waterloo Research and Technology Park Accelerator
From their self-description: Accelerate the creation, growth, and maturation of sustainable new technology companies; to promote commercialization of research and technology rising out of local academic institutions.
Areas of interest / potential applications include:
Funding: provides connection to venture capital
Stage of support: commercialization
Recent initiatives: A recent Accelerator graduate company is Energent: provides energy-intensive facilities in North America with automated, real-time energy information solutions for reducing their energy costs and lowering their carbon emissions.
Contact: Barb Muise (519) 342-2402
Golden Horseshoe BioSciences Network
From their self-description: A regional partnership of business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and economic development officers embracing the biotechnology and biosciences sector.
Areas of interest / potential applications include:
Funding:
Stage of support:
Contact: Justin Policarpio Research Analyst and Communications Officer Golden Horseshoe Biosciences Network Tel: (905) 525-9140 ext. 21378 Email:
Research, Innovation, Commercialization Centre (R.I.C. Centre)
From their self-description: At RIC Centre we have the skills and experience to help guide your innovation to market. We listen and evaluate; help polish your business plan and presentation skills and mentor you through the process as a partner.
Areas of interest / potential applications include: emerging / clean technologies
Funding: provides connection to venture capital
Stage of support: commercialization
Contact: Pam Banks Commercialization Director
London Regional Innovation Network / The Stiller Centre for Technology Commercialization
From their self-description: The Stiller Centre facilities are designed for startup technology-based companies. We help to bring their innovation to the market place. We offer our tenants a range of business network services, which include market research, mentoring and operations analysis by our hired Bio-MBA graduates.
Areas of interest / potential applications include: Life sciences biogas
Funding: no
Stage of support:
Contact: Aggie Armstrong, Admin & Communications, 519.858.5016, or Lee Smithson, General Manager, 519.858.5015
The Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton
From their self-description: A self-sustaining innovation centre focused on facilitating the creation, integration and application of innovative solutions for the region's constituents.
Areas of interest / potential applications include: biomass, other alternate energy
Funding: a small fund to match industry contributions
Stage of support: commercialization, labs available for research
Contact: Don Hewson 519 383 8303 x 223, or John Kabel x239
Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Innovation Network (ELORIN)
From their self-description: We connect and support research & development collaborations by universities, institutions and their researchers, staff and stakeholders, with companies, commercialization hubs, regional and national innovation groups, biotech incubators, Federal and Provincial governments, funding agencies, and more.
Areas of interest / potential applications include: biomass – switchgrass etc.
Funding: connection to MRI and federal funding programs
Stage of support: R&D to commercialization
Recent initiatives: Elorin is currently working with a private investor interested in conducting a feasibility study for a biomass processing facility in the Eastern Lake Ontario Region.
Contact: Shelagh McDonald Executive Director, 613.533.3300 ext. 1,
Ottawa and Eastern Ontario Regional Innovation Network (OCRI)
From their self-description: a non-profit, partnership organization; bringing business, education and research together to help local technology companies thrive locally and compete globally.
Areas of interest / potential applications include: clean tech
Funding: connection to provincial and federal funding programs
Stage of support: R&D to commercialization
Contact: Marc McArthur Manager, Ottawa Cleantech Initiative,
Innovation Initiatives Ontario North
From their self-description: Diversification of the Northern Ontario economy. Lever and integrate the capabilities of members to advance research and development, and linkages with business and industry, in and for Northern Ontario
Contact: (705) 494-7064 x1 for Robert Deline, executive director, x2 for Ryan Riggs, communications
The MRI also lists International Governance Leaders and Organizations Online (IGLOO) as a partner. The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) established IGLOO in November 2004 as an online network to facilitate and promote knowledge exchange among individuals and institutions working, studying or advising on global issues. The project was jointly funded by CIGI and the Government of Ontario. In 2008, the commercialization of the IGLOO software platform through the establishment of IGLOO Incorporated – a stand-alone company that develops, markets and sells the platform – fulfilled one of the key objectives of CIGI’s agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.
Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, CIGI is an international think tank founded in 2002. CIGI's main purpose is to address international governance challenges through world-class research. CIGI strives to identify and generate ideas for global change by studying, advising and networking with scholars, practitioners and governments on the character and desired reforms to multilateral governance issues. Through conferences, workshops, publications, public events and technology, CIGI aims to raise capacity to effect change in public policy both in Canada and around the world. CIGI receives support from the government of Canada and the government of Ontario.
Contact: Neve Peric, Vice President of Operations, Phone: 1.519.885.2444 ext 390,
Ontario's innovation network (from the Ministry of Research and Innovation)
• Regional Innovation Networks
• Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION)
• Toronto Venture Group
• IGLOO
• Colleges Ontario
• Council of Ontario Universities (CoU)
• Ontario Network on the Regional Innovation System (ONRIS)
• The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
• McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine
• Perimeter Institute
• The Conference Board of Canada
• The Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity
• C.D. Howe Institute
• InnovationCanada.ca
• The Centre for Innovation Studies THECIS
OCE partners
• Accelerator Centre for Commercialization Excellence (ACE)
• Advanced Design and Manufacturing Institute (ADMI)
• Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA)
• Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA)
• Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (CBET)
• Centre of Excellence for Research in Adaptive Systems (CERAS)
• Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR)
• CMC Microsystems
• Greening Greater Toronto
• Hydro One
• International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTP)
• MaRS
• National Angel Capital Organization (NACO)
• National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
• Networks of Centres of Excellence
• Ontario Power Authority (OPA)
• Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI)
• PARTEQ Innovations (Queen’s University)
• PRECARN
• Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)
• Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA)
• York Biotech
• Zerofootprint
For other articles in this feature, see the following related stories:
• Ontario research companies taking on the world
• Feature interview with Tom Corr, the new President of OCE
• Ontario Centres of Excellence - ready to respond
• Ontario’s burgeoning research infrastructure
• Stories on the MaRS centre , Making the grid even smarter and biomass work at Atikokan
• How to get more value out of a transmission line / Pushing the limits of what the grid can carry