EDC, MaRS Discovery District team up to boost exports

OTTAWA—Export Development Canada (EDC) and MaRS Discovery District (MaRS) have signed an agreement to increase their cooperation in support of high-impact companies seeking to grow their businesses through export.

As part of this partnership, EDC and MaRS will collaborate on export-related activities including joint events, highlighting business opportunities in emerging markets and projects across the three sectors. These include monthly MaRS Mornings, an open breakfast series that features talks by visionary founders in the innovation community.

“EDC and MaRS have expertise that match well to support Canadian high-growth ventures in the cleantech, health, and ICT sectors,” says Clive Witter, Senior Vice-President, Insurance, EDC. “This partnership will provide opportunities for Canadian small businesses in these fast-growing sectors to accelerate their growth and facilitate introductions to key players in their industries.”

EDC is Canada’s trade finance agency, and the leading provider of financing, insurance and bonding for Canadian companies of all sizes that do business outside of Canada

“This is a partnership built on our shared objective to increase global competitiveness of Canadian companies,” says Salim Teja, executive vice-president of MaRS Venture Services. “I am confident that working together with EDC, we will help Ontario’s most promising technology entrepreneurs explore more business opportunities abroad.”

This agreement follows on the heels of the successful green mining event that was jointly held by EDC and MaRS during the PDAC conference in February.

Based in Toronto, the MaRS Discovery District provides advice and market research, and makes connections to talent, customers and capital.