Ontario invests $4M to support collaboration between postsecondary institutions and industry
by CM Staff
These partnerships will try and help businesses engage in research, development and commercialization and provide Ontario postsecondary students with real-world, hands-on experience.
TORONTO – The Ontario government is investing $4 million to support greater collaboration between industry and the postsecondary education and research sectors to create well-paying jobs in local communities and help build a resilient economy. The investment will try and support the Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform, a new online portal to match industry professionals with equipment, facilities and experts at postsecondary institutions. These partnerships will try and help businesses engage in research, development and commercialization and provide Ontario postsecondary students with real-world, hands-on experience.
“Ontario’s colleges, universities and research institutes are key sources of innovation and commercialization, making them leading contributors to Ontario’s productivity and economic growth,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “By making it easier for industry to access the talent and resources they need at postsecondary institutions and research partners across the province, our government is helping businesses bring more Ontario-made ideas and inventions from the lab to market.”
The Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform (OCIP) is designed to be responsive and flexible and will simplify pathways to research and commercialization. After piloting the online platform in 2020 at select postsecondary institutions, the province is now expanding this resource to businesses and all publicly assisted colleges and universities in Ontario.
“With the launch of OCIP, eCampusOntario is thrilled to support innovation and collaboration by increasing research partnerships between Ontario businesses and the province’s colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes,” said Robert Luke, CEO, eCampusOntario. “By helping businesses remain at the forefront of their sector while giving students valuable work experiences, we will not only help industry succeed today, but also ensure Ontario’s innovation capacity is stronger for tomorrow.”
