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Canadian Government Extends Ontario Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative

Government of Canada [1]The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario [1], today announced a one-year extension of the Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative [2], creating jobs and economic growth in the region. Minister Goodyear, accompanied by Oshawa Member of Parliament Colin Carrie, made the announcement while celebrating partnerships established through the initiative between the University of Ontario Institute of Technology [3] (UOIT) and 13 small southern Ontario businesses.

“Our government has responded to the specific needs of small businesses in southern Ontario with this initiative,” said Minister Goodyear. “To date, more than 300 companies have partnered with colleges and universities to develop market-driven ideas, and with the funding announced today, hundreds more businesses will be able to innovate and grow.”

Since its launch in 2010 as a two-year pilot, the Applied Research and Commercialization initiative has supported 24 colleges, universities and polytechnics across southern Ontario to work with the private sector to bring new products to the marketplace faster. The extension, with funding of up to $15 million, will enable these 24 post-secondary institutions to apply for additional support to assist even more businesses while their current projects are being completed and evaluated.

Under the Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative, UOIT has partnered with small and medium-sized businesses on activities such as applied research, engineering design, technology development, product testing, and certification.

“The partnerships between the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and 13 small and medium-sized businesses are excellent examples of what is being done to stimulate innovation in southern Ontario,” said MP Carrie. “We look forward to seeing Oshawa and surrounding areas prosper as a result of these projects.”

“Strategic research funding supports our ability to help build economic capacity and foster important, innovative collaborations involving local businesses, our researchers and students,” said Dr. Tim McTiernan, UOIT President. “On behalf of UOIT, I would like to thank the Government of Canada for their investment in the development of these applied research projects. Working together, we are able to pair business with research expertise. This provides our students with rich learning opportunities, while exploring the development of new innovations and products that have the potential to grow business and benefit society.”

The Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative helps small and medium-sized businesses in southern Ontario access applied research and development and pre-commercialization expertise found in post-secondary institutions. FedDev Ontario is providing the University of Ontario Institute of Technology with up to $739,000 to partner on projects with the following 13 businesses:

Aquavion [4] – Ajax
The Cableshoppe [5] – Toronto
Drinkbox Studios [6] – Toronto
Durmach – Bowmanville
Enginuity Group Corporation [7] – Toronto
Enviroquest [8] – Cambridge
Innovative Solutions [9] – Oshawa
Marnoch Thermal Power Inc. [10] – Port Severn
Nessis [11] – Hampton
Phirelight Security Solutions Inc. [12] – Ottawa
Segasist Technologies [13] – Toronto
Solana Networks [14] – Nepean
Unitrak [15] – Port Hope