ONTARIO CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE (OCE)

David Choat, Interim President, OCEStrategic policy update on research funding to the Ontario Council on University ResearchNovember 19th, 2009

Jose Costa P.Eng, MBAManger Business Development, OCE

Presentation to NMA

June 17, 2010

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• Introduction• OCE’s Work with UOIT Students• Connecting UOIT Researchers with Industry• The New OCE Mandate• Ontario Network of Excellence• Update on Program Funding• IACP Overview and Programs• Questions?

Overview

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The New OCE Mandate

• MRI has directed OCE to drive the Industry-Academia Collaboration Program (IACP) which is part of the new Ontario Network of Excellence- Includes Collaborative Commercialization - Technology Transfer Networks- Talent

• The goal is to raise the profile of industry/academic

collaborations

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Update on Program Funding

• Program Funding- In this transition year we will continue to meet our existing funding commitments- Funding will be tight during this transition year

• Industry Focus- MRI wants OCE to focus on applied research that has the best chance of meeting industry market needs- We are meeting with individual institutions to determine how best to align ourselves with the strategic goals of IACP

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Industry-Academic Collaboration Program• New programs – solid foundation• Responsive – flexible – adaptive • Leverage academic capacity• Drive commercialization• Focus on outcomes not outputs

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• Technical Problem Solving• Collaborative Research• College Applied Research and

Development• Market Readiness

www.oneinnovation.ca

IACP Programs – Collaborative Commercialization

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• Connections• Value-added Personnel (VAP)• Outreach Scholarship• First Job

www.oneinnovation.ca

IACP Programs – Talent

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• Technology Transfer Networks• Institutional Proof of Principle

www.oneinnovation.ca

IACP Programs – Technology Transfer Partnerships

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• Short-term Industry – Academic projects• Address specific challenges or opportunities

• Industry: Access to unique facilities, research equipment and talent

• Academia: Build relationships – solve real industry problems

“ This program has been a low risk, high value and high potential reward program.

Carla Ring HerronDirector, Business Development

Kangaroo Design Inc.

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• Industry - Academia research partnerships• Develop commercially viable technology

• Industry: New revenues and high value jobs

• Academia: Real world experiences and connections

“It is very difficult for smaller companies like us to find the right technology research partners. We would never have been able to tap into them if OCE had not directed us.”

Anand SrinivasanVice President, EION Inc.

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• Advance to next stage of commercialization• Support new or existing company

• Technology and market assessment• Business plan development• Prototype development• IP protection

“OCE’s Market Readiness was one of the validating steps that allowed us to close on our first customer and raise our first equity investment.”

Keith ThomasPresident & CEO, Vive Nano.

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• Targeted at final year student teams• Addresses industry technical problems and

challenges• Real-world industrial relevance

“HouseAll has been very please with our participation and will continue to participate as long as the program runs. We hired two of the four team members last year and may very well hire members from this year’s team.”

Miles KennedyFounder & CTO, HouseAll Systems

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• Development of essential business and entrepreneurship skills• Strategic and Business Planning• Business Development and Entrepreneurship• IP and Technology Transfer • Team-based Project Management• Networking• Leadership Skills

“At Larus Technologies, we believe the VAP Program is so valuable, we are enrolling all our recent engineering hires.”

Gail diCintioVP Operations, Larus Technologies

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• Two-way knowledge exchange program• Out-of-province and international experience• Access to world-class equipment and mentorship• Strong connections and partnerships

“I am so excited to be able to provide such a unique opportunity for our student, but also the two students coming from South Korea. This has definitely helped move applied research in the colleges in a new direction.” 

Natalee TokarResearch Project Manager, Research & Innovation Niagara College

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• Enable hiring of highly skilled graduates

• Industry: Increase global competitiveness – de-risk hire• Academia: Apply academic research – accelerate career

“Our First Job recruit helped drive the challenging process of taking an idea from bench to market. He was able to deliver a commercial prototype ahead of schedule.”

Michael CowanCo-founder & President, Attodyne Inc.

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Technology Transfer Partnerships

• Technology Transfer Networks, Institutional Proof of Principle

• OCE continues to work closely with the Technology Transfer Networks to not only build on the current outcomes, but to establish new relationships and help leverage the full capability of the ONE network.

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OCE and Universities Together

- OCE will work with to strengthen networking among Universities through the ONE

- OCE will work with each university and respond to its specific project needs

- OCE will continue to connect universities with new industry and academic partners

- OCE will work with universities to access more of the research dollar pie (e.g., FedDev, NSERC CCI)

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Moving the Dialogue Forward

• Continuing to meet individually with each University's Research Office staff

• Look forward to working with all of you as to further build on your successes as we role out the IACP program

Thank you