Peel Region’s Research Innovation Commercialization Centre (RIC) is now part of the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE).
ONE consists of 14 regional innovation centres across Ontario. These centres help local entrepreneurs bring innovative ideas to the marketplace, such as new ways to treat disease, cleaner ways to produce power and next-generation digital entertainment.

The centres give entrepreneurs access to a broad range of experts, including researchers, academics, businesses, government and investors, who can help sell an idea and grow a business worldwide.

Supporting made-in-Ontario technologies is part of Ontario’s strategy to make innovation a driving force of Ontario’s economy, and supports the Open Ontario Plan to build new opportunities for economic growth and jobs.

In making the announcement at Baylis Medical Co. yesterday, Harinder Takhar, MPP for Mississauga-Erindale, said “In today’s knowledge-based economy, ideas are the central building block in creating a society at the forefront of innovation. This exciting new innovation network demonstrates how Peel Region is working together to harness our originality and enterprise for the benefit of everyone living here.”

RIC’s Commercialization Director Pam Banks (pictured) said  “ONE empowers business people, innovators and researchers to gain a competitive advantage by collaborating across Ontario and connecting with services and programs. In turn our families will benefit from the wealth generated by the innovation and creativity which exists throughout this province, and right here in our community.”
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The Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE) is Ontario’s new, province-wide innovation network.

The purpose of ONE is to align all of the programs and resources Ontario has to support innovators who are working to turn great ideas into globally competitive companies and cutting-edge products and services.

When innovators walk into the nearest ONE member’s office, they will have access to best practices from around the world, programs linking them to researchers and successful entrepreneurs, and assistance in accessing the funding and advice they need to take their ideas to market.

Ontario’s new innovation network will make it easier for innovators to talk to each other. They will have access to expertise just around the block — and right across the province. It won’t matter where you are or what stage your idea or business is at. All that will matter is the quality of your idea, the depth of your commitment and your drive to succeed.

ONE is the next step in delivering Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, and the next step in unlocking the tremendous potential and remarkable talent across our province. It supports the McGuinty government’s Open Ontario Plan to build new opportunities for economic growth and jobs.

Ontario Network of Excellence – Programs and Services

Business acceleration programs and services: Including programs and services to:

• Help strengthen entrepreneurial skills
• Create globally competitive businesses, and
• Support innovators as they deal with all the challenges and opportunities that come with building an innovative company

Industry-academic collaboration programs and services: Including programs and services to:

• Accelerate the movement of world-class research discoveries from Ontario’s labs to the global marketplace
• Support industry-academic collaboration on technical research challenges by linking entrepreneurs with existing research institutions like colleges, universities and hospitals, and
• Develop talent by cultivating entrepreneurial and business skills, providing real world experience for Ontario’s next generation of innovators.

Sector-based expertise: Including specialized services geared towards a specific industry sector, such as:

• Knowledge of the sector
• Academic resources such as researchers and equipment
• Regulatory environment knowledge and guidance, and
• Market development and other knowledge to help clients bring products or services to market faster and more effectively.

Clients will be able to access all ONE programs and services through ONE member organizations across the province.

For further information on the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE), please visit: www.oneinnovation.ca.

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers provide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit Altitude Accelerator for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.