ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – April 17, 2012) – Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), today announced innovative partnerships between Brock University and 13 local small- and medium-sized businesses. Thanks to these partnerships, businesses in southern Ontario will have an opportunity to bring innovative products to market faster and increase their productivity and competitiveness.
“Our Government is investing in innovation to create jobs and help our small businesses grow,” said MP Dykstra. “The partnerships between these companies and Brock University will allow them to work together on projects that will help bring growth and long-term prosperity to southern Ontario.”
Since its launch in 2010, FedDev Ontario’s Applied Research and Commercialization initiative has invested more than $14.5 million to support 24 colleges, universities and polytechnics across southern Ontario so they could work with the private sector to bring new products and innovative processes to the marketplace faster. In 2010, Brock University was approved for up to $750,000 to partner with small- and medium-sized businesses on activities such as applied research, engineering design, technology development, product testing, and certification.
“We are extremely pleased with the quality and variety of the applicants that have been selected for this initiative,” says Jack Lightstone, President of Brock University. “This program will help to facilitate partnerships and the exchange of ideas between our researchers and homegrown businesses here in Niagara. Initiatives like this are the key to building innovative and versatile regional and Canadian economies.”
For more information on the Applied Research and Commercialization initiative and Brock University’s partners, please refer to the backgrounder.
Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy by building on the region’s strengths and creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth. The Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to encourage partnerships and support projects that help the region’s businesses and communities become more competitive, innovative and diversified. To learn more, visit www.feddevontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.
Source: Market Wired