OCE in the News

Driverless cars to hit the road in Ontario early next year

Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:07:19 Z

Three groups have been approved to test self-driving cars on public roads in Ontario. Driverless cars are headed for Ontario’s public roads as part of a pilot project the province says puts it in the pole position in Canada’s development of autonomous vehicle technology. After motoring up a test track to a Waterloo press briefing Monday in a self-propelled Lincoln MKZ hybrid sedan nicknamed the Autonomoose, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca said three groups have been approved to begin road testing. The University of Waterloo’s Centre for Automotive Research will test the MKZ likely starting in the first three months of next year while Erwin Hymer Group, the Kitchener-based manufacturer of Roadtrek motor homes, also received approval.

Simulating Real-World Challenges

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 19:02:36 Z

A grant from the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) will help Queen’s University and Toronto tech firm Ametros Learning develop an intelligent, web-based simulation platform for students in law, medicine, engineering and business.

Championing Government’s Role as First Customer of Innovation

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 19:23:44 Z

As OCE has grown and evolved over the last thirty years, so has our understanding of what it takes to drive innovation. We’ve learned that it requires identifying and employing a number of different levers. This includes everything from business advice, seed financing and support for industry-academic collaboration to support for companies to scale up and pursue global ambitions, knowledge transfer through industry-based internships and fellowships, and investment in infrastructure.

CAMP accelerator brings 10 Canadian companies to Beijing to scale internationally

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 15:45:31 Z

While many early stage companies in Canada tend to focus on growing within a familiar North American market, according to many members of the startup community, looking beyond these borders is imperative to combatting Canada’s scalability issue. In a few weeks, 10 early stage Canadian companies will get the chance to experience a new culture, long and fast-paced work days, an international marketplace, and a line of opportunities for investment and growth in the second cohort of the China Angels Mentorship Program (CAMP) in Beijing, China.

META IS TRYING TO SAVE SCIENTISTS FROM INFORMATION OVERLOAD

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:38:16 Z

A few years ago, Sam Molyneux was finally finishing up a research paper he had spent three years working on at Princess Margaret Hospital. But when it came time to be submit, he found out that his research had already been scooped and published six months ago. “We realized that this problem is rampant in the science community. Everyone is unaware of what’s going on unless you’re spending a significant portion of your day just looking at the horizon,” said his sister Amy Molyneux.

IBM comes to Hamilton

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:39 Z

Big news for Hamilton. The Stelco Tower is expected to house one of the World’s biggest tech companies. CHCH News has learned that IBM may be bringing its ‘Watson’ technology to the city. The super computer might sound familiar, it was made popular when it won Jeorpardy a few years ago but instead of answering game show question, this version would be used to improve Health Services in Hamilton..

400 jobs moving to downtown Hamilton’s Stelco Tower with HHS-IBM partnership

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:36 Z

A major computer company and hospital are getting together to turn the rusty tower that symbolized Hamilton's decline into a new symbol of hope. Four floors of the near-empty Stelco Tower are to become home to a new centre for health technology innovation under a partnership deal between IBM Canada and Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation. The deal, which had leakedrecently, was formally announced by Hamilton Health Sciences president Rob MacIsaac and IBM CEO Dino Trevisani Tuesday morning. The new centre creates a space where new ideas for using technology in health care will be transformed into products and services.

Technology innovation is key to the future of Ontario’s business economy: Duguid

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:32 Z

The recent $134-billion budget tabled by the Ontario government underscores the province’s ongoing commitment to technology innovation, according to one provincial minister. Brad Duguid, Scarborough Centre MPP and Ontario Minister of Economic Development said that the future of the province’s economy hinges on technology growth within local start-ups and small- to medium- sized enterprises (SME) and in helping businesses take new technologies to global markets.

Major Breakthrough In Solar Transportation

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:29 Z

Exactly one year ago, Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies and the University of Windsor received government funding for exciting new electric vehicle research and development, aimed at optimizing Unconquered Sun’s already popular Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Powertrain technology. The collaboration has resulted in a Solar Powered Electric Vehicle with an average range 45% further than an identical vehicle without the Solar Powered technology.

Ontario’s SMEs to benefit from advanced computing initiative

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:26 Z

Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) is teaming with IBM Canada to support the economy and job creation by bringing advanced computing technologies and resources to the province’s small and medium-sized businesses. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced the $54.5-million I3 Project, a multi-tiered initiative that will help 500 small and medium-sized Ontario companies become more globally competitive.

U of G scientists look for ways to grow better marijuana

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:22 Z

In January 2016, University of Guelph botanist Mike Dixon, and his research team of three graduate students, received $210,000 from Ontario Centres of Excellence. The money will be used to fund research investigating new irrigation technology for the growth of medicinal cannabis. The system monitors the water status of the plant every 15 minutes through wireless sensors connected at the stem, in the hope of maintaining standardization for the growth of all cannabis plants.

OCE and Government of Ontario team up to focus on CleanTech innovation

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:19 Z

Kathleen Wynne recently announced plans to allocate $74M of Ontario’s $325M Green Investment Fund to fight climate change while driving the development of the economy through creating jobs, products, services, technologies and businesses. The government partnered with the Ontario Centre of Excellence (OCE) whose mission to commercialize innovation across many industries, including CleanTech, attracts entrepreneurs, startups, academia and investors alike.

Province's collaboration with IBM to boost local SMEs, says Invest Ottawa

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:15 Z

Invest Ottawa is one of the organizations that will benefit from the provincial government’s announcement Monday that it invest up to $22.75 million in I3, the IBM Innovation Incubator. The Ontario Centres of Excellence will oversee the project in which participating businesses will access IBM’s technology resources, including its cloud-based development platform, to help them spend less developing their new technologies.

Zepeel Receives OCE Smart Start Funding

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:37:11 Z

One of the very unique ventures happening in London right now is Zepeel, a completely mobile video dating app. Zepeel is being developed right here in London by rtraction Canada Inc. And the venture has just achieved a huge milestone, being approved for OCE Smart Start funding. CEO Steve Szikszay says the funding will be used for software development and training. The OCE application was endorsed by TechAlliance President & CEO Marilyn Sinclair, as well as TechAlliance Business Analyst Jeremy Ward.

Ontario Invests Nearly $100 Million to Boost Cleantech Innovation and Create Jobs

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:58:37 Z

Ontario is putting its new Climate Change Strategy into action by investing nearly $100 million from the Ontario Green Investment Fund into projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency and support cleantech innovation and jobs. For this initiative, the government is partnering with the Ontario Centres of Excellence, which drive the development of Ontario's economy by helping create new jobs, products, services, technologies and businesses.

Ontario sets aside nearly $100M for cleantech incentives, investments

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:58:34 Z

The Ontario government is committing just short of $100 million to energy efficiency incentives and clean technology investments. Making the announcement at Toronto’s Morgan Solar, Premier Kathleen Wynne said the funds will come from the province’s new $325 million Green Investment Fund and be funneled toward two separate initiatives.

ScarX Therapeutics closes $2 million Series A financing

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:58:31 Z

ScarX Therapeutics, a Canadian biotechnology company commercializing innovative treatments for dermal scarring (fibrosis), has closed a $2 million Series A financing. The company will complete a Phase I clinical trial of its lead candidate, SCX-001, in human volunteers, with the eventual goal of creating better functional and cosmetic patient outcomes.

Self-driving cars to be tested on Ontario roads

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:58:28 Z

Ontario will be the first province in Canada to allow road tests of automated vehicles, according to Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca. The province will allow testing of self-driving cars, as well as related technologies, starting on Jan. 1 of the new year. The provincial government is also pledging an additional $500,000 to the Ontario Centres of Excellence Connected Vehicle/Automated Vehicle Program. That program pairs academic institutions with businesses to further transportation technology.

Aboriginal restaurant, fine food and better hockey bag are winners of entrepreneurship competition

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:58:25 Z

Brandon Pitawanakwat is working hard to see his dream come true – the Crowned Eagle, a restaurant in Collingwood that will specialize in Aboriginal fine food. Pitawanakwat, a Georgian College student, is the first-place winner in the latest exC!te Experience competition offered through Georgian’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC).

MAGNUSMODE FOUNDER EXPLAINS HOW TECH CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE SPECIAL NEEDS

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 16:58:20 Z

Throughout her childhood, Nadia Hamilton and her family helped her brother, Troy, who has Autism, navigate through life at home with step-by-step illustrated guides for everyday activities like brushing teeth.

Gadgets & Gear of the future

Mon, 09 May 2016 15:46:00 Z

While many of the conventions we hear about have superheroes and movie stars in the spotlight, our Phil Perkins attended a gathering where innovators and academics get all the attention. As he learned, lots of the tech shown are still in the beginning stage but may become an integral part of our lives in the future.

AC Client Knowledgehook wins Google’s Game Changer Award at 2016 Demo Day

Wed, 04 May 2016 15:46:00 Z

Canadian edtech startup Knowledgehook today received Google’s Game Changer Award at the tech giant’s annual Demo Day in Silicon Valley. Travis Ratnam and James Francis were among the co-founders of 11 new tech companies invited to Silicon Valley to pitch today to a room full of top investors, venture capitalists and judges.

Three Carleton Student Projects named Finalists in 2016 IDeA Competition

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:46:00 Z

Three projects from students in Carleton’s research-intensive Faculty of Engineering and Design and Sprott School of Business have been named finalists in the 5th annual Council of Ontario Universities’ annual Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA) competition. The IDeA competition challenges Ontario undergraduate university students to use their creativity in order to identify an accessibility-related issue and create an innovative and unique solution. Students work individually or in teams, engaging with industry, government and community partners including members of the disability community.

Loyalist examining using insect powder for food

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:46:00 Z

Loyalist College has entered into a partnership with Entomo Farms on an applied research project using cricket powder for human consumption. The college has been awarded funding to collaborate with Entomo Farms on the project, which will be housed within the college’s state-of-the-art Supercritical CO2 Extraction Applied Research Laboratory. Under the lead of Loyalist College biosciences Professor Dr. Kari Kramp, this research project aims to validate Entomo Farms’ scientific methods, illustrating the environmental, social and nutritional benefits of insect farming and the adoption of insect protein as an integral part of human, pet and livestock diets.

Shining the spotlight on entrepreneurialism at Mohawk

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:46:00 Z

Melanie Sodtka sees a day when the hard work and creativity of Mohawk students and alumni ring up sales on campus. Sodtka is the Faculty Lead of SURGE, Mohawk’s entrepreneurial hub. SURGE offers year-round workshops, training, mentorship and competitions. All of the activity is aimed at fostering innovation and supporting students aspiring to launch their own businesses.