OCRI News

OCRI in the News: OCRI opens new entrepreneurship centre in Orleans (Ottawa Business Journal)

Orleans entrepreneurs will no longer have to make the trek downtown to get business advice following today's opening of OCRI (the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation)'s new satellite Entrepreneurship Centre in Ottawa's east end.

OCRI in the News: OCRI launches entrepreneurship centre in Orl�ans (Orleans Star)

The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation officially opened the doors of its new, Orl�ans-based entrepreneurship centre satellite office today, in response to what they called the "growing needs" of the east end's entrepreneurial community.

OCRI in the News: OCRI looks for new president and CEO (CTV Ottawa)

An organization that markets Ottawa to the world as a hi-tech destination is now looking for a new president and CEO. The search comes after Jeffrey Dale, who led the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation for seven years, announced he plans to step down once the organization appoints a suitable successor.

OCRI in the News: OCRI's Dale stepping down (Ottawa Blog)

Jeffrey Dale, president and CEO of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation, is leaving the organization after seven years. OCRI says that its board and Mr. Dale agreed that the time was right for him to step down from the top job at Ottawa's lead economic development agency, once his successor has been found.

OCRI in the News: A New Leader for OCRI (petesview.net)

OCRI is looking for a new leader. This may be the most important decision its members and funders make because it will set the direction for the organization during the coming critical years where Ottawa's tech sector will either finally revive or fatally flounder. It's a time for vision, inclusion, activism and leadership.

OCRI in the News: OCRI Leader steps down (techvibes.com)

Jeffrey Dale, president of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI), announced yesterday that he is resigning after seven years as leader of the lobby group. His departure comes with technology employment in the region falling by 11,400 jobs in just 11 months, venture capital investment at the lowest levels in a decade and the biggest employer, Nortel Networks, working on a 15th round of layoffs.

OCRI in the News: OCRI's Dale stepping down (National Capital SCAN)

OCRI in the News: Tech lobby group seeks new boss (Ottawa Citizen)

The troubled Ottawa technology sector is looking for new leadership. Jeffrey Dale, president of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation, said Tuesday he is resigning after seven years as leader of the lobby group.

OCRI in the News: OCRI chief to pass the torch in the spring (Ottawa Business Journal)

After seven years at the helm of OCRI (the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation), president and CEO Jeffrey Dale has announced he will be stepping down.

OCRI in the News: High school, high-tech, high hopes (YourOttawaRegion.com)

If some students are turned on to high-tech through the new program, that will be fine with Jeffrey Dale, who is president and CEO of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation. Dale said enrollment in university engineering and computer science programs has dropped in recent years, and OCRI�s own research found that high school students are unsure of technology�s future. He said secondary school students are looking for challenges, stability and a work-life balance.

OCRI in the News: Program for future tech workers (National Capital SCAN)

Twenty one digital media students from All Saints HS are the first players in a pilot program to renew student interest in technology careers. Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation, seeing ongoing low registration in computer and tech-related courses in post-secondary schools, has developed the program along with Ontario Centres of Excellence and corporate partners IBM, RIM and others.

OCRI in the News: Local companies crack Canada's Top 10 competition (Ottawa Business Journal)

A clutch of Ottawa tech companies earned some hardware this week as winners of the 2008-09 Canada's Top 10 competition, an annual ranking of life science, high tech and clean-tech companies across the country.

OCRI in the News: Change in store for OCRI Venture and Technology Summit (Ottawa Business Journal)

As North American stocks still ricochet from their sudden fall earlier this week, OCRI (the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation) is talking about revamping its annual Ottawa Venture and Technology Summit to make it easier for companies seeking funds.

OCRI in the News: OCRI, partners embark on tech program (Ottawa Business Journal)

High school students on Tuesday participated in the opening session of a new Ottawa high school technology program, a pilot project between OCRI (the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation), the Ontario Centres of Excellence and IBM.

OCRI in the News: An Introduction to Social Media Marketing (Speak Rove)

On September 11, I had the opportunity to attend my first marketing event since joining Rove almost a month ago. It was a one hour talk entitled Social Media Nuts and Bolts, given by Alec Saunders, CEO of Iotum Corporation. The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) organized this presentation during their monthly Zone5ive event.

OCRI in the News: Thanks for the memories, Zone5! (Saunderslog.com)

Last week I gave a presentation at the OCRI Zone5ive event here in Ottawa on social media and its uses in marketing. The topic is so broad, of course, that there�s no way that anyone could hope to cover it all in one 40 minute session, so I drilled into the tools I use, why and how to use them yourself. My theme was pretty simple � social marketing has been around for a long time. There are simply newer and more efficient tools to do it with today. And as you know if you read this blog often, I�m pretty passionate about social marketing tools.

OCRI in the News: Tech development group issues call for top cleantech firms (CleanBreak.ca)

The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) is currently accepting applications for companies wishing to compete in its annual Canada's Top 10 Competition. The competition has been around since 1999, but was initially focused on life sciences companies. It has since expanded to include the Top 10 innovators in the cleantech and IT sectors.

OCRI in the News: Top Canadian Companies Competition (Techvibes.com)

The application deadline for Canada's Top 10 Competition has been extended to Sept. 11th - so if you're looking to raise between $2 and $50 Million, get your entry in now. The OCRI sponsored competition is an annual national investment competition that identifies 10 leading companies in the cleantech, technology and life sciences sector.

OCRI in the News: Wanna Be On Top? (The MaRS Blog)

Wouldn't it be nice if we had some way to identify our coolest, top technology start-ups across the country, shine them up and turn them into investor- or partner-ready entities?� oh wait� we already do. For a few years now, OCRI in Ottawa has been running the country-wide Canada's Top 10� Competition for emerging life sciences, cleantech, or high tech companies.

Tech students gain marketing and communications experience through OCRI's Talent Bridge program - first graduates announced (OCRI News Release)

OCRI's commitment to the development of the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders has produced the first two graduates of the new Talent Bridge program. Emily Chan of Algonquin College and Steven Robins of the University of Western Ontario have completed the 14-week program at Rove, an Ottawa-based provider of enterprise software for handhelds, and are now armed with essential business management knowledge that will aid them in their future entrepreneurial endeavours. Talent Bridge addresses the gap in Ottawa talent engagement by providing students studying in technical programs with practical, hands-on experience in the areas of business strategy, sales, marketing and communications.

MaRS selects OCRI's Entrepreneur's Edge program as best in class (OCRI News Release)

A premier educational program developed and offered by OCRI's Entrepreneurship Centre, in partnership with the Ontario Government, has been selected by MaRS Discovery District of Toronto and their Business Mentorship and Entrepreneurship Program (BMEP) as an industry best practice. With this distinction, the complete Entrepreneur�s Edge (E2) program will now be made available through MaRS to qualified members of the Ontario Commercialization Network who are looking to provide their clients with the best in entrepreneurial training.

Dismal Q2 Venture Capital investments in Ottawa hit new low (OCRI News Release)

Venture capital investments in Ottawa have hit rock bottom. Results tracked by OCRI (Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation) indicate the second quarter of 2008 saw only three disclosed venture capital investments totaling $9.2 million. This quarter represents one of the lowest investment periods on record since 1995.

Next generation of local entrepreneurs selected for Summer Company program (OCRI News Release)

13 Ottawa area students have been selected to participate in this year's Summer Company program. Armed with a great business plan, unshakeable commitment and vision, these young business owners are eligible for up to $3,000 to ease start-up expenses including $1,500 awarded upon the successful completion of the program and return to school. Summer Company, one of several initiatives of the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship delivered through OCRI's Entrepreneurship Centre is designed to help young entrepreneurs develop, plan and execute a successful business venture.

OCRI / University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management Scholarship Recipient announced (OCRI News Release)

OCRI and the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa are pleased to announce that Tanya Hume, Controller at Gallium Visual Systems, has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 scholarship, valued at over $59,500, for the University's Executive MBA Program.

Money makes the clean-tech world go 'round (Ottawa Business Journal)

"It's undeniable that there's a trend that investment dollars are going into greener technologies," said Jeffrey Dale, CEO of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI). "On the venture capital side, traditional venture capitalists for the most part haven't made a heavy shift toward clean tech yet."

OCRI receives Contact Centre Industry Leadership Award (OCRI News Release)

OCRI, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation was awarded the 2008 Contact Centre Industry Leadership Award by the Ottawa Regional Contact Centre Association (ORCCA) last night in recognition of OCRI's ongoing support of the sector and the development of the Cluster Support model that has also supported ORCCA's growth.

Ottawa's biotech sector under the microscope (Ottawa Business Journal)

Lynn Buchanan has been on the job as the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI)'s vice-president of their life sciences group for about two months, and the state of Ottawa's biotech sector already has her scratching her head.

Incubation period (Ottawa Business Journal)

Biotech companies face the daunting challenge of convincing investors to buy in to a long-term vision rather than a short-term payoff, said Michelle Scarborough, vice-president of investment and commercialization with the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI).

Technology tour fascinating (Ottawa Citizen)

The two-day session, organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation, was designed to acquaint foreign diplomats with the technology sector in Ottawa and some 70 heads of mission or designates took part. Foreign Affairs hosts a series of familiarization tours every year in cities across Canada, always with a focus on innovation.

IPeak Network Boosts Transmisssion Speeds (mediacaster)

A send-off ceremony to celebrate IPeak Networks' success as one of Canada's Top 10 Technology Companies and the first graduate of OCRI's Business Accelerator was underscored by news of a new CEO, its first customer and bridge financing, and expanasion into larger facilities in the Ottawa region.

Ottawa's Top 20 educators win awards (Ottawa Citizen)

Twenty of the region's most respected educators received Capital Educators' Awards at the seventh annual EduGala, held this week at Algonquin College. The awards, hosted by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI), Ottawa's economic development agency, were created in the fall of 2001 by business and education leaders who wanted to raise the profile of public education and recognize the dedication and achievements of Ottawa's teachers.

IPeak Networks graduates from OCRI Business Accelerator with first customer, bridge financing and invigorated team (OCRI News Release)

A send-off ceremony to celebrate IPeak Networks' success as one of Canada's Top 10 Technology Companies and the first graduate of OCRI's Business Accelerator Program is scheduled to take place later today. Equipped with a new CEO, CFO, first customer and bridge financing, IPeak Networks is the first product of a new OCRI approach to identify and nurture Ottawa's most promising technology companies.

2008 EduGala recognizes Ottawa's top educators (OCRI News Release)

Ottawa presented the Capital Educators' Awards to 20 of the region's most innovative and respected educators this evening at the seventh annual EduGala, held at Algonquin College. Hosted by OCRI, Ottawa's economic development agency, the gala event honoured the talented and dedicated professionals who have demonstrated teaching excellence, acted as role models, and instilled confidence and a passion for learning in their students. The awards were created in the fall of 2001 by a group of business and education leaders who wanted to raise the profile of public education and recognize and celebrate the dedication and achievements of Ottawa's local educators.

First OCRI-led cleantech mission to China reaps benefits for China and Ottawa (OCRI News Release)

A week-long trade mission to China, led by OCRI, designed as an exploratory trip to determine the market potential for reciprocal cleantech ventures has resulted in a significant number of leads and signed agreements between Ottawa universities, four Canadian companies and several Chinese universities, institutions and companies.

Phoenix rises from call centre's ashes (Ottawa Citizen)

Just days after Dell Inc. announced it will lay off 1,100 of its 1,200 employees in Kanata and close its call centre operation, a small, new technical support company is setting up shop.

Forty Under 40 recipients announced (Ottawa Business Journal)

From multinationals to media, catering to communications and law to landscaping, they represent the region's most dynamic, successful and community-minded businesspeople. They formulate national environmental policy, operate travel blogs, mine for gold in Mexico, sell in Silicon Valley, consult patients with sleep disorders and spin spooky yarns for a living.

Ottawa tech sector: A galaxy full of stars (Financial Post)

The technology sector implosion that culminated with record layoffs in the Ottawa region just four years ago has been anything but calamitous. Instead, the area is celebrating a resounding recovery and new-found "swagger" as its revitalized technology community reaches a record 82,000 employees.

1,100 Dell jobs deleted (Metro)

The legacy of Dell is that they came and set up shop here and trained well over 1,000 people and made them extremely marketable.

OCRI's concerns flare as first quarter VC activity increases but early stage financing remains at zero (OCRI News Release)

Disclosed venture capital (VC) investments in Ottawa-based businesses totaled $42.79 million for the first quarter of 2008. This represents a significant increase in the value of investments compared to a total of $8 million for the same period ending 2007 and an increase in the number of funding deals, up to five from one in Q1 2007.

VC investment shoots up to 5-year high in Q1 (Ottawa Business Journal)

Venture capital investments in local businesses surged fivefold in the first quarter to the highest level in five years, according to a new report by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation.

Fun means funds for this generation (Ottawa Citizen)

Hundreds of partygoers allowed themselves to fall down the rabbit hole Saturday at the Alice in Wonderland-themed Ottawa Gala held at the Government Conference Centre. The gala supports OCRI's School Breakfast Program. The $35,000 raised last year provided 42,000 proper meals for young children and organizers hoped to collect closer to $40,000 this year. On hand from OCRI (Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation) were its president and CEO, Jeffrey Dale, and manager of education initiatives, Christine Lauzon-Foley.

OCRI Awards honour business excellence (OCRI News Release)

OCRI, Ottawa's economic development agency honoured Ottawa's best and brightest companies, executives and students for their innovative work and contributions to the city's knowledge-based sector at the 13th annual OCRI Awards gala and dinner at The Westin Ottawa this evening.

OCRI's Entrepreneur's Edge (e2) alumnus receives $5,000 EIOC Innovation Award (OCRI News Release)

OCRI is pleased to announce that Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ottawa Corp. (EIOC) has selected e2 alumnus Heliocentric Technologies Inc. as the recipient of its $5,000 EIOC Innovation Award. These funds will be used by Heliocentric to further the commercialization of the company's transportable elemental analysis system.

OCRI in the News: OCRI recognizes Ottawa's tech stars (Ottawa Business Journal)

The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation handed out the hardware at its annual awards gala Thursday evening, with Bridgewater Systems taking top honours as company of the year.

OCRI in the News: Skilled IT worker shortage a major concern (Business Edge)

"We're hearing again and again that talent is becoming a key factor," says Jeffrey Dale, president and CEO of the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI). "What we've noticed in the last few years is a much higher increase in mergers and acquisitions and one of the key things around those mergers is actually acquiring the talent, getting the people they need who have the skills to get the job done."

OCRI in the News: Video Gamers, Broadcast Providers Cited at Business Awards (Mediacaster)

"Tonight's recipients represent the top executives, business leaders, thinkers and strategists in the city," said Jeffrey Dale, President and CEO, OCRI. "Every year the quality and caliber of the nominations increase. The impressive accomplishments of this evening's winners show that Ottawa truly is a city that encourages, engages and produces world-class talent, innovative products and dynamic companies."

OCRI in the News: OCRI honours area achievers in tech sector (Ottawa Citizen)

The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation honoured the best and brightest in Ottawa's busy technology industry Thursday night in its 13th annual award ceremony. "These individuals tend to all be a lot of Type-A personalities," Jeffrey Dale, the area economic development agency's president and CEO, said with a laugh. "A lot of people who are overachievers, very enthusiastic, and they want success."

OCRI Life Sciences Welcomes New Vice President, Dr. Lynn Buchanan

OCRI is pleased to welcome Lynn Buchanan to the life sciences team. Lynn's research and management experience within the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector, both in Ottawa and internationally, will further enhance the team's extensive expertise.