Developing 'Innovation Literacy' Skills

At Ryerson University's Digital Media Zone (DMZ), students and graduates can develop digitally-based ideas into consumer products with help from mentors and industry. At Centennial College, students team up with industry to develop innovative new products, including an intelligent controller for small re-newable energy systems.

Both are examples of the innovation taking place at college and university campuses across the country.

"Innovation complements invention," says DMZ associate director Hossein Rahnama. "A lot of people think invention is the equivalent to innovation. Invention is the outcome of curiosity-driven research but making it tangible and adapting it to the needs of the community and the industry-that's innovation."

Industries looking to be internationally competitive will need graduates to help them identify new ways of solving problems implementing new technologies and increasing efficiencies to enhance competitiveness, George Brown College notes in its 2010-2011 annual report.

College and Business Partnerships Shaping Success

"This has been a remarkable year for applied research in colleges. Remarkable!" Trish Dryden’s comment refers to the situation in Ontario, not Canada as a whole. "The whole acceleration of applied research in colleges is really happening. It’s really taking place."

Still, college and business partnerships in applied research are coming together in many parts of Canada. We’ll get to that. Dryden, Associate VP, Research and Corporate Planning at Centennial College in Toronto, expects a continuing, accelerating ramp-up for a process that began slowly a decade ago.

Research Excellence Magazine

Health research in Canada has an illustrious and internationally acclaimed track record.

Why should we care?
Each one of us depends on health care that keeps us and our loved ones well, and saves or prolongs our and our loved ones’ lives. This care, on which we rely, does not spontaneously emerge. It comes from research. Today’s treatments are yesterday’s discoveries.

We cannot afford not to care.
Our health research enterprise is inventing the future of the health care on which we, our children and subsequent generations can rely. It works. Rates of illness and death caused by disease have dramatically dropped over the last 20 years. We’re living longer, and better. That’s because we’re discovering the root causes of disease, enabling the creation of better treatments and technologies.

Government Supports Community Jobs and Growth

New funding for leading-edge research to foster innovation at Centennial College

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 19, 2011) - Colleges across the country will be able to purchase tools and equipment for research projects that will improve health care, aid in forest management, provide better water testing and further the use of renewable energy. The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) was at Centennial College today to celebrate the recipients of the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program's Innovation Enhancement (IE) Grants and Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) Grants.

"Our government is focused on completing the economic recovery. These investments will create jobs, improve the quality of life of Canadian families and strengthen the economy," said Minister of State Bernier. "By working in collaboration with colleges, local businesses gain access to new equipment and resources that help them advance innovation at the community level."

Government Supports Innovation in the GTA

Toronto, Ontario —Ten businesses will work with Centennial College to develop new technologies, help conduct research and bring ideas to market, thanks to an investment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Today, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), celebrated the collaborations between Centennial College and small- and medium-sized enterprises.