Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation

CONII

PROJECT

CONII is a three-year project funded by the Ontario government. It is a network of ten Ontario Colleges that was formed in November, 2006, to advance the commercialization of applied research in partnership with industry. Seneca is the lead college and the other colleges are Algonquin, Centennial, Conestoga, Fanshawe, George Brown, Humber, Niagara, Sheridan and St. Clair. Each college represents an industry sector node. Centennial and George Brown jointly form the Health and Life Sciences sector node.

Commercialization of applied research or technology transfer is gaining increasing support from both federal and provincial governments and private sector funders such as venture capitalists. Recognition is also growing among businesses that would like to market launch their products and services as quickly as possible and achieve profitability.

CONII is especially well positioned to partner with industry in joint commercialization projects because the colleges have always responded to industry needs and their research has always aimed for practical outcomes. The potential for innovation is especially strong for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and again, the SME segment is where the colleges are perceived as highly approachable and therefore engage most successfully.

OBJECTIVES

The short term objectives of CONII are to provide seed funding for Proof of Principle (POP) projects, jointly executed by an SME business and a CONII college. Typically the funding per project would be $10,000 and the duration would be 12 months or less. Each CONII college plans to engage in two POP projects per year.

OUTCOMES

A concrete deliverable is expected to result from a POP project, which would lead to further development towards a commercially successful deliverable.

FUNDERS

Ontario Research Commercialization Program of the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation

PARTNERS

Centennial College Seneca College Algonquin College Conestoga College Fanshawe College George Brown College Humber College Niagara College Sheridan College St. Clair College

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Katharine Janzen, Seneca College Trish Dryden, M.Ed., RMT, Centennial College