McGuinty Government helps local entrepreneurs bring ideas to life at MaRS

Supporting innovation and creating jobs in the GTA

Toronto, February 9, 2011 – MaRS Discovery District is now part of the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE), a network of 14 regional innovation centres across the province that help local entrepreneurs bring innovative ideas to market.

As a member of ONE, MaRS will give entrepreneurs access to a broad range of experts, including researchers, academics, business, government and investors, who can help sell an idea and grow a business worldwide. MaRS will also collect and analyze regional economic, social, environmental and cultural data. Sharing this information with entrepreneurs and policy makers will support regional innovation economy planning.

Supporting made-in-Ontario technologies is part of Ontario’s strategy to make innovation a driving force in Ontario’s economy, and support the open Ontario plan to build new opportunities for economic growth and jobs.


Quotes

“The strength of Ontario’s creative environment, diverse culture, highly skilled workforce, world-class education system, internationally recognized research community and proven entrepreneurs is second to none. ONE links these talents together across the province to ensure all great ideas have the opportunity to flourish — creating jobs and improving our lives now and in the future.”

— Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation

“To remain competitive we must take full advantage of all our innovation assets. The ONE network connects the regional contributors into an integrated system, with a focus on building the jobs and companies of Ontario’s knowledge economy. The Toronto region brings enormous capacity and energy to this process, and we are committed to building a vibrant economy with partners here and across Ontario.”

Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District

 

Quick facts

  • In 2008-2009, Ontario’s local innovation centres helped our province’s technology-based entrepreneurs and companies: create and retain more than 3,400 jobs, protect over 1,300 new ideas through patents and copyrights, develop nearly 900 prototypes, bring more than 700 products and services to the market and sell to more than 3,500 new customers.
  • It is estimated that ONE will increase these numbers dramatically, by providing more coordinated, immediate and specialized help that is accessible across the province.
  • In Toronto, local thinking and support for innovation has already produced successful companies like Quantum Dental Technologies. With the help of Quantum’s “The Canary System”, dentists may soon be detecting cavities using pulsating laser light, instead of metal explorer tools, enabling dentists to halt and treat decayed enamel.

 

Learn more
About Toronto innovation success stories.
About the Ontario Network of Excellence.
About Ontario’s Innovation Agenda.
About the government’s Open Ontario Plan.

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (www.marsdd.com) is a mission driven innovation centre located in Toronto and networked across Ontario, focused on building Canada’s next generation of technology companies.  MaRS works closely with entrepreneurs to grow and scale their ventures into global market leaders in life sciences and health care, information, communications and entertainment technologies, clean tech, advanced materials and engineering, as well as innovative social purpose businesses.


Ontario Trillium from ShapeCollage

View photos of the MaRS Regional Innovation Centre launch

Contact:
Vanessa Caldwell
MaRS Discovery District
416.673.8200 x2240
vcaldwell@marsdd.com