Higher Education : Innovation + Job News

The Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network (ORION) recruited Dr. Darin Graham as its president and CEO in July, a hire that ORION Chair Maxime Jean-Louis told Yonge Street brought on a man with "an international record" who would help the organization "leapfrog into the forefront of innovation in Ontario."

Months later, the organization has announced [PDF] that they will deploy a 100G network -- the first in Canada and the first in the world to be deployed for Research and Education purposes. The new network represents a tenfold increase in capacity. "Moving to 100G is a generational leap in capabilities and a significant technological milestone. It helps move Ontario to the head of the pack in terms of having an extraordinary backbone in place to support new and innovative ways of enabling advanced research, innovation and scientific discovery," Graham says.

ORION is an "ultra high-speed research and education network" that links 1.7 million Ontario researchers, scientists, students, teachers and staff to enable research collaborations and discoveries in physics, cancer research, environmental science and technologies, social sciences and the humanities and other disciplines.

ORION says this is the first phase of a much larger major upgrade to its network, which spans 5,800 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the province. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2010.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Tamara Stoll, ORION

Portland-limestone cement (PLC) has been used in Europe for over 25 years, according Paul Ostrander, president of Mississauga-based cement manufacturer Holcim Canada, but it has never before been tested in Canada. This despite some strong sustainability points to recommend it: it generates lower greenhouse gas emissions in its manufacture than regular Portland Cement, and up to 10 per cent fewer carbon dioxide emissions.

So Holcim Canada has recently teamed up with researchers at the University of Toronto and the provincial Ministry of Transportation to run two trials on PLC in actual road projects. Video of the test is available to watch here.

According to U of T professor Doug Hooton, the testing has already shown a 33 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and there is no expected reduction in durability or effectiveness. The University of Toronto will be monitoring the trial sections over the next three years to evaluate its performance.

Holcim Canada currently employs 3,500 people in manufacturing products for the construction industry. In addition to it's Mississauga plant, it also owns a manufacturing facility in Joliette Quebec.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Junaina Saulat, Holcim Canada

Ryerson University has received $750,000 in funding from the federal government to assist in developing partnerships to commercialize its innovative research. The money, granted under FedDev Ontario's Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative, will allow Ryerson's newly established Digital Media Zone to partner with small and medium-sized businesses in southern Ontario to move university-based innovations into the marketplace.

"Ryerson has a rich history in applied technology research," notes Carla Cassidy of the University Research and Innovation department. "By connecting our outstanding entrepreneurial students and faculty members with small and medium-sized enterprises... we can move digital innovations seemlessly from the lab to the marketplace."

The Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative was launched earlier this year -- as was reported here in April -- specifically to aid businesses and capitalize on academic applied research. So far, 22 grants have been given to schools from the $15 million fund, including seven to GTA programs.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Heather Kearney, Ryerson University

A York University project to give Canadian, American and Mexican social science students a continental perspective on migration and immigrant integration has received funding from the federal government. Last month, HRSD Canada announced $152,680 in support of the project, entitled, Migration Studies Initiatives to Promote Curricular Development and a North American Community.

"Under this program and the broader International Academic Mobility initiative, students will be better prepared for the workforce and exposed to different ideas and new techniques within their fields of study," said federal Minister if Finance Jim Flaherty in his announcement of the grant. "This kind of collaboration will deliver important contributions to Canadian training and development and will make Canada more globally competitive."

The money is granted under the government's Program for North American Mobility in Higher Education, founded in 1995, which funds exchanges and cooperation between university students across North America.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Michelle Bakos, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

Sheridan College in Oakville set up the Elder Research Centre (SERC) in 2003 to conduct research into helping older Candians as they age. Earlier this week, the federal government announced a $2.3 million grant to the centre as part of the College and Community Innovation Program.

The money will support the centre's groundbreaking "Aging in Place" project, which the school's release says, "will see SERC collaborate with small and medium-sized companies in the research and design of technology applications that promote cognitive health and social inclusion. Ten founding partners will work together with Sheridan researchers, faculty members and students; the partners include Acclaim Heath and Community Care Services, Cerebral Vortex, pigeon*branding + design, PointerWare Innovations, Posit Science Corporation, Recreational Respite, the Region of Halton, Retire-at-Home, Schlegel Seniors Villages and Symetric Productions."

In announcing the grant and 10 others in the program, federal Minister of Industry Tony Clement said "These new partnerships will provide skills training for the communities in which they are based, position Canadian colleges as a destination for top research talent and give local businesses in communities across the country access to the knowledge and resources they need to innovate and commercialize new products and services."

"This is an important announcement for SERC, Sheridan and the broader communities we serve," Jeff Zabudsky, Sheridan's president and CEO, said. "By collaborating with regional companies, we can help to foster innovation and economic development at a local level."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Susan Atkinson, Sheridan College; Lynn Meahan, office of Minister Tony Clement

A Toronto-based company that has developed a new disease diagnosis device that could be used for cancer and other genetic diseases has drawn $1.04 million in financing for commercialization of its project. Xagenic was created by U of T researcher Dr. Shana Kelley as a spin-off from the university to commercialize the research.

Funding comes from several sources: $500,000 from MaRS [pdf], a $300,000 loan from the government of Ontario's new HTX commercialization program, $200,000 from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and $40,000 from the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Commercialization of Research.

According to a statement from Dr. Kelley, the funding "will enable Xagenic and its clinical development partner, the University Health Network, to confirm critical clinical sensitivity and specificity parameters for the technology." HTX estimates that Xagenic will create five jobs during the immediate commercialization process, with more expected later.

An announcement from Rafi Hofstein, CEO of MaRS Innovation, said that this is the first of several announcements from the business incubator of new investments over the next several months. "MaRS Innovation is very excited about the potential of the Xagenic technology. It is still early days for this company. This investment, however, sends a strong signal to researchers working in our partner institutions. MaRS Innovation wants to help develop Ontario technology to its fullest potential,right here and right now."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Rafi Hofstein, CEO, MaRS Innovation; Marcelle Mundle, Marketing and Communications Manager, HTX

Canadian post-secondary students are being asked to look into the future for transformational technologies or practices that will change the banking industry five years from now. Those whose crystal balls prove most interesting or inspiring will share in $45,000 in prize money.

The fifth annual Next Great Innovator Challenge, announced last week, continues the company's tradition of seeking the ingenuity of students to drive forward the banking business. According to RBC, many of the winning submissions from past years have been refined by the bank and introduced, including the "VIBE interactive personal banking station," the 2007 winning submission, which is now a pilot project at the financial institution.

"We're working in a different landscape now and the very way in which people approach financial services is constantly evolving," said Avi Pollock, head, Applied Innovation and Strategic Planning, RBC, in a release. "This year's challenge takes this into consideration and we want to hear from students what they think financial services should look like in five years. It's not just about a good idea though: students must consider how to implement their innovation."

Teams wanting to enter must register by November 8 and submit entries by December 10. More information is available at the challenge website.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Avi Pollock, Head of Applied Innovation, RBC

A group of 11 Canadian companies, including four from the GTA, announced last week that they'd form a consortium named Project Eve to drive innovation to help build the local electric mobility industry. "If Canada is to get its fair share of the new jobs that will come from electric mobility, interested local companies must advance and improve their technologies," said Al Cormier of Electric Mobility Canada. "This consortium is a step in the right direction.

The partner companies will share information and research in order to better develop components of electric vehicles and make them work better together. The companies include Toronto's Toronto Electric and NMA, Vaughan's Vecture and Markham's arcx. Also on the local front, the Electrical and Engineering Department of U of T is one of the academic institutions allied with Project Eve.

"We are confident that by working together we can advance the market goals of our members," says Steve Dalls, CEO of Toronto Electric and a Project Eve co-founder, noting that the "Canadian fleet environment" represents a substantial target for the group. "Our Fleet Program in particular represents a good opportunity for Canadian fleet managers to introduce electric vehicles into their daily activities and to learn about electric mobility directly from the people who make the technologies."

The open consortium are discussing adding more participants.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: John Scott, Director, Project Eve
 

The first academic labour relations centre funded by both unions and business opened its doors at Ryerson University last week as a hub of collaboration, research and innovation. In a symbolically appropriate move, union leader Buzz Hargrove and management professor Maurice Mazerolle were appointed co-directors of the new Centre for Labour Management Relations at the Ted Rogers School of Management.

"I think one of the most important issues to look at is job security and the dangers associated with crowd sourcing work in the new economy," said Mazerolle in introducing the centre's research mandate. "The modern workplace has reshaped the way in which we define work to the extent that there are now challenges in understanding new roles and relationships."

The centre's mandate is to be a research facility that brings together managers, labour, students, employees, academics and government players to study such issues as pension sustainability, avoiding strikes and wage and benefit cuts. During its first year, the centre will be hiring academic associates.

"The timing of the creation of the centre couldn't be better," Hargrove said, noting the economic landscape.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Kathleen Powderly, publicist, for Ryerson University

University of Toronto professor Albert H.C. Wong has received a $99,516 grant from the US-based brain and behaviour research fund NARSAD.

Wong, who works as a neuroscience research scientist and staff psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, will get the funding to support his research project entitled "Disc-1 Gene-Environment Interactions in Schizophrenia and Depression," which investigates variations in a schizophrenia gene.

Wong's was one of 42 grants totalling $4.1 million awarded by NARSAD late last month as part of its Independent Investigators grant program. Wong has previously received two other grants from NARSAD's Young Investigator program. Robert Post, who sits on the 116-member scientific council that awards the grants, says the money will lead to significant discoveries. "We identify those proposals we believe demonstrate the most innovative and promising paths toward better understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders. As always, the committee was challenged in its selection process and ultimately extremely proud to recommend and support these 42 brilliant, dedicated scientists."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Barbara Wheeler, NARSAD

A new award from Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs) will give $10,000 to a research practitioner whose work is of interest to Canadian Investors. The Toronto CFA Society & Hillsdale Canadian Investment Research Award was announced last week to encourage the relationship between the investment business and academia.

"The launch of the award ... represents an opportunity for us to foster the relationship between the academic and business communities through the promotion of high-quality, practitioner-relevant research," says Sean Cleary, awards chair of the 7,000-member Toronto CFA Society.

Chris Guthrie, a CFA with Hillside, says his company sponsored the award to demonstrate the importance of innovation in the Canadian investment field. "It is Hillsdale's objective to demonstrate its commitment to applied research and to continue to enhance the quality of practitioner research," Guthrie said.

Nominations for the award are being accepted from global researchers -- both business professionals and academics -- until November 30. Details are posted at the Toronto CFA Society webiste.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Sara Maginn Pacella, Toronto CFA Society

Startup Weekend is a Seattle organization that hosts conferences designed to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into companies. The conferences have been a global success since their first event in 2007, held in over 100 cities in 25 countries around the world so far, according to the organization. They claim that over a third of the companies founded at their events are still going concerns after three months, and that 10% of them go on to raise seed capital.

On September 26, Ryerson University's StartMeUp Ryerson program will host a Toronto Startup Weekend, featuring guest speakers including Mike McDerment, CEO of Freshbooks, and Leila Boujnane, founder and CEO of Idee Inc. According to Startup Weekend Toronto organizer Chris Eben, writing on the Startup North blog, the event includes both "how-to" and networking components -- a place to find partners as well as develop ideas. "Startup Weekend is a great way to network with other passionate entrepreneurs and find potential co-founders. During Startup Weekend, you will not only meet some talented individuals, you will get to see how they work, helping you evaluate the potential for long term fit. Interaction and exchange of ideas between different teams is common which means your networking opportunities are not limited to your immediate team."

He adds on his own blog that he wound up hosting the Toronto event after tweeting about the need for one in this city. "Frankly, I'm surprised it's taken so long to get here. Toronto has a vibrant tech and startup community and given that these weekends are going on all over the world and gaining tons of momentum, why didn't someone jump on this before me?"

The event costs $75 to attend and offers a prize from the Ryerson Angel Network of $500 to the winning team formed around an idea at the event.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Chris Eben, Startup Weekend Toronto; Startup North, Ryerson University

Last week, Ryerson University announced the Centre for Urban Energy (CUE), which university President Sheldon Levy called one of his schools "most significant research and commercialization initiatives." The centre will be a research and demonstration centre for sustainable, innovative technologies to provide for cities' energy needs.

The CUE will bring together academics and industry professionals from various disciplines to study problems and attempt to commercialize solutions. "The Centre for Urban Energy will be anchored by the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science but will be a university-wide Centre drawing on a variety of experts across many academic disciplines," said Alan Shepard, Ryerson's provost and VP Academic. "We will also be reaching out and collaborating with other academic institutions in Ontario, across Canada and around the world."

The areas of focus for the centre almost all deal with sustainability, including areas such as reducing carbon footprints, alternative fuel sources, hybrid and electric vehicles and conservation. Initial funding for the project totalling $7 million is being provided by Toronto Hydro, Hydro One and the Ontario Power Authority.

"We're proud to partner with Ryerson on this unique initiative to forward the agenda for the next generation of electricity research and technologies in Toronto," said Anthony Haines, President and CEO of Toronto Hydro.

Colin Andersen, CEO of the Ontario Power Authority, said that the research is key to both the enviromental and industrial future of the province. "Innovation is how Ontario will remain a leader in conservation and clean energy, helping to provide Ontarians with cleaner air, high quality jobs and a vibrant economy," he said. "We know that visionary new energy technologies will play a significant role in our success, and the Centre for Urban Energy will help deliver them."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Suelan Toye, Ryerson University

Ryerson undergraduate business student Lyubomir Halachev beat out submissions by PhD candidates and Master's students to win the prize for best student paper at the recent International Congress on Environmental Modelling Software held in Ottawa. His paper, co-authored with two other Ryerson researchers, provided a model to predict the financial viability of water-sector companies.

"The supply and distribution of water is vital everywhere. As a result it's important to identify in advance which water companies might experience financial trouble so that governments and industry can hopefully salvage them in time," Halachev said in a statement. He was inspired by the idea that given a possible coming water crisis, in which a majority of the world's population is expected to face water shortages within a generation, the economic stability of water-sector companies is of tremendous social and environmental concern.

After Halachev completed his initial research, he partnered with Ryerson engineering student Yashodan Athavale to develop the mathematical computer model for the project, and then with Ryerson Information Technology professor Aziz Guergachi, who supervised the research and co-authored the paper.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Suelan Toye, Public Affairs, Ryerson University

Got an Innovation & Job News tip? Email [email protected].

Twenty four-year-old entrepreneur Jay Manara is the frontman for a rock group called the Broken Sons, and is a drummer on the side who has toured opening for KISS. He says that while he was a business student at Ryerson, he was inspired to start his clothing line, Rock Parlor, by his work as a musician. "I'd been slugging it out playing in a band for six years, playing shows where we  were not even earning enough to put gas in the car. So I was looking for simple ways to make an extra buck."

The way he thought of -- a line of t-shirts inspired by tattoo and rock 'n' roll culture -- was promising enough that his business plan won him $25,000 in seed money in a Ryerson competition in 2009. His marketing approach was to have the shirts sold in tattoo shops, where, as a heavily inked man himself, he had connections, and where his target customers would find them. One year later, his shirts are sold at 30 locations across the country, he's earning a living himself, and he's looking to expand.

"I'm currently in the process of hiring a bunch of sales reps to work at pretty much every single university campus across the country," he says. He envisions using a model similar to Avon or Tupperware, where part-time reps who embody the brand's attitude serve to hand-sell the product.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Jay Manara, founder, Rock Parlor

Got an Innovation & Job News tip? Email [email protected].