Top 10 Innovations in September
September 26, 2013 – Scientists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago developed the first mind-operated prosthetic leg, where movement is initiated through communication between the thought signals of the wearer, reinnervated muscles, and sensors in the prosthetic limb. September 18, 2012 – Rethink Robotics revealed its invention of Baxter, the first humanoid robot with the capacity […]
2015 Waterloo Innovation Summit: What Drives Leading Innovative Ecosystems?
The 2015 Waterloo Innovation Summit begins today as a three day event that features a guided tour of the Waterloo Region ecosystem as well as a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers, firesides chats, and panel sessions at the main summit locations. Home to Canada’s most innovative University and over 500 tech companies, Waterloo Region boasts […]
Top 10 Innovations in August
August 10, 2015 – The crew aboard the International Space Station sampled, for the first time, Outredgeous lettuce that was grown in microgravity using Veggie hardware. August 22, 2011 – At the University of Leeds’ School of Chemistry, researchers developed a peptide-based liquid that can reverse early-stage tooth decay without the use of a drill. […]
Top 10 Innovations in July
July 22, 2014 – Stanford researchers invented a process to dissipate heat in solar cells, which are prone to overheating. Researcher Shanhui Fan concluded applying silica glass onto solar cells in a particular pattern facilitates cooling without using an additional energy source. July 8, 2014 – University of California researchers developed a lithium ion battery […]
Funding to Develop and Commercialize Innovative Products and Services
Through the Business Innovation Access Program (BIAP), initiated by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs), in particular small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are eligible for grants to assist in the development and commercialization of innovative products and services. The objective of this federal program is to […]
Student Start-ups: Success of Velocity
Velocity was created for the purpose of giving students at the University of Waterloo access to resources to turn their innovative ideas into successful start-up businesses. Through Velocity, students at the University of Waterloo are fostered as entrepreneurs through first-hand experience and interaction with successful industry professionals, and are supported with the tools to learn, […]
Communitech: A Leader in Global Technological Innovation
In 1997, Communitech was founded in the Waterloo Region by a group of entrepreneurs to establish a community with the aim of supporting technological innovation at all geographic levels: regionally, provincially, and nationally. By the beginning of 2015, this not-for-profit organization has created a tech hub consisting of 1,000 companies (including Google, BlackBerry, and Open […]
Start-Up Companies and Government Funding
Start-up companies are a popular topic of conversation these days, especially in Southwestern Ontario. There are many resources for these new companies including government funding and tax credit programs. It is critical that these companies are made aware of programs and services that can help them reach their business objectives. The Scientific Research & Experimental […]
Northern Ontario Development Program Funds Innovation
Small to medium sized companies located in Northern Ontario that are looking to invest in innovative projects that will lead to commercialization should consider the Innovation stream of the Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP). This repayable fund focuses on increasing innovation, productivity, and competitiveness in Northern Ontario. The key sectors are biotechnology, mining and forestry, agri-food, […]
New Innovation Initiative to Support SMEs in Western Canada
Small to medium sized companies in Western Canada can receive funding from the Western Innovation Initiative (WINN), recently announced by Western Economic Development Canada. The WINN program will be releasing application information starting November 9, 2013. The WINN program spans five years and has $100 million to support SMEs in Western Canada. The funds will […]