The federal government's Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry has allocated $95.3 million over five years through its Lab to Market grants to support four networks of post-secondary institutions and organizations from various sectors across Canada. Centennial College is part of the Lab2Market network, which is designated as Canada's National Network for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Skills Training of Students, Researchers and Highly Qualified Persons.
Centennial's involvement presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of entrepreneurial skills and the commercialization of innovations. As the only Ontario college invited to participate in the pan-Canadian network of 50 reputed organizations, Centennial will play a pivotal role in offering entrepreneurial training, mentoring and support through workshops, boot camps and immersive learning programs (AR/VR). Backed by $32 million in funding, the network will provide both financial assistance and access to valuable resources aimed at helping researchers transfer innovations to market or community users through commercialization.
"The national competition for this grant program was intense, so we are especially pleased to be a part of this consortia," wrote Jonathan Hack, Dean, Centennial Innovates, in an email. The consortia is led by Dalhousie University and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). "I am particularly pleased that John MacRitchie of TMU approached Centennial College, as he was aware of our excellent entrepreneurship programming."
This collaboration with leading post-secondary institutions, which also includes the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, York, McMaster and Queen's University, will enable Centennial to leverage proven programs for the benefit of participants. Other contributing organizations include Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Sunnybrook Research Institute.
With its expertise and reputation in the innovation and entrepreneurship domain, Centennial is poised to contribute to this collective effort starting in Fall 2025. The College will offer a combination of Discover sessions and Foundations boot camps, mentorships and hands-on experience to refine market solutions and business models, focusing on health, transportation, Edtech, Cleantech and Deeptech sectors, among others.
"This is a great opportunity for Centennial Innovates/Centennial College to significantly influence the commercialization process in Ontario, aligning with other leading institutions to ensure that innovative research reaches its full potential in both the academic and market communities," noted Lalit Guglani, Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, whose leadership shaped a new entrepreneurship strategy and delivery model for Centennial.
