The Government of Canada is investing in businesses, organizations and local manufacturers that are making it easier for Canadians and their families to find an affordable place to call home, while creating good jobs and growing our economy.
On January 16, the Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), along with the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, visited Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) to learn about its plans to establish the Centre for Housing Innovation (CHI), an accelerator led by TMU's DMZ.
With a Government of Canada investment of over $3.5 million, CHI will act as a central hub, bringing together innovators, developers, contractors, and municipalities to advance the development and commercialization of housing technologies. The CHI will help to foster innovative companies ready to address critical housing supply chain challenges through two cornerstone initiatives: the Accelerator for Housing Solutions and the Training Program for Housing and Manufacturing Innovation.
The cohort-based Accelerator for Housing Solutions will launch in the spring of 2025 and will provide participating entrepreneurs with access to industry experts, resources, state-of-the-art facilities and mentorship, as well as the opportunity to develop and pilot solutions to housing supply challenges in real-world settings.
The Training Program for Housing and Manufacturing Innovation will provide industry professionals including manufacturers, developers, and contractors to build their knowledge and skills in new homebuilding techniques, sustainable design, regulatory compliance, and cutting-edge building materials. The training programming will launch later this year.
The Government of Canada is committed to helping businesses and organizations innovate and increase productivity in the housing construction sector and its supply chain, while also creating opportunities to build a country we can be proud of, where everyone has a place to call home.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada knows we need to act quickly to create more housing and build an economy that works for all Canadians. With the establishment of Toronto Metropolitan University's Centre for Housing Innovation, we are helping to equip entrepreneurs, manufacturers and developers with the tools and expertise needed to create advanced, sustainable housing solutions for Canadians."
- The Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
"We need more housing, and we need the technology to increase the supply fast. The new Centre for Housing Innovation will provide entrepreneurs and industry professionals with the skills, resources, and mentorship they need to accelerate commercialization of their cutting-edge housing technologies. Today's investment is great news for Toronto and across southern Ontario as it will pave the way for a strong homebuilding ecosystem of the future."
- The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre
"Solving Canada's housing challenges takes a team effort government, startups, developers and housing experts all need to collaborate to drive real change. DMZ's Centre for Housing Innovation will bring together key stakeholders to fast-track new housing solutions and technologies. With support from FedDev Ontario and our partners GroundBreak Ventures, CivicAction and NGen, we'll be able to help startups lead the way in creating cutting-edge solutions and boosting Canada's housing supply."
- Abdullah Snobar, DMZ, Executive Director of DMZ and CEO of DMZ Ventures
Quick facts
- Incorporated in 1948, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), previously known as Ryerson University, is a large post-secondary institution based in Toronto. It enrolls more than 48,000 students annually across its seven faculties and operates 37 research centres and institutes.
- Established in 2010, DMZ is recognized as one of the world's premier startup incubators, boasting the largest entrepreneurship training program in Canada. It empowers founders to scale high-impact ventures, helps students develop entrepreneurial mindsets and equips professionals to thrive in today's fast-moving economy.
- To date, DMZ has supported more than 1,800 startups in raising $2.78 billion in capital and has created over 25,000 jobs.
- CHI initiatives will be delivered in partnership with GroundBreak Ventures (GBV), the CivicAction Leadership Foundation and Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen).
- Canada's regional development agencies are also delivering $50 million through the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative over two years to enhance the local homebuilding supply chain and innovate the residential construction sector so that Canadians have a place to call home, sooner.
- Since 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested over $1.17 billion in more than 1,480 projects in the GTA, supporting 114,000 jobs.
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