Achievements
For over 20 years, OCRI has been leading the way for Ottawa by
furthering the success and growth of existing businesses, helping
small and medium businesses grow their markets globally and promoting
the Ottawa Region as the ideal location for business development.
We support our members and unify our partners to grow Ottawa's
economy with technology and innovation at the core. We drive partnerships,
policies and programs that advance the business climate for Ottawa’s
technology, academic and government community.
Today, OCRI is synonymous with driving Ottawa’s high-tech
community forward. We’re enjoying watching our businesses
grow, our local talent develop and our students come out of university
with the prospect of a great career in Ottawa.
Find out below how we’re working with the community to advance
the local economy and further the quality of life here in Ottawa.
Milestones 2008
- Capital funding - On May 20th the City Economic Development Committee approved OCRI’s Capital Project Request for $520K for four projects including RIN, ORCP, Investment and Clusters. This City Funding will be leveraged by $2.0M from other levels of government and the private sector enabling OCRI to continue to provide the high level of service, advocacy and representation that all our members have come to count on and expect.
- 2008 EduGala recognized Ottawa's top educators on May 8th
OCRI presented the Capital Educators' Awards to 20 of the region's most innovative and respected educators this evening at the seventh annual EduGala, held at Algonquin College
- IPeak Networks graduates from OCRI Business Accelerator with first customer, bridge financing and invigorated team
A send-off ceremony to celebrate IPeak Networks' success as one of Canada's Top 10 Technology Companies and the first graduate of OCRI's Business Accelerator Program was held earlier this month. Equipped with a new CEO, CFO, first customer and bridge financing, IPeak Networks is the first product of a new OCRI approach to identify and nurture Ottawa's most promising technology companies.
- First OCRI-led cleantech mission to China reaps benefits for China and Ottawa - agreements signed, solid leads established and subsequent trips confirmed.
A week-long trade mission to China, led by OCRI, designed as an exploratory trip to determine the market potential for reciprocal cleantech ventures has resulted in a significant number of leads and signed agreements between Ottawa universities, four Canadian companies and several Chinese universities, institutions and companies.
- OCRI Awards honour business excellence.
OCRI, Ottawa's economic development agency honoured Ottawa's best and brightest companies, executives and students for their innovative work and contributions to the city's knowledge-based sector at the 13th annual OCRI Awards gala and dinner at The Westin Ottawa on April 3rd.
- OCRI's Entrepreneur's Edge (e2) alumnus receives $5,000 EIOC Innovation Award
OCRI is pleased to announce that Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ottawa Corp. (EIOC) has selected e2 alumnus Heliocentric Technologies Inc. as the recipient of its $5,000 EIOC Innovation Award. These funds will be used by Heliocentric to further the commercialization of the company's transportable elemental analysis system.
- OCRI presents to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology
- OCRI’s submission to Wisdom of the Sages, a book about the evolution of Ottawa’s technology sector.
- participated in a consultation roundtable regarding the Transfer of Federal Non-regulatory Laboratories and submitted recommendations to the Independent Panel of Experts (IPE);
- held the 14th annual Bionorth Conference with 230 participants;
- participated in Destination Canada 2007 in France and Belgium;
- co-presented a highly successful, two-day workshop on building customer-centric websites with world-renowned web expert Gerry McGovern;
- submitted recommendations on changes to the SR&ED tax incentive program to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of National Revenue;
- announced the winners of the Canada's Top 10 competition identifying Canada's top investment prospects in life sciences, cleantech and technology;
- participated in TiE Delhi and Ottawa Meets India exploring opportunities in Dehli, Bangalore and Mumbai.
- hired Lynn Buchanan as Vice President, Life Sciences Program
- announced 2008 OCRI Awards Finalists
- released 2007 technology employment numbers
- released 2007 venture capital numbers
- launched University of Ottawa, Telfer School of Management eMBA scholarship program
- launched Ottawa MEDTECH Initiative
- launched 82,000reasons.com
- launched the Global Learning Alliance in partnership with Algonquin College, Carleton University, University of Ottawa, La Cite collegiale and the City of Ottawa
- hosted the Face-to-Face career fair
- hosted the Clean Energy Forum
- welcomed a Czech diplomatic delegation to Ottawa
- signed a memorandum of understanding with KOTRA(Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)
- submitted pre-budget submission to the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Finance
- hosted a sold-out February session of Entrepreneur’s Edge
- attended Globe 2008 in Vancouver
- conducted economic trade missions to Dubai and Cairo
Milestones 2006
- We nominated Ottawa-Gatineau and consequently the region was
short listed as 'Intelligent
Community of the Year'
- OCRI and working.com collaborated create OCRI
JobFinder to connect technology labour supply with demand
- It was announced by Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton
McGuinty, that both OCRI and OLSC would be the recipients
of $1.7 million, to be invested into initiatives aimed at
helping innovative companies develop cutting-edge technologies
and strengthening Ottawa’s economic advantage.
- The OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre delivered the Summer
Company program - one of several programs offered through
the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship – and
gave 12 local Ottawa students a chance to start almost any type
of summer business.
- The venture
capital numbers for Q3 were released. The live funding meter
for Ottawa can be seen online on OCRI’s Ottawa
Capital Network’s website, which provides detail on
each disclosed deal.
- Jointly with ITAC, we
released a paper calling for fundamental improvements to Canada’s
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax
program. The paper calls for a full review of SR&ED, and in
particular calls for an extension of the current tax refund provisions
of the program to all R&D performers.
- This June, we announced our intention to merge
with Ottawa’s other economic development agency, the Ottawa
Life Sciences Council (OLSC). The merger brings together the life
science and high technology industries, expanding the outreach
of both organizations, and improving effectiveness by consolidating
a comprehensive range of information, resources and services for
all sectors, within one organization.
- OCRI Ottawa Global Marketing’s Semi-Annual
High Tech Survey found that Ottawa is now home to 1,841 high
tech companies and 78,147 employees. This data is collected primarily
to provide companies, located within and outside of Ottawa, with
access to information pertaining to service providers and products
within the Ottawa Region. The data is available to the public
through the Technology
Industry Database at www.ottawaregion.com.
- Our Education Department coordinated the fifth annual Capital
Educators’ Awards (otherwise known as EduGala), held
at Algonquin College, to pay tribute to 16 of Ottawa’s top
educators.
- We joined forces with Ontario’s other leading technology
centres in Toronto and Waterloo and to create the MaRS
Network to promote innovation and commercialization in Ontario.
- OCRI Global Marketing surveyed the Ottawa business community
and released our highly anticipated, semi-annual
high tech statistics
- Our
VC numbers for Q2 2006 were released, illustrating a slight
increase in venture capital activity over the previous quarter.
- Sixteen outstanding teachers were honoured with a Capital
Educators’ Award at the EduGala organized by OCRI.
- We rewarded Ottawa’s hottest technology stars at the 2006
OCRI Awards.
- Our Entrepreneurship Centre launched a professional
development program which brings novice business operators
together with seasoned entrepreneurs and start-up veterans, to
make the process of securing funding easier.
- The launch of The OCRI
Report 2005 - the first edition of an annual community and
statistical profile containing the latest economic, technology
and educational data for the Ottawa community.
- We raised over $10,000 with a Children's
Art Auction to benefit the OCRI School Breakfast Program.
- The finalist
shortlist for the 11th Annual OCRI Awards was announced.
- OCRIRadio.com
launched the February podcast investigating the
VoIP business model.
Milestones 2005
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