Centre for Local Innovation and Collaboration (CLIC)

The City of Richmond Hill has partnered with OCAD University to launch the Centre for Local Innovation and Collaboration (CLIC)! Funded by eCampus Ontario, this unique, design-driven centre for innovation is part of a broad-based approach to accelerating business recovery post-pandemic.

CLIC exists to explore opportunities for local businesses to gain access to applied research and to leverage human-centred design expertise. 

CLIC Pilot

As a shared, co-creative undertaking, the CLIC pilot allows for multiple stakeholders — businesses, the municipality, researchers, and government — to work together to identify key areas of need and to optimize opportunities of project development.

This offering brings in expertise from Richmond Hill’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) and OCAD University to help businesses review their offerings and business models through a design-thinking lens. Businesses will work together with OCAD University researchers to uncover market insights and develop new product/service opportunities. CLIC can then help businesses bring these new market insights into fruition by connecting them with local R&D opportunities available through government funding partners. CLIC looks to foster local innovation and the generation of new products, services, and partnerships. 

CLIC is growth in progress, and a unique offering within the larger innovation ecosystem for businesses that seek to harness the power of creativity and applied design research to expand their business operations.

Businesses that are interested in collaborating with CLIC can apply for the ‘Human Centred Design’ program. 

How to Apply

Intake applications for our future cohort will be announced through SBEC’s e-newsletter. Register for SBEC’s e-newsletter here.

If you want to learn more about the program and explore collaboration opportunities, please email clic@richmondhill.ca. 

Questions

Email any questions about CLIC to clic@richmondhill.ca.