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Centre for Local Innovation and Collaboration Celebrates Newest Graduates
Back to SearchApplications Now Being Accepted for Fall Cohort
RICHMOND HILL – The City of Richmond Hill, in partnership with OCAD University, Centennial College and eCampusOntario, celebrated its newest group of graduates on July 12 from the Centre for Local Innovation and Collaboration (CLIC).
Launched in January 2022, CLIC is a co-creative partnership for applied design research and development. It works with local businesses to support research and development initiatives by providing connections to a network of research organizations, post-secondary expertise and potential funding opportunities. This innovation accelerator also facilitates and prepares businesses to access the Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform (OCIP), which helps Ontario companies address business challenges with a comprehensive, coordinated process to support research and development.
Eleven local Richmond Hill businesses went through the three-month program that saw them matched with a dedicated OCAD University researcher to help work on research and scoping to define their Innovation Challenge. The OCAD researchers later helped onboard each of the businesses to the OCIP platform.
Applications are now being accepted for the next cohort that starts in September. Learn more and get involved with CLIC at RichmondHill.ca/CLIC.
Quotes
“Congratulations to all the businesses that took part in our second CLIC cohort! It was great to see such a range of local businesses partnering with OCAD University’s expertise to build out products and services and create new opportunities for funding and developing. Your dedication and innovation is really setting up the next generation of business offerings for our community and beyond! Well done on successfully completing this program.” - Mayor David West
“This partnership is a great example of how OCAD U students are using their creativity, skills and knowledge to support local businesses in Richmond Hill to drive impact and innovation. Through this real-world experience, our students are contributing to bolstering the Ontario economy.” - Ana Serrano, President of OCAD University
“eCampusOntario congratulates all CLIC participants on this great achievement. We look forward to seeing your businesses grow and contribute to Richmond Hill’s future-focused economy. We are excited to see how making these important partnerships between our post-secondary research capacity and Ontario businesses can help push innovation to the next level.” - Dr. Robert Luke, CEO of eCampusOntario
“It is wonderful to see the CLIC ecosystem continuing to develop and grow. Centennial College is pleased to congratulate participants on their success and we look forward to playing a key supporting role in the development of Ontario businesses. As a hub for innovation and collaboration, CLIC provides a critical locus for creative thinking, applied research, training, and entrepreneurship.” - Dr. Glen Lowry, Associate Vice President, Applied Research, HyFlex Learning and Academic Partnerships, Centennial College
About Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill is home to more than 5,180 businesses, part of Canada's largest technology cluster and boasts one of Canada's most educated workforces. Its diverse, highly skilled talent pool, along with its prime location in the centre of the Greater Toronto Area with easy access to major highways and international airports, makes Richmond Hill a strategic place for companies to locate.
About OCAD University
OCAD University is Canada’s largest and oldest university for art and design. Students in 18 undergraduate programs and seven graduate programs learn how to use their creativity to address today’s challenges. Alongside a diverse and supportive team of instructors and peers, students gain employable skills that will help them get paid doing what they love while driving Canada’s creative economy. Graduates work in different sectors such as urban planning, environmental design, gaming, film, animation, publishing, illustration, graphic design, visual arts and arts administration.
About eCampus Ontario
eCampusOntario is a publicly funded non-profit organization that leads a consortium of the province’s publicly-assisted colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes that supports digital transformation and encourages innovation, collaboration and partnerships to connect Ontario’s campuses to the future of learning.
About Centennial College
Established as Ontario’s first public college in 1966, Centennial College primarily serves the Greater Toronto Area with five distinct campuses. It is known for its exemplary teaching, innovative programming and extensive partnership building. Centennial offers more than 400 diploma, certificate, graduate certificate, apprenticeship and degree programs in business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, hospitality/tourism and transportation. These programs, delivered in class and online, promote experiential learning with laboratory instruction, co-op education and industry placements. Centennial enrols 25,000 full-time students and 18,000 part-time learners annually.
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Media Contacts
Patti Enright, Communications Advisor
patti.enright@richmondhill.ca
Karen McCarthy, Senior Manager, Communications and Media
kmccarthy@ocadu.ca
Jason Northway-Frank, Manager, Governance and Strategic Communications
jnorthwayfrank@ecampusontario.ca
Julie McFayden, Director, College Communications, Centennial College
jmcfayden@centennialcollege.ca