CLIC Partnership Takes Off

Richmond Hill, OCAD University and eCampusOntario Launch Next Cohort

RICHMOND HILL – The City of Richmond Hill, in partnership with OCAD University and eCampusOntario, are helping companies take their business to the next level through their new initiative – CLIC (the Centre for Local Innovation and Collaboration). 

CLIC engages businesses with specialized expertise from City business advisors and OCAD University researchers, including faculty, students, and recent alumni of the Strategic Foresight and Innovation Master of Design program. Together, the group helps establish a platform for knowledge exchange, design review, individualized consultation, and advocacy. 

Since the program launched in March this year, 17 companies have already successfully worked with CLIC to uncover market insights and develop new product/service opportunities. Three of these companies were also awarded $25,000 each to take their projects to the next level:

• PharmaGuide, creators of a cloud-based pharmacy tool
• HearBliss, developer of quality noise reducing earplugs for women
• KnowMeQ, an AI enabled web-based workforce diagnostic and up-skilling assessment tool 

As a result of this success, CLIC is launching a new cohort this fall with additional support from eCampusOntario. Experts from Richmond Hill’s Small Business Enterprise Centre and OCAD University will help companies review their business models through a design-thinking lens. Any company interested in working together to uncover market insights and develop new product/service opportunities is welcome to apply. 

Learn more about CLIC and how to get involved at RichmondHill.ca/CLIC. 

Quotes

“I’m always inspired by the creativity and innovation businesses in Richmond Hill show when they build out their operations and develop new products and services. We want to see this success continue so we’ve partnered with OCAD University and eCampusOntario to offer a new level of support for businesses, helping them to innovate and thrive – which is great for our local economy and beyond.”  

- David West, Mayor of Richmond Hill 

“As educators, we are dedicated to building partnerships to help empower businesses and improve the lives of people within our communities. Through our work with the CLIC partnership, we are seeing first-hand how strategic innovation design, human-centered processes and creativity can fuel business growth and success.” 

- Ana Serrano, President of OCAD University 

“With the proven success of the first CLIC cohort, we are happy to announce that eCampusOntario will continue to support this partnership, enabling companies to tap into the expertise of OCAD U’s students and faculty, as well as Ontario’s network of higher education institutions.”

- Dr. Robert Luke, CEO of eCampusOntario

“We are thrilled to have participated in CLIC and gained new perspectives, invaluable advice and connections to people and resources. Being awarded $25,000 in funding will help us to further develop an inventory management system powered by a machine-learning algorithm. This system will in turn help pharmacies to better manage their drug inventory, minimize waste, and protect the supply chain in order to deliver the best care for patients. The support of CLIC helped make this possible.”

- Dr. Walid Mowaswes, CEO of PharmaGuide, CLIC participant and recipient of CLIC seed funding

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-funded 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.

Additional Links

• RichmondHill.ca/SBEC
• OCADU.ca
• eCampusOntario.ca 

Media Contact
Patti Enright, Communications Advisor
patti.enright@richmondhill.ca 

Karen McCarthy, Senior Manager, Communications & Media
kmccarthy@ocadu.ca

Jason Northway-Frank,Manager, Governance and Strategic Communications
jnorthwayfrank@ecampusontario.ca