Cleantech Commons connects with innovation leaders at Canada’s “Olympics of tech”
With the Durham Region recently being named one of the top seven Intelligent Communities in the world, this year’s Collision Conference in Toronto presented a fantastic opportunity for Cleantech Commons to partner with our colleagues at Trent University Durham GTA and Invest Durham to highlight the opportunities for creative academic and entrepreneurial collaborations through our clean technology research park.
See Talent, Tech, and Trent: Building Connections with Technology Entrepreneurs.
“Cleantech Commons’ close proximity to the Greater Toronto Area, and our strong ties with Trent Durham, make it a perfect location for both start-up ventures and established businesses to collaborate with the bright minds at Trent University to create green innovations, sustainable products, and low-carbon solutions for the global market,” says Martin Yuill, executive director of Cleantech Commons.
Collision Conference is the fastest growing technology conference in North America, with more than 35,000 attendees, including 1,557 tech start-ups, which use it as an opportunity to network, learn, generate research and partnership leads, and gain exposure.
With many emerging tech companies focused on eco-friendly solutions and clean technologies attending the conference, Collision was an excellent opportunity to explore opportunities with Cleantech Commons, Trent’s new research and innovation park, currently under construction at the University’s Symons Campus in Peterborough.
Cleantech Commons is a regional hub for collaborative research, innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship of clean, green, low- and zero-carbon, sustainable, and circular economy solutions.
“By building a cluster of scalable growth companies, startup and spinout ventures, corporate accelerators, and ‘innovation outposts’ at Cleantech Commons, we are developing the perfect location for both startup ventures and established businesses to connect with students, academic faculty, researchers, and university facilities,” says Yuill.
Trent Durham: A regional hub for collaboration
Trent Durham is fast gaining a reputation as a hub for regional collaboration and during the conference showcased the value that Trent researchers, graduates, and students can bring to start-up and growth-stage companies.
“Trent Durham GTA’s innovative interdisciplinary approach leaves graduates ready to adapt to any changes the future will bring,” says Scott Henderson, dean and head of Trent Durham GTA. “Technology that serves our communities must be created with a holistic lens to ensure that all of us move forward together.”
The University recently renewed its TeachingCity partnership with the City of Oshawa, an initiative aimed at solving some of the city’s most pressing challenges.
“Providing opportunities for students to co-create solutions to practical problems faced by modern cities is a way Trent University Durham GTA and the City of Oshawa put experiential learning in reach of all our students,” explains Dr. Henderson.
Exciting announcement by Cleantech Commons strategic partner
During the Collision Conference, Cleantech Commons’ strategic partner, Bioenterprise Canada, announced a new partnership with Durham-based 1855 Accelerator, the region’s first technology accelerator. This new partnership will further support agri-tech innovation and commercialization across our region.