狐狸视频

Wess Lovell, a senior process developer at Vive Crop Protection, one of the companies in the newly opened Banting and Best Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (photo by Jon Horvatin)

狐狸视频 launches new centre to support commercialization of research

The 狐狸视频 today launched the Banting and Best Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a new pre-incubation hub for discovery, innovation and commercialization.

Located in the historic Banting and Best buildings on College Street in downtown Toronto, the Centre provides business mentorship opportunities and cross-disciplinary collaborations for U of T faculty and students developing early-stage enterprises and spin-off companies.

Strategically located across the street from the MaRS Discovery District, a powerful resource and already home to many U of T start-ups, tenants in the Centre will benefit from the connections they can make with colleagues in MaRS, the University and other entrepreneurs at Banting and Best.

The launch and tour of the new Centre was attended by the Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Innovation, and U of T President David Naylor.

鈥淚n Ontario we are committed to strengthening our economy through innovation,鈥 said Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to have postsecondary institutions like the 狐狸视频 helping students turn their discoveries into high-growth companies and jobs.鈥

鈥淭he 狐狸视频, together with our partner hospitals, is the engine of Canada鈥檚 buzzing start-up and entrepreneurial capital,鈥 added U of T President David Naylor. 鈥淚n the past four years, over 70 new companies have emerged from U of T alone 鈥 and this number is poised to grow as the University鈥檚 new incubation space in the repurposed Banting and Best buildings comes online.

鈥淚t is fitting, since Banting and Best were integral to one of Canada鈥檚 greatest innovations.鈥

The Banting and Best buildings were originally constructed to provide a venue for U of T researchers to work with partner hospitals on research inspired by one of the landmark discoveries in the history of human health 鈥 the discovery of insulin.

With 50,000 square feet of space, the buildings are now a place where U of T鈥檚 faculty, students and partner hospitals focused on research commercialization can turn their discoveries into products and services that improve people鈥檚 lives. The private sector companies in the Banting and Best Centre already employ 63 staff.

Professor Cynthia Goh, Director of IOS, said the Banting and Best Centre addresses a long-standing need at the University.

鈥淎s these storied buildings attest, the 狐狸视频 has always had a rich history of innovation,鈥 she said. 鈥淣ow we have a space dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, a space that brings all the right people to the table to take discovery to the next level.鈥

 

 

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