TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 8, 2014) - Minister of State Gary Goodyear and Don Valley West MP John Carmichael were in Toronto today to celebrate the success of two FedDev Ontario funded projects that strengthen local clusters in medical imaging and digital entertainment.
They visited the Sunnybrook Research Institute to celebrate image-guided therapy technologies that are medical firsts not only in southern Ontario and Canada, but around the world. This includes a focused ultrasound technique that aims to alleviate pain in cancer patients, developed in partnership with Harmonic Medical, and catheter technology that allows clinicians to see heart and vessel structures in three dimensions, developed in partnership with Toronto-based Colibri Technologies.
Minister Goodyear and MP Carmichael also visited the Canadian Film Centre to celebrate the achievements of programming to further develop the digital entertainment cluster in southern Ontario. One of the programs, ideaBOOST, provides Canadian entrepreneurs with the budget, tools, training and mentorship needed to bring their innovative products to market. A number of products developed through ideaBOOST were showcased today, including the Bublcam, a sphere-shaped, 360 degree digital video camera, by Toronto-based Bubl Technologies.
Quick Facts
- Since its creation in August 2009, FedDev Ontario has invested nearly $229 million in more than 240 projects in Toronto, with more than $490 million in additional leveraged investments from almost exclusively non-government sources to support businesses, organizations and communities in southern Ontario.
- Thanks to a $6.91-million investment from FedDev Ontario, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Western University and 18 companies have developed and refined 23 new technologies. Some of these are now being sold internationally.
- Thanks to a $3.5-million investment from FedDev Ontario, 51 companies received support from the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and were able to develop 50 new digital entertainment products and services, gaining 11 international awards, and 25 nominations. Over one third of the products and services developed at the CFC were commercialized within 12 months post-project. The project also attracted 61 partners and collaborators from the business and not-for-profit sectors.
Quotes
"I congratulate Sunnybrook Research Institute and the Canadian Film Centre for sharing their expertise and leading projects to strengthen local economic clusters in medical imaging technology and in digital entertainment. Our Government, through FedDev Ontario, is proud to support entrepreneurs and businesses as they work with partners to bring new products and services to markets here and beyond our borders."
- Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario
"Our Government recognizes the importance of investing in partnerships for innovation, which lead to jobs, growth and economic opportunities."
- John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West
"Sunnybrook Research Institute leads in the development of image-guided therapeutics, from conception straight through to commercialization. With investment from FedDev Ontario and our industry partners, we have been able to accelerate our capacity to invent practice-changing medical devices, as today's celebration underscores. This strategic collaboration is enabling us to get viable products to market faster, and to patients sooner."
- Dr. Barry McLellan, President and CEO, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
"The Canadian Film Centre is leading the charge on the digital transformation of Canada's entertainment industry. Working with our traditional partners in the entertainment sector and a new generation of technology and digital media companies, we help develop and bring their innovative digital entertainment products to market, improving their chances of success with audiences, investors, and partners. Our partnership with FedDev Ontario has secured our role as the hub of southern Ontario's digital entertainment cluster."
- Slawko Klymkiw, CEO, Canadian Film Centre
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Ministerial speech at Sunnybrook Research Institute
Ministerial speech at Canadian Film Centre
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