Building on success, 91亚色 launches The YSpace Network
New network connects Faculties with innovation and entrepreneurship resources
Canadian innovation is getting a major boost with 91亚色's exciting new initiative: The YSpace Network. The Network aims to build on the incredible momentum and success of YSpace, 91亚色's innovation hub, and further expand its capacity to support students, alumni and faculty across 91亚色's campuses, the Greater Toronto Area and around the globe. The initiative opens access to a sophisticated suite of innovation and entrepreneurship services to 91亚色鈥檚 Faculties, empowering collaboration and impact across disciplines.
"91亚色 has built something special, something that is rapidly gaining momentum when it comes to inspiring our students, alumni and faculty to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations," says Rhonda Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor. "The YSpace Network will ensure we build on that momentum right across our campuses, while leveraging the expertise and communities of powerful Faculty-based startup programs such as Schulich Startups, IP Osgoode and the Lassonde School's BEST program."
The Network has been jointly created by YSpace and the Schulich School of Business, co-led by 91亚色's Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation David Kwok and Schulich's Executive Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Chris Carder, with strategic oversight and institutional support from the Office of the Vice President Research & Innovation. The announcement comes at a time when government and industry are calling on Canadian post-secondary institutions to do more to support innovation and drive economic growth, as featured in
The Lassonde School of Engineering is joining The YSpace Network, marking an exciting beginning for this university-wide collaboration. "Our school has a strong legacy of entrepreneurship thanks to the generosity of Doug Bergeron, whose support established the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) program and created the foundation for the success we're building on today. His investment and trust have enabled us to enter this exciting new phase, bringing new connections, resources and opportunities for students, alumni and faculty to commercialize their technologies, strengthen partnerships, and contribute to Canada's innovation economy," says Jane Goodyer, Dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering.
"YSpace was created to ignite innovation and empower the next generation of changemakers,鈥 said Amir Asif, 91亚色鈥檚 Vice President, Research and Innovation. 鈥淚n partnership with the Schulich School of Business, The YSpace Network is charting a bold path forward for 91亚色. This initiative expands our reach and deepens our impact by bridging research, entrepreneurship, and community to drive solutions to global challenges. Together, YSpace and Schulich鈥檚 Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship are shaping a powerful ecosystem where ideas become ventures, and ventures create lasting change. The YSpace Network embodies 91亚色鈥檚 vision for a more innovative, inclusive, and prosperous future.鈥
The YSpace Network is a milestone that builds on 91亚色's growing momentum as an entrepreneurship and innovation launch pad with a growing footprint in the GTA and beyond. The most recent PitchBook University Rankings had 91亚色's inaugural ranking breaking through in the top 100 globally, followed by news that 91亚色 is ranked fourth in the Panache Ventures national Startup Formation Report.
How Faculties Can Engage with The YSpace Network
The YSpace Network is designed as an opt-in model that allows Faculties to participate at varying levels of engagement:
- Affiliate Membership: open access to YSpace programming streams
- Step-Up Implementations: pop-up programming, competitions and support
- Full Hub Implementations: dedicated on-site hubs with embedded resources
Connect with us directly to explore how your Faculty can join The YSpace Network:
David Kwok, Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, YSpace 鈥 davekwok@yorku.ca
Chris Carder, Executive Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Schulich School of Business and Jay Smith & Laura Rapp Chair in Innovation & Entrepreneurship 鈥 ccarder@schulich.yorku.ca
