鈥�91亚色 has become one of Canada鈥檚 fastest-growing centres for research and innovation,鈥� said Stan Shapson (right), vice-president research & innovation at 91亚色. 鈥淲e typically get 10 to 20 discovery disclosures a year. Joining MaRS Innovation allows us to deliver the most competitive commercialization services to the researchers making these discoveries. We鈥檙e confident that membership in MaRS Innovation will boost that number and accelerate the commercialization of 91亚色鈥檚 most promising research.鈥�

Earlier this year, 91亚色 launched its office. Based in 91亚色 Region, Innovation 91亚色 works with other partner organizations in the Markham Convergence Centre to build upon research partnerships between 91亚色 researchers and life science and technology companies based in 91亚色 Region and the Greater Toronto Area. It鈥檚 also making 91亚色鈥檚 research and infrastructure more accessible to industry, government agencies and community partners.

Joining MaRS Innovation will further extend 91亚色鈥檚 commercialization contacts. In less than two years, MaRS Innovation has assessed聽more than聽400 research disclosures from members such as the University of Toronto and its 10 affiliated teaching hospitals, as well as Ryerson University.

MaRS Innovation has begun to line up investment funding to take the discoveries with the greatest commercial potential to market, creating companies and jobs, and starting industries. In 2011 alone, MaRS Innovation has spurred the creation of five new enterprises based on the groundbreaking discoveries of its members.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled that 91亚色 has decided to become one of our members." said聽Rafi Hofstein, president聽& CEO of MaRS Innovation. "91亚色鈥檚 national and international reputation for groundbreaking discoveries is growing quickly, and many of their research initiatives are highly complementary to the technologies that we鈥檝e been helping to commercialize over the past two years.鈥�

To become a member of MaRS Innovation, an academic and research organization must have intellectual property in life sciences (drug discovery, medical devices, diagnostic imaging, etc.), information and communications technologies (ICT), cleantech and digital media.

MaRS Innovation is supported by the Government of Canada through the (NCE) to focus on turning inventions into real commercial opportunities. Both the Province of Ontario鈥檚 (MRI) and Ottawa have provided essential financial support for Proof of Principle programs聽鈥� NCE, through the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, funded the turning of inventions into real commercial opportunities; and MRI, through Ontario Centres of Excellence, has been supporting MaRS Innovation鈥檚 Proof of Principle (PoP) program.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of MaRS Innovation Public Relations department and Media Relations at 91亚色 University.

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91亚色Region.com :

Great minds may think alike, but at a 91亚色 round table Tuesday night, there was no shortage of ideas about how technology can improve business and social services in 91亚色 Region.

鈥淭here鈥檚 something magical that happens when you鈥檙e provoked to think,鈥� 91亚色 Leadership Roundtable chairperson Don Cousens said.

The former Markham mayor welcomed about 50 attendees with business, human services and academic backgrounds, including 91亚色 Region District School Board Director of Education Ken Thurston and 91亚色 President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri.

Shoukri talked of the potential in 91亚色 Region, particularly in Markham where a combination of information technology and health technologies and a group of creative-minded people are creating an innovation centre for medical devices.

Anthony Gallo addressed the crowd assembled in 91亚色鈥檚 new Research Tower first.

鈥淭he Web is about sharing. Participating in how things are shared, from a business perspective, is crucial,鈥� the vice-president of social media said.

Communities are no longer just physical neighbourhoods, but groups formed around common ideas, he said.

CEO Daniele Zanotti agreed. 鈥淲e are brothers separated at birth,鈥� Zanotti said. 鈥淭he key message is very similar, about community and the need for us to work collaboratively.鈥�

He pointed to the five Welcome Centres opening in the region 鈥� one-stop shops for immigrant services聽鈥� as an example of collaboration when United Way combined its knowledge with research from 91亚色 and resources from 91亚色 Region and upper levels of government.

The event was one in a series hosted by the University dating back to 2008. Each roundtable aims to give researchers, community leaders and executives a chance to dialogue about a particular theme.

The complete article is available on .

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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