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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