Achievements

For over 20 years, OCRI has been leading the way for Ottawa by furthering the success and growth of existing businesses, helping small and medium businesses grow their markets globally and promoting the Ottawa Region as the ideal location for business development.

We support our members and unify our partners to grow Ottawa's economy with technology and innovation at the core. We drive partnerships, policies and programs that advance the business climate for Ottawa’s technology, academic and government community.

Today, OCRI is synonymous with driving Ottawa’s high-tech community forward. We’re enjoying watching our businesses grow, our local talent develop and our students come out of university with the prospect of a great career in Ottawa.

Find out below how we’re working with the community to advance the local economy and further the quality of life here in Ottawa.

Milestones 2008

• The Entrepreneurship Centre has:
  - Conducted 734 in-person consultations, hosted over 110 seminars and workshops attracting 1000 entrepreneurs and small business owners from the Ottawa region. Total number of clients served is 2,621.
  - Assisted with the launch of 3,183 new businesses which employ over 7,500 people. Related sales estimated to exceed $340 million.
  - Delivered successful programs targeting entrepreneurs of all ages and stages of development including opening two satellite offices and provided fully bilingual services.
  
  
• Global Marketing has:
  - Responded to 63 investment inquiries.
  - Completed over 25 networking and business development events.  
  - Established links to emerging markets including software in India and Clean Tech in China.
  
  
• Investment and Commercialization achievements include:
  - 131 companies have contacted OCRI Investment and Commercialization in 2008 to date with 22 active companies within the portfolio.
  - The total value of market intelligence services including in-kind contributions since January 2008 is $491,934.
  - Organized and led events and competitions to showcase the strength of Ottawa's early stage investment and commercialization opportunities.
  
  
• Life Sciences has:
  - Hired Executive Director, Life Sciences to evaluate the clean tech and medical technology sectors in Ottawa, develop a new comprehensive strategy to address the specific needs and opportunities of each sector and conduct outreach with Ottawa-based companies.
  - Ran sector specific events for the clean tech and medical technology communities.
  - Participated in working groups and related initiatives in Ottawa to develop long term programs and separate research days.
  
  
• Education
  - In partnership with the Software Cluster, IBM, Nortel OCE and Macadamian, OCRI launched the High School Technology Centre to establish computer sciences as a viable career option
  - School breakfast program serves 9,500 breakfasts daily in 140 schools
  - Leadership Event welcomed world renowned speaker Sir Ken Robinson to speak to business leaders and members of the academic community about developing a culture of innovation, creativity and leadership.
  
  
• Corporate Programs
  -  Launched a successful four part series in conjunction with the Canadian Management Centre to improve skills at all levels of management.
  
  
  
• Capital funding - On May 20th the City Economic Development Committee approved OCRI’s Capital Project Request for $520K for four projects including RIN, ORCP, Investment and Clusters.  This City Funding will be leveraged by $2.0M from other levels of government and the private sector enabling OCRI to continue to provide the high level of service, advocacy and representation that all our members have come to count on and expect.
• 2008 EduGala recognized Ottawa's top educators on May 8th
  OCRI presented the Capital Educators' Awards to 20 of the region's most innovative and respected educators this evening at the seventh annual EduGala, held at Algonquin College
• IPeak Networks graduates from OCRI Business Accelerator with first customer, bridge financing and invigorated team
  A send-off ceremony to celebrate IPeak Networks' success as one of Canada's Top 10 Technology Companies and the first graduate of OCRI's Business Accelerator Program was held earlier this month. Equipped with a new CEO, CFO, first customer and bridge financing, IPeak Networks is the first product of a new OCRI approach to identify and nurture Ottawa's most promising technology companies.
• First OCRI-led cleantech mission to China reaps benefits for China and Ottawa - agreements signed, solid leads established and subsequent trips confirmed.
  A week-long trade mission to China, led by OCRI, designed as an exploratory trip to determine the market potential for reciprocal cleantech ventures has resulted in a significant number of leads and signed agreements between Ottawa universities, four Canadian companies and several Chinese universities, institutions and companies.
• OCRI Awards honour business excellence.
  OCRI, Ottawa's economic development agency honoured Ottawa's best and brightest companies, executives and students for their innovative work and contributions to the city's knowledge-based sector at the 13th annual OCRI Awards gala and dinner at The Westin Ottawa on April 3rd.
• OCRI's Entrepreneur's Edge (e2) alumnus receives $5,000 EIOC Innovation Award  
  OCRI is pleased to announce that Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ottawa Corp. (EIOC) has selected e2 alumnus Heliocentric Technologies Inc. as the recipient of its $5,000 EIOC Innovation Award. These funds will be used by Heliocentric to further the commercialization of the company's transportable elemental analysis system.
• OCRI presents to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology
• OCRI’s submission to Wisdom of the Sages, a book about the evolution of Ottawa’s technology sector.
• participated in a consultation roundtable regarding the Transfer of Federal Non-regulatory Laboratories and submitted recommendations to the Independent Panel of Experts (IPE);
• held the 14th annual Bionorth Conference with 230 participants;
• participated in Destination Canada 2007 in France and Belgium;
• co-presented a highly successful, two-day workshop on building customer-centric websites with world-renowned web expert Gerry McGovern;
• submitted recommendations on changes to the SR&ED tax incentive program to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of National Revenue;
• announced the winners of the Canada's Top 10 competition identifying Canada's top investment prospects in life sciences, cleantech and technology;
• participated in TiE Delhi and Ottawa Meets India exploring opportunities in Dehli, Bangalore and Mumbai.
• hired Lynn Buchanan as Vice President, Life Sciences Program
• announced 2008 OCRI Awards Finalists
• released 2007 technology employment numbers
• released 2007 venture capital numbers
• launched University of Ottawa, Telfer School of Management eMBA scholarship program
• launched Ottawa MEDTECH Initiative
• launched 82,000reasons.com
• launched the Global Learning Alliance in partnership with Algonquin College, Carleton University, University of Ottawa, La Cite collegiale and the City of Ottawa
• hosted the Face-to-Face career fair
• hosted the Clean Energy Forum
• welcomed a Czech diplomatic delegation to Ottawa
• signed a memorandum of understanding with KOTRA(Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)
• submitted pre-budget submission to the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Finance
• hosted a sold-out February session of Entrepreneur’s Edge
• attended Globe 2008 in Vancouver
• conducted economic trade missions to Dubai and Cairo