Georgian receives $300,000 investment to support small businesses - Georgian College
Summary
Georgian College will help small- and medium-sized businesses be more competitive in domestic and global markets, thanks to $300,000 in funding announced today from Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON).Georgian will collaborate with Lakehead University Orillia on this project, which aims to support Central Ontario businesses with their intellectual property commercialization activities through the colleges Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship department.Georgian is one of 10 postsecondary institutions to receive a share of $2.9 million from IPON.Georgians Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship department will create new resources to provide businesses with information, mentorship and expertise.The project is expected to run for one year, starting this month, and will focus on five areas: Hosting workshops and learning sessions throughout Central Ontario to increase subject-matter experts knowledge about intellectual property and its commercialization. Building resources to provide subject-matter experts with case management support for their intellectual property commercialization activities. Developing processes and tools to track and report commercialization support activities in the short and long terms. Issuing micro-grants to businesses so they can access intellectual property and commercialization expertise and services that Georgians Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship cant provide.The Hon. This funding will help institutions across the province more effectively translate research into commercializable innovations, while ensuring the IP at their foundation is appropriately developed and protected, said Dan Herman, CEO, IPON.