Don’t miss Innovation 2 Growing Globally

You still have an opportunity to participate in ‘Innovation 2 Growing Globally,’ a unique event at the Mississauga Convention Centre on October 5 that  explores innovation in manufacturing and international markets for small business.

The Honourable Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and David Pascoe, Vice-President of Electric Vehicle Technology for Magna E-Car Systems, are the keynote speakers.

The half-day business forum brings together key industry leaders from the manufacturing and trade sectors to share best practices and insights on how to expand markets through innovation and international trade. As a participant you have two options to explore

1. Innovation in Manufacturing

Thinking Outside the Box
– Jayson Myers: Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

Industry Champion Panelists
– Martin Harry: Virox Technologies
– Brad Bourne: FTG Corporation
– Peter Stein: Piller Meats

Solutions Through Research
– John MacRitchie: Ontario Centres of Excellence

2. Growing Your Business Globally

Growing Globally: Business Presentations
Featuring experts from leading local companies such as Pat Stanghieri from UPS

Resources and Services Presentations
– Debbie Walker – Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
– Bill Macheras – Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
– Robert Sanders – Export Development Canada

The Research Innovation Commercialization (RIC) Centre and the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) are jointly hosting the forum from 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Registration is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch. There will also be a trade show featuring resources and programs to support innovation and international trade.  Register at www.riccentre.com

The forum is presented in partnership Business Development Bank of Canada, City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, IRAP, Sheridan College and Town of Caledon.

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers pro vide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit RIC Centre for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

Read Full Post »

Sheridan Campus in Mississauga

By Sheldon Leiba

Mississauga’s downtown core is taking on Sheridan College’s motto, “shine brighter”, as construction of Sheridan’s third campus is underway just north of the Living Arts Center. Construction of the campus comes after both the Provincial and Federal governments contributed $31 million dollars in funding to Sheridan, with $15 million to be raised through fundraising and other sources, that we hope our corporate sector will generously support.

The new campus will accommodate 1,700 full-time students upon completion of phase 1 next March, and grow to accommodate 5,000 students.   The campus will provide day, night, weekend and continuing education courses, and will have a special concentration on business education and provide a range of services and programming that will help foreign-trained professionals prepare for employment.

Aside from transforming Mississauga’s city center, having Sheridan in the heart of Mississauga will give the city new energy and vibrancy.  Sheridan President, Jeff Zabudsky, has commented that the campus will be a welcoming space for the entire community with the inclusion of park like settings in its design.  Most importantly the campus will serve to solve a greater problem, the skills shortage and workforce issues that Mississauga has now and will continue to have in the future.

In the short term, construction of the new campus has created jobs for those involved in the construction, while in the long term many of the students who attend the Mississauga campus will be able to work for over 50,000 businesses that call Mississauga home. Sheridan’s presence will be essential to Mississauga’s economic development and growth, as it will provide businesses with an enhanced pool of educated and skilled labour.

This is just another good news story that we should all be proud of, that contributes to Mississauga being a great city to live, work,  play, pray and to be educated.

Sheldon Leiba is the President & CEO of Mississauga Board of Trade, Mississauga’s leading business association. Mississauga Board of Trade represents businesses in all industry sectors. Visit www.mbot.com.

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers pro vide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit RIC Centre for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

Read Full Post »

Canadian Chamber and Magna to speak at Innovation 2 Growing Globally

The Honourable Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and David Pascoe, Vice-President of Electric Vehicle Technology for Magna E-Car Systems, are the keynote speakers at ‘Innovation 2 Growing Globally,’ a unique event at the Mississauga Convention Centre on October 5.

The half-day business forum brings together key industry leaders from the manufacturing and trade sectors to share best practices and insights on how to expand markets through innovation and international trade.

The Research Innovation Commercialization (RIC) Centre and the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) are jointly hosting the forum from 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Registration is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch. There will also be a trade show featuring resources and programs to support innovation and international trade.  Register at www.mbot.com.

The Honourable Perrin Beatty is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the 192,000-member Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s largest and most representative national business association.

Prior to joining the Canadian Chamber in August 2007, Mr. Beatty was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME).

His political career started in 1979 as the youngest person ever to serve in a federal Cabinet, first as Minister of State (Treasury Board) in the government of Joe Clark, and then in six additional portfolios in subsequent Progressive Conservative governments, including National Revenue in 1984, Solicitor General in 1985, National Defence in 1986, Health and Welfare in 1989, Communications in 1991, and Secretary of State for External Affairs in 1993.

David Pascoe is the Vice-President of Electric Vehicle Technology for Magna E-Car Systems where he participates in Magna International’s electric and hybrid vehicle development and integration programs.  He also manages Magna International’s Corporate Engineering group at Magna’s global headquarters campus in Aurora, Ontario, Canada.

Pascoe joined Magna in 1987 and has been involved in advanced engineering projects, business case development, production programs, company acquisitions and advising on business opportunities.

In 2009, Pascoe was elected to the Board of Directors of Electric Mobility Canada.

Pascoe will kick-off the forum with an address on “Managing Innovation Effectively for Growth”. Beatty will speak at lunch.

This forum will explore how innovation and creativity can lead to business growth and international trade, and provide strategies for growth in global markets.

Breakout sessions at the event will include:

• Innovation for Manufacturing, which targets manufacturing firms (aerospace, automotive, food & beverage, and life sciences) seeking innovative ideas to grow their business
• Growing Your Business Globally, which will help businesses looking to enter the international arena with finding trade and business opportunities, as well as with the exporting of information and services.

The forum is presented in partnership Business Development Bank of Canada, City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, IRAP, Sheridan College and Town of Caledon.

For more information and to register, visit www.riccentre.com

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers pro vide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit RIC Centre for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

Read Full Post »

Mississauga student earns research experience

Sridaya Srivatsan, a Grade 11 student from St. Francis Xavier Secondary in Mississauga, has been accepted for a prestigious summer research program at  Deep River Science Academy (DRSA) near Ottawa. RIC Centre, Mississauga put forward Ms Srivatson’s name as a candidate and Sheridan College has provided sponsorship.

This unique and innovative science research summer academy selects only 18 students across Canada.

The program provides a six week work experience in a leading research laboratory under the guidance of a professional scientist or engineer and a university science student hired full-time to supervise and guide their research.  The research projects range from chemistry, physics, biology and life sciences and incorporate aspects of engineering and technology.

DRSA is a private school and is authorized by the Ontario Ministry of Education to issue academic credits. Students must write a research paper and give an overview of their research to their peers and interested scientists before graduating with 2 credits.

Pictured Sridaya Srivatsan was selected to participate in the Deep River Science Academy. Her application is supported the RIC Centre and  Sheridan College. Photo l to r: Jeff Zabudsky, President Sheridan College;  Sridaya Srivatsan and  Bill Matthews,  Chair RIC Centre & VP Marketing Magellan Aerospace.

Read Full Post »