TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Resources
3. Support

1. Introduction

Excluding financial support, other kinds of support and assistance are still available for business in the technology and innovation sector, both for general and specific purpose. The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of some of the non-financial supports presently available for businesses in Ontario.

The Financing for Starting a Business Info-Guide and the Financing for Established Businesses Info-Guide will provide you a useful overview of financing options. The Info-Guide Financial Support - Science and Technology and Grants, Subsidies and Contributions Info-Guide will give you overviews of financial support available for the science and technology industry.

Note: some programs and services listed below may also contain some form of financial support.

For regulatory or legal questions, it may be useful to contact a lawyer that deals with business regulations through the Law Society of Upper Canada's Lawyer Referral Service.

For further information:
call 1-800-268-8326
visit the website: Law Society of Upper Canada's Lawyer Referral Service

2. Resources

Industry Canada

Industry Canada's website provides information on resources, programs and services on the biotechnology and life sciences, information and communications technology, and science and technology industries, as well as useful information on innovation, commercialization, research programs and technology transfer.

For further information:
visit the website: Industry Canada - Innovation, Research, Science and Technology

Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

The CIPO, a Special Operating Agency (SOA) associated with Industry Canada, is responsible for the administration and processing of the greater part of intellectual property in Canada.

For further information:
visit the websites:
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Tutorial - Your Patent Application
see the documents:
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Copyrights
Canadian Copyrights Database
Trade-marks
Canadian Trade-marks Database
Integrated Circuit Topographies
Patents
Canadian Patents Database
Industrial Designs
Canadian Industrial Designs Database
Intellectual Property Toolkit
Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program

Ontario Centres of Excellence

The Ontario Centres of Excellence, founded in 1987 are involved in the full chain of development of new technologies. From the start of pure research, they assist by facilitating, connecting and encouraging the individual and institutional researchers. And at the end they aid these researchers to make connections to sources of financing and business expertise that will allow the full commercialization of new technologies and innovative applications.

The Ontario Centres of Excellence are made up of six centres:

• The Centre for Energy
• The Centre for Communications and Information Technology
• The Centre for Earth and Environmental Technologies
• The Centre for Materials and Manufacturing
• The Centre for Photonics
• The Centre for Commercialization of Research

For further information:
please call 416-861-1092 or (toll free) 1-866-759-6014
visit the website: Ontario Centres of Excellence

3. Support

Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI)

MRI works towards, among other things, targeting resources and government investments strategically, listening to the experts in research and innovation, helping investors find ideas to invest in and helping innovators get the support they need, supporting innovators early on, through schools, cultural institutions and businesses, bringing research from the lab to the marketplace, and supporting Ontario's research and innovation activities through their programs and funding.

For more information:
visit the websites:
Ministry of Research and Innovation
Research and Innovation Programs and Funding

Business Mentorship and Entrepreneurship Program (BMEP)

The BMEP, one-half of the Market Readiness Program provides businesses with the skills needed to take ideas from the drawing board to the marketplace. The program targets Ontario based, start up and early stage technology companies.

For more information:
visit the website: MaRS - Business Mentorship and Entrepreneurship Program (BMEP)

Business Development Support for Information and Communications Technologies

Offers various support services to Canadian information and communications technologies companies interested in exporting their products and services.

For more information:
visit the website: Information and Communications Technologies

Canadian Innovation Centre (CIC)

The CIC assists inventors and innovative companies by providing a range of services that include invention evaluation, technology due diligence, market research, and education programs to help small and medium-sized enterprises, innovators, inventors and researchers take their ideas from the drawing board to the store shelf. The CIC is an independent, non-profit corporation. All of its services are confidential.

For further information:
please call 519-885-5870
visit the website: Canadian Innovation Centre

Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) Business Advisory Service

The MEDT's business advisory service offices provide assistance to existing innovative growth firms, associations and municipalities. Business Advisors work with companies by assessing their current situation, supporting development of future plans and providing options for achieving their goals. They link firms with the right people, information and business resources to enhance competitiveness and profitability.

For further information:
see the document: Business Advisory Services (Ontario)

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Consulting

The BDC offers customized consulting solutions for the complex challenges you face everyday as a Canadian entrepreneur.

For further information:
please call 1-877-232-2269
visit the website: BDC Consulting 
see the document: BDC Consulting

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Research Branch provides information on AAFC technologies to companies interested in licensing AAFC's intellectual property and as well as on terms and conditions relating to commercialization licenses and the model and template agreements used to develop, evaluate or transfer new technologies.

For further information:
visit the websites:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Innovation
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Technology Transfer and Licensing
Collections and Catalogues

Canadian Agriculture Library (CAL) - List of Libraries

CAL provides access to libraries that are part of the Canadian Agriculture Library (CAL) network.

For further information:
visit the website: Canadian Agriculture Library

Agri-Food Trade Service (ATS)

The ATS is an international business development service. The network covers government services for industry in international business development.

For further information:
visit the website: Agri-Food Trade Service
see the document: Agri-Food Trade Service (ATS)

Assistive Devices Industry Office (ADIO)

The ADIO works with Canadian assistive device developers, producers and vendors, to provide them with advice, support and market intelligence.

For further information:
visit the website: Assistive Devices Industry Office

BIOTECanada

A national organization dedicated to promoting a better understanding of biotechnology and the many ways it contributes to improving the quality of life of all Canadians.

For further information:
visit the website: BIOTECanada

Federal Partners in Technology Transfer - Business Opportunities

Federal research laboratories represent an exceptional source of expertise for both Canadian industry and the scientific community and offer various flexible partnering mechanisms.

For further information:
visit the website: FPTT - Business Opportunities - Partnering Mechanisms

CANARIE

CANARIE Inc. is a joint government and private-sector initiative which links researchers and educational communities across Canada, and around the world, via a high-speed broadband network.

For further information:
visit the website: CANARIE

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) funding program for Productivity Improvement Projects SMART

The program supports productivity improving projects such as lean design and lean manufacturing, quality improvement, energy efficiency, IT best practices, and environmental impact reduction. It provides assistance identifying or planning an improvement project and practical information about productivity improvement and also gives workshops on these topics.

For further information:
visit the websites:
CME SMART Program
SMART Funding Update
SMART Manufacturing Sessions

CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Devon (CETC-Devon) and National Centre for Upgrading Technology (NCUT)

CETC - Devon is the federal government's primary research group for the development of hydrocarbon supply technologies and related environmental technologies, with an emphasis on oil sands and heavy oil.

For further information:
visit the website: CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Devon

CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Ottawa (CETC-O)

CETC develops and deploys leading-edge technologies in the areas of residential, commercial and industrial energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and transportation energy technologies.

For further information:
visit the website: CANMET Energy Technology Ottawa

Transportation Energy Technologies (TETP) - TRANSET

TETP supports efforts by Canadian industry to develop and deploy technologies and fuels that provide a cleaner, more sustainable energy mix for our roadways.

For further information:
visit the website: CANMET Energy Technology Centre

CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL)

MTL focuses on developing and deploying technologies to improve all aspects of producing and using value-added products from metals and materials.

For further information:
visit the website: CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL)

CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories (MMSL)

The labs provide research and development services, technical information, and sound scientific advice to Canada's mining and minerals industry and to provincial and federal government departments involved in promoting or regulating this and related industries.

For further information:
visit the website: Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories

Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) / CANMET

The CERL is Canada's national centre for the advancement of technology related to the manufacture, storage, transport and use of explosives.

For further information:
visit the website: Explosives Regulatory Division

Clean Electric Power Generation Program

This program supports the development of novel combustion technologies aimed at reducing emissions of acid-rain precursors, greenhouse gases, particulates and hazardous substances.

For further information:
visit the website: Clean Electric Power Generation Program

Community Energy Systems Program

The program identifies and develops opportunities for the use of district heating and cooling, combined heat and power (co-generation), waste heat recovery, thermal storage, and local sources of renewable energy, particularly biomass.

For further information:
visit the website: Community Energy Systems Program

Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) - Innovation Centre

Provides small (including start-ups) and medium-sized Canadian companies access to CRC technologies, expertise and specialized facilities and testbeds.

For further information:
visit the website: Communications Research Centre's Innovation Centre
see the document: Communications Research Centre's Innovation Centre

Northern Ontario Development Program

FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program provides funding and assistance to projects that will bolster and improve the long term economic and social well-being of Northern Ontario.

For further information:
visit the website: Northern Ontario Development Program
see the document: Northern Ontario Development Program

Eastern Ontario Development Program

Was established to promote socio-economic development in Eastern Ontario by creating, building and developing the necessary conditions to increase business and employment opportunities in the area.

For further information:
see the document: Eastern Ontario Development Program

Emerging Technology

The Emerging Technology Program is designed to encourage both the private and public sectors to develop exciting and viable new technologies that will contribute to future northern prosperity.

For further information:
visit the website: Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation - Emerging Technology
see the document: Emerging Technology Program (Northern Ontario)

GeoConnections Program

From 2005 to 2010, the renewed GeoConnections program will pursue partnerships with particular end-user groups to apply the infrastructure in support of decision making in four key areas (environment and sustainable development, matters of importance to Aboriginal peoples, public health, and public safety and security).

For further information:
visit the website: GeoConnections
see the document: GeoConnections Program

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

The mission of the IISD is to champion innovation, enabling societies to live sustainably.

For further information:
visit the website: IISD

Sustainable Development Technology Canada

The organization provides support for the development and demonstration of clean technologies.

For further information:
visit the website: Sustainable Development Technology Canada
see the document: Sustainable Development Technology Fund

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

The IDRC is a Canadian Crown corporation that works in close collaboration with researchers from the developing world in their search for the means to build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.

For further information:
visit the websites:
IDRC Library
IDRC Publications
IDRC - Partnership and Business Development Division (PBDD)
IDRC's Research Programs and Projects

Moving on Sustainable Transportation Program - MOST

Supports projects that produce the kinds of education, awareness and analytical tools we need if we are to make sustainable transportation a reality.

For further information:
visit the website: Moving On Sustainable Transportation

National Research Council (NRC)

The NRC is the Government of Canada's premier organization for research and development. It provides various types of resources including financial support for Canadian business and industry in the innovation and technology sector.

For further information:
visit the website: National Research Council Canada - Business

NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)

The National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) is Canada's premier innovation assistance program for Canadian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

For further information:
visit the website: NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)

NRC Institute for Information Technology (NRC-IIT)

NRC-IIT creates and commercializes software and systems technology to help Canada prosper in the knowledge economy. Through its research, the dissemination of its findings and innovative business services, NRC IIT provides a competitive advantage to a myriad of industry sectors, from health care and manufacturing, to transportation and entertainment.

For further information:
visit the website: NRC Institute for Information Technology (NRC-IIT)

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' (OMAFRA) Laboratory Program

OMAFRA's Laboratory Program provides diagnostic support to the ministry, the food industry and the province's livestock and poultry producers.

For further information:
visit the websites:
OMAFRA - Research, Education, Laboratories & Risk Management
OMAFRA - Agricultural Information Contact Centre

Precarn is an independent not-for-profit company that supports the pre-commercial development of leading-edge technologies. Precarn works with Canadian companies who are seeking to commercialize their new ideas to get an edge in global markets.

For further information:
call 613-727-9576
visit the website: Precarn Incorporated

Related Reading

• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions Info-Guide
• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Arts and Media
• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Agriculture
• Grants, Subsidies and Contributions - Employers
• Business Guides

Need more information?

Click: Canada Business
Call: The Business Info Line, a collaboration between ServiceOntario and Industry Canada, at 1-888-745-8888
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DISCLAIMERS

Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Some of the organizations listed above are not subject to the federal Official Languages Act or the French Language Services Act of Ontario. Their services may not be available in both official languages.