Before starting RockMass, Shelby Yee began her career mapping in underground mines using pencil crayons. She knew there had to be a better way.
How Academic-Industry Collaboration Maximizes Innovation
total program investment into collaborative R&D projects
total co-investment (matching contributions) from industry partners
Ontario companies supported
jobs created or retained
private sector follow-on investments
2021-2022 Outcomes


Hon. Vic Fedeli
Minister of Economic Development,
Job Creation and Trade
“Ontario is proudly home to one of the most dynamic and collaborative innovation ecosystems in the world. Our government is committed to working together with ecosystem partners, businesses and academic institutions to create the right conditions to spur new innovations, expand our opportunities, and create good jobs in Ontario. OCI’s efforts have nurtured invaluable partnerships and collaborations, contributing to the growth and future success of our province.”
Programs spotlight
Latest News & Updates
Welbi Co-Founder and CEO Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau started her company after experiencing the loss of her grandfather.
The Growcer has a solution to the rising cost of produce and the inability to grow food locally in remote areas of Canada.
The Canada-Ukraine Security Innovation Challenge (CUSIC) today announced a Call for Solutions that invites Canadian and Ukrainian tech companies to submit innovative proposals to address a range of national-security challenges, from cybersecurity to secure communications between partner nations.
This important and timely project invites innovators from both countries to participate in a bilateral competition that will bring together tech entrepreneurs to present innovative solutions that will strengthen Canada and Ukraine’s technological expertise, with the goal of commercialization through piloting and procurement opportunities.
The Ontario government is investing $3 million to help six life sciences companies develop and bring to market made-in-Ontario medical innovations and health-care solutions. These companies are the first recipients to receive support from the province’s Life Sciences Innovation Fund (LSIF), a new, early-stage fund that helps companies advance made-in-Ontario solutions and increase Ontario’s competitiveness.
Communitech, Ukraine Startup Fund, and the Ontario Centre of Innovation signed an MOU to collaborate on a Canada-Ukraine Security Innovation Challenge.