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The Stem Cell Network (SCN) has entered into a collaborative agreement with the MaRS Discovery District to transfer control of its nascent spin-off commercialization arm, Aggregate Therapeutics Inc (ATI). The agreement will see MaRS take immediate management responsibility for ATI, seek funding to operationalize the company and accelerate efforts to commercialize stem cell and regenerative medical research

Canada has always had to fight hard to attract talent and investment

MaRS Vital to Toronto's life sciences vision is MaRS (derived from Medical and Related Sciences) a non-profit organisation and business centre located in the heart of the city. Its core function is as a biotech incubator and business park, known as MaRS Discovery District. The venture was first established in 2000 to help foster and accelerate the growth of successful Canadian businesses and, after some uncertain times, it is now gathering momentum. A separate technology transfer office, MaRS Innovation, has also been established that, it is hoped, can be a world beater in its own right (see Turning good ideas into world beaters below). The location of the MaRS building in central Toronto is important, as it is just a stone's throw away from an existing cluster of universities and academic hospitals. MaRS has many links with other research-based organisations, including collaborations with three local universities, 10 academic teaching hospitals and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. MaRS occupies the Old Toronto general hospital, where insulin was first discovered by Best and Banting in 1921 and then developed for use in human trials. The 21st Century organisation can build on this heritage in patient-focused discovery and development. Formerly the head of venture capital firm Primaxis, Ilse Treurnicht is chief executive of MaRS Discovery District. She acknowledges the crisis in venture capital funding, and says Canada's sector has always had less access funds through this route than other countries. This is one of the drivers behind the search for a new approach. Treurnicht says the old models of building biotech and life sciences businesses have to be discarded, as they have failed to build companies with critical mass. She says MaRS' new 'Convergence Innovation' strategy of bringing science, capital and business together will pay off.

"We call our strategy 'Convergence Innovation' and what we are trying to do is move away from the old linear model of academics struggling in their spare time to build companies or entrepreneurs doing this in a very incremental way."It takes time and it has many risk points along the way. So using this Convergence centre model to create a much more dynamic organisation which can help accelerate good ideas towards the commercialisation." But she says Canada's geography and demographics are always going to be a challenge. "This is a very large country with a small population. If you think in terms of clusters and hub regions, Canada's business hubs are separated geographically, and there is not much in between in terms of people."That means we can't try to be a little United States, because we just won't show up on the radar. We have to take a different approach. We have to think about collaboration as our potential competitive advantage - that means using networks and associations to solve problems and build businesses."So as new opportunities emerge, we can take them to market faster and hopefully with a higher success rate." The centre currently accommodates numerous start up companies, as well as those providing legal and financial services to them. AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline also have offices on site. In all, MaRS provides mentoring for over 200 different companies across Ontario, and runs courses on entrepreneurship and preparing products for market.

MobileBiz BootCamp (http://mobilebiz.ca) September 16, 2009 From garage start-up to corporate start-up, at the MobileBiz BootCamp you will earn your stripes by learning from the best in the business. An intensive full day of key insights and fast-track tips delivered by experienced mobile industry leaders, vendors and supporting organizations focused on creating exponential value for all delegates to accelerate profitable growth in their mobile business. Featured speakers from Wind Mobile, Summerhill Capital, Polar Mobile, MaRS, Ontario Centres of Excellence and more. Additional MOBILEINNOVATIONWEEK activities are the ilovemobileweb party - the ultimate mobile industry networking event of the year - and the Mobile ThinkTank where industry experts come together to envision the future of mobile in the global economy. Evening receptions are sponsored by the CWTA, the Mobile Experience Innovation Centre (MEIC) and the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF).

MOBILEINNOVATIONWEEK from September 12-16, 2009 in Toronto.

MOBILEINNOVATIONWEEK from September 12-16, 2009 in Toronto.

MobileBiz BootCamp (http://mobilebiz.ca) September 16, 2009 From garage start-up to corporate start-up, at the MobileBiz BootCamp you will earn your stripes by learning from the best in the business. An intensive full day of key insights and fast-track tips delivered by experienced mobile industry leaders, vendors and supporting organizations focused on creating exponential value for all delegates to accelerate profitable growth in their mobile business. Featured speakers from Wind Mobile, Summerhill Capital, Polar Mobile, MaRS, Ontario Centres of Excellence and more.