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How do we create the climate for innovation that will lead to new industries and jobs based on new goods and services we can sell the rest of the world?

We are not just calling for more creative class jobs, but for increasing the creativity content of all jobs - service as well as manufacturing and agriculture too

3Ts of economic development. Technology is the first T

For Dr. John Evans, growing a strong biotechnology industry is much the same: cities must provide a nurturing environment where science and business can thrive together.

That's why Evans, former president of the University of Toronto and current chairman of Torstar Corp., is spearheading the $345-million Medical and Related Science initiative, or MaRS--a petri dish of sorts for commercializing science research. "A lot of intellectual property is being commercialized outside Canada," says Evans. "I think we've been slow in realizing just how important technology developments are to the economic future of the country. MaRS is an attempt to give this a kick into a higher gear." The centrepiece of the MaRS plan, which will officially launch May 12, is a 1.3-million-square-foot, five-building complex in downtown Toronto that will provide office and lab space for small and medium-size companies and incubators, including the not-for-profit Toronto Biotechnology Commercialization Centre. While Evans is reluctant to limit its scope, MaRS will generally focus on health-related technologies, from new drugs and genetic treatments to medical devices and imaging software. Branded a "convergence centre," it will also house a careful mix of support services: intellectual property lawyers, accountants, marketing experts, government funding organizations and venture capital financiers. Plus, start-ups will have access to all the latest equipment on site. For instance, MaRS is in talks with MDS Sciex to supply mass spectrometers, used in proteomics research.

But MaRS will be more than just a New Economy real estate development. Evans's intention is to funnel tenants' rent money into services--such as entrepreneurship seminars and angel-matching programs--that MaRS will offer to the broader biotech community. That's why MaRS's location is key: the centre will be built in the heart of what Toronto has dubbed the "Discovery District," a two-square-kilometre chunk of the downtown core, encompassing U of T and four major hospitals. From there, MaRS hopes to act as a network hub across Ontario, with links to research-intensive universities. "None of them," says Evans, "have the critical mass to put it all together on their own."

Is green, renewable energy a sexy enough topic to be the centrepiece of a coffee table book? Tom Rand, who leads cleantech development at Toronto’s MaRS Centre, believes so

a book that will expose a broader section of the population to the issues, technologies and opportunities around renewable energy. Rand has written a soon-to-be-released book called Kick The Fossil Fuel Habit: 10 Clean Technologies To Save Their World.

This is an accessible package, cleverly assembled and pleasant to look at, while at the same time making it enjoyable to learn about the technologies that, while seemingly “alternative” or “new” today, are destined to become a dominant and permanent way of energizing future generations and the economies that support them.

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.

MaRS Discovery District is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael H. McCain, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., to its Board of Directors.

Mr. McCain is looking forward to joining the MaRS Board of Directors as wel

Mr. McCain

MaRS Innovation and The University of Toronto (U of T) are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to collaboratively commercialize a novel sustained release formulation of nitric oxide (NO) for applications in wound healing, including diabetic ulcers. 

This wound healing technology is extremely exciting, making it an early commercialization opportunity that MaRS Innovation has identified as being a potential win for some 45 million diabetics globally,” said Dr. Rafi Hofstein, President and CEO of MaRS Innovation. 

disruptive technology that facilitates continued therapeutic release of NO over a two week period has been developed by Dr. Ping Lee, Professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and GlaxoSmithKline Chair in Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery at U of T.

2009 Cleantech Issue

exclusive look at the continent’s greenest hotel: The Planet Traveler Hotel in Kensignton Market, Toronto.

The big talk by the cleantech lead at the MaRS Discovery District, and the man behind VCi Greenfunds and Green Bonds, is backed by bigger action. Rand’s latest project is what he claims to be “the continent’s greenest hotel”, which Corporate Knights first told you about in October 2008.