Group items tagged

"The United States spends more on health care-related research and development than any other country. In 2003, it was estimated that the Federal government alone spent over $26 billion. Pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers and other private companies invested over $10 billion more. At its best, the American health care system is capable of delivering care unsurpassed anywhere else in the world. Yet, a 1999 Institute of Medicine study estimated that as many as 98,000 Americans die each year from hospital related medical errors. A recent study by the Rand Corporation (a non-profit think tank) concluded that less than 50 percent of encounters with doctors and hospitals resulted in optimal, evidence-based treatment. Studies show that as many as 42 million Americans - almost 15 percent of the population - lack health care insurance. Surveys reveal that patients do not feel they have adequate information about their conditions, and that their experience with health care ranks below that of most other sectors, in fact below that of the post office. In the aggregate, the country is spending nearly $2 trillion on health care, and yet the nation's health care system does not meet acceptable thresholds for safety, quality, access or cost. In 2005, VHA Health Foundation's board of directors sought to better understand the reasons behind this paradox. The foundation commissioned Larry Keeley and his associates at Doblin Inc. to apply the rigorous analytical methods that are used in their evaluation of other American industries and companies. The project set out to discover when, where and how innovation was taking place in health care. It also sought to identify organizations that were developing model innovation processes, and to explore where opportunities for successful innovation might lay."

An in-depth review of the private equity market in Canada. This fifth installment in the series, produced in conjunction with McKinsey & Company, provides a fact-based perspective of the key trends shaping the Canadian private equity market Volume 1: produced by Goodman and Carr LLP, provides an in-depth review of key market facts. It describes the main characteristics of Canada's private equity market, the preferences of its participants, and the market activity over the past year.

A Web 2.0 focused resource site for entrepreneurs, Virtual Handshake provides links to industry blogs, wikis, and discussion groups. Links to informative social networking sites, software (freeware), and other virtual communities can also be found, as is a comprehensive directory of other online networking/social software companies.

A Canadian Federally Registered Charitable Organization since 1999, Homeland Int., Inc. seeks to provide housing and better-quality-of-living services to global communities. The non-profit organization seeks entrepreneurs, lawyers, mentors, philanthropists, corporate leaders, and others. These individuals and companies can donate their time, commitment, collective knowledge, management resources, and other skills towards assisting communities with social implementation strategies and many other community-building projects.

"The Centre for Social Innovation is a place-based hub of ideas, people, services and strategies. In partnership with Urbanspace Property Group, they provide 18,000 square feet of shared workspace in downtown Toronto. The Centre for Social Innovation is home to a community of nonprofits, charities, social enterprises, artists, green businesses, and individual innovators. Working together, they lower costs, create synergies, and spark new ideas for advancing their shared interests. The Centre for Social Innovation explores new ideas in collaboration, social entrepreneurship and systems change. These interests guide their work. Their website only offers a subscription to their email newsletter, Social Innovator's Update. Join to receive information on news and events in this space."

Jet Cooper announces the launch of the Design in Residence program with Montreal's FounderFuel, Waterloo's VeloCity and Toronto's MaRS Commons. The new program - slated to start in January - will provide early stage companies at some of Canada's top startup accelerators with user experience design mentorship, resources and education.

Instead of packing training into one grueling engagement, the startup, based, like RIM (RIMM), in Waterloo, Ont., breaks lessons into shorter, ongoing sessions. 

MaRS Discovery District has published an infographic that highlights Toronto's startup-savvy neighbourhoods. Leveraging location data from MaRS Advisory Services, the organization pin pointed concentration levels in the city's various sub-regions. 

MaRS Discovery District has published an infographic that highlights Toronto's startup-savvy neighbourhoods. Leveraging location data from MaRS Advisory Services, the organization pin pointed concentration levels in the city's various sub-regions. 

MaRS Discovery District has published an infographic that highlights Toronto's startup-savvy neighbourhoods. Leveraging location data from MaRS Advisory Services, the organization pin pointed concentration levels in the city's various sub-regions. 

Hamutal Dotan, Torontonist blogger states "MaRS infographics provides insights on local startups, where they are located, and why they cluster where they do."

Panelist Robert Smith, chief technology consultant at MaRS Discovery District, said IT needs to contribute to the innovation paradigm within the organization.

A blog for small businesses (even hobbypreneurs) with posts and whole categories on online marketing. From financing to strategy.

Get inspired: leadership, copyright, motivation, collaboration and passion. It's all here for entrepreneurs of innovative companies.

A directory of information for Ontario government tax credits, incentives and programs for business. Search about 60 programs across 11 different ministries in one spot.

Rich Bendis blogs and has a daily newsletter supporting the growth of the entrepreneurial innovation economy in America.

Read up on the best innovation bloggers as voted by the readers of "Blogging Innovation".

Newcomer Magazine writes about MaRS as a business incubator -- a place for newcomers to make connections, find a job, or start a business. They highlight tenants Kanata Chemical Technologies, AXS Biomedical Animations Studio and Clera Inc.

A technology conference for women