Collaboration Partners

For more than 10 years, FedDev Ontario has actively worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation and growth in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving their productivity, growing their revenues, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region.

The National Research Council of Canada - Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is Canada's leading innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The NRC-IRAP helps innovative SMEs in Canada build innovation capacity and take ideas to market through financial assistance, advisory services and connections to the best business and R&D expertise in Canada. 

The City of Kingston is responsible for matters with a local community focus like libraries, parks, community water systems, garbage removal, local police and fire services, recycling, transit and parking. Kingston's vision of being a smart, livable, 21st century city is fast becoming a reality. With a stable and diversified economy that includes global corporations, innovative startups and all levels of government, Kingston's high quality-of-life offers access to world-class education and research institutions, advanced healthcare facilities, affordable living and vibrant entertainment and tourism activities.

As the sales and marketing arm for the City of Kingston, Kingston's Economic Development Corporation is committed to the key issue of long-term economic sustainability. The Kingston Economic Development Corporation's success is based on the attraction of new business, the growth and retention of existing business and tourism opportunities as measured by the resulting economic impact on our community.

Launch Lab is a Regional Innovation Centre in Eastern Ontario. Launch Lab’s purpose is to foster entrepreneurship and the commercialization of innovations to help build globally competitive companies in Eastern Ontario. Its team of Entrepreneurs in Residence operate throughout the region, working with tech-based businesses that have an innovative technology or idea, and a variety of new startups and existing businesses that are experiencing challenges and looking to grow.

The Southeastern Ontario Angel Network (SOAN) facilitates the mobilization of investments from accredited investors into companies being developed in southeastern Ontario. SOAN is closely associated with Launch Lab, local economic development agencies, research institutions including Queen’s University, and other recognized angel networks in Ontario, Canada and the US. SOAN is a not-for-profit corporation, recognized by and registered with the Network of Angel Organizations – Ontario.

The Centre for Advanced Computing at Queen's University strives to be a catalyst for innovation in research. Their contributions support organizations in the advanced research community, communities that often include vulnerable groups such as Indigenous peoples and LGBTQ+ groups, to fulfill their research initiatives.

The Queen’s Business Law Clinic (QBLC) operates year-round to provide free legal services to a wide variety of individuals, businesses and non-for-profit organizations in southeastern Ontario who would otherwise have difficulty affording legal counsel. The QBLC seeks to provide Queen’s Law students with a unique professional development opportunity while instilling in them the values of community service and the pro bono tradition.

The Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre is a driver of innovation and entrepreneurship activity across Queen’s and in Kingston. The mission of the Centre is to encourage, enable and support the innovation activities of students, professors, entrepreneurs, regional and Canadian companies through incubators, accelerators, joint courses, workshops, internship opportunities, seminar series, conferences and business plan competitions.

With modern, expansive facilities in three vibrant Eastern Ontario cities and a solid track record of excellence, St. Lawrence College (SLC) combines all the benefits of a world-class education with the advantages of small-town living and personal attention to detail. The Student Life and Innovation Centre provides space for students to collaborate and innovate with the community and businesses in various ways. The Hello Future project includes new learning and gathering space for SLC's more than 200 Indigenous students, honouring the traditions of Indigenous culture while providing access to student supports.

Founded in 1983, KEYS provides Kingston and communities in Eastern Ontario with a variety of dynamic employment programs and services. Our expertise in helping individuals to attain their employment goals extends to a diverse population; including: mature workers, persons with disabilities, youth, students and newcomers to Canada.  KEYS Job Centre is a not-for-profit organization with a strong focus on service to others, we are committed to supporting members of our community through compassionate action and mutual respect.

The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce is an organization comprised of over 800 businesses in the Kingston area. The three pillars of our mission statement - advocacy, networking and education - all reflect the key role of the Chamber in helping its members increase their chances of business success.

GreenCentre Canada takes a hands-on approach to developing chemistry and materials-science innovations. From helping commercialize academic and entrepreneurial discoveries to providing established companies a confidential space to expand their R&D capabilities, GreenCentre transforms chemistry breakthroughs into products and services that will enhance quality of life and preserve the environment for future generations.

KPM-Accelerate is a global chem-tech start-up accelerator that takes incubated companies to the piloting and commercialization levels by using it’s 20 years of experience, 35+ full-time chemists and engineers, and 30,000+ sq. ft. of purpose built infrastructure.

Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital, facilitating economic growth and job creation in the City of Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally-recognized, innovative and future-ready city, and the best place to learn, work, live, and play, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development and global expansion programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. Additionally, Invest Ottawa is the lead organization responsible for championing and overseeing the delivery of the Scale-Up Platform in Eastern Ontario, in which Queen’s, Launch Lab and St. Lawrence College are partners.

Based in Kanata, the L-SPARK Accelerator is the destination for market ready SaaS and cloud companies to connect with Canada’s SaaS experts. The L-SPARK acceleration model positions companies to propel their revenues to $100k MRR and beyond. Leveraging established relationships with key venture capital firms, angel investors, and the investment community at large, L-SPARK’s goal is to scale Canada’s best in SaaS to 10 x revenue growth and Series A funding. Also a partner in the Scale-Up Platform in Eastern Ontario, L-Spark collaborates directly with QPI on several initiatives including the organization and delivery of the IOT Challenge and leadership of the design and delivery of the accelerator program for the women in tech stream of the WE-CAN Project.

The Kanata North Business Association's Hub350 Centre is a brand new ecosystem for Industry, Academic and Finance partners to co-exist and collaborate in the heart of Kanata North.

Spearheaded by the Spark Centre, the Eastern Ontario Innovation Corridor (EOIC) connects innovation hubs (such as Queen's University), industry partners, academic institutes, government and clients that are within the geographic space encompassed by the Durham Region to the Quebec Border. The EOIC’s mandate is to establish the regions within the corridor as innovation destinations with strong assets, innovative work ethic and locally produced success stories. Members of the EOIC collaborate to attract and retain skilled workers, talent, startups, SMEs and high tech and emerging industry companies within Eastern Ontario. The Spark Centre serves technology and innovation entrepreneurs who require knowledge and support to launch, develop and grow. They are dedicated to economic growth and sustainability in Durham Region and Northumberland County. 

The Ontario East Economic Development Commission promotes Eastern Ontario as a centre for investment and business growth. With over 140 members, the Commission represents more than 200 communities across Eastern Ontario. Ontario East Economic Development Commission is a one point of contact for site selectors, startup support and business growth.