A great start for the OPI in 2018!
One month into the New Year and our second blog post is here!
Here are a few updates on The Office of Partnerships and Innovation’s (OPI) priorities and activities in January:
The Research Partnerships Unit (RPU) engaged with 80 researchers at Queen’s, and over 100 companies and organizations in the region, Ontario, Canada, or internationally. Examples of this team's engagement include:
Organized many stakeholders and potential partners while preparing for Queen’s University’s Experiential Learning funding application to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development
Worked with Queen's researchers and the Ministry of Economic Development, Growth and Innovation’s Investment & Trade office, along with universities across Ontario, in identifying key expertise and collaboration opportunities in transportation research
Hosted Project Development Officers from CUTRIC (the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium) during a two-day site visit to engage with Queen’s faculty, Utilities Kingston, Kingston Transit, and Bombardier Transportation in discussions about various pan-Canadian demonstration projects including e-buses, hydrogen fuel cells, and smart vehicles
The Research Contracts Unit (RCU) received 103 new files and/or agreements. The RCU team also finalized negotiations, and signed or closed 98 files and/or agreements on behalf of the research enterprise and community at Queen’s. Examples of agreements with new partners to Queen’s that the RCU team negotiated include:
An agreement for two faculty members, in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, who are collaborating with a new industry partner, AINemo, China's top technology-driven consumer electronic company
Agreements for a faculty member in the School of Computing who is collaborating with a global technology company headquartered in China
Numerous agreements to advance the recently announced collaborations between the internationally recognized Canadian Clinical Trials Group at Queen’s University and the U.S.-based Cancer Research Institute
A recent highlight from the Technology Transfer Unit (TTU) includes:
Laser Depth Dynamics (LDD), a technology company formed and supported by the TTU and based on research conducted at Queen’s, was recently purchased by IPG Photonics, an international firm that will accelerate the expansion of LDD’s technology into global markets
The Regional Innovation Ecosystem Unit (RIEU) incubated 31 startup companies at Innovation Park, including 20 founded by Queen’s faculty, current or recent staff, or student entrepreneurs. To provide additional value to client companies, the RIEU organized various events at Innovation Park including:
A “Lunch and Learn” delivered by The Centre for Advanced Computing at Queen’s, which shared information about the resources and expertise of its Cognitive Development Hub, a professional software design and development lab for data analytics and cognitive computing application
A workshop organized in partnership with Launch Lab and delivered by MaRS Intelligence Reports, a group which offers assistance to ventures that are looking for market research
Monthly Venture Spotlight: TimberWolf Cycles
TimberWolf Cycles is a startup founded by David Timan, a Queen’s engineering graduate who designs and builds high-performance road bikes from wood, which delivers aesthetic and technical elegance.
TimberWolf Cycles has recently sourced a new birch plywood for its bicycle frame, which will significantly increase the performance of this bike. The company has already attracted several pre-sales, and expects to significantly add to its sales book as David demonstrates the product on a Quebec City to Gaspe bike ride later this spring.
In the News...
The following items are a sampling of news stories from OPI and our partners.
Lafarge hosts major lower carbon fuels research project with academic and NGO partners
Queen's supported startup goes international
Celebrating a history of resilience
Staffing Changes and Service Updates
On another note, Rebecca Bond, Senior Contracts Negotiator (SCN) with the RCU, has moved on to a new position with the University Health Network in Toronto. We wish her the best of luck in her new endeavour and look forward to a continued working relationship throughout her career.
As a result, the RCU is currently operating with fewer staff members and thus the timeline for first review of agreements may be delayed. We are in the process of seeking a new SCN to join the RCU team. Thank you for your understanding!
Thanks for reading!
If you have a specific question about any of the information above or want a specific topic addressed in a future post, please contact Amanda Gilbert, Communications Coordinator at amanda.gilbert@queensu.ca.