The Kingston innovation ecosystem is thriving, with several partners from across the city and from the region working together to attract, support and retain entrepreneurs, and to accelerate growth and success of startups. Queen’s University’s Office of the Vice-Principal (Research) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration with the University of Toronto to become a member of their Entrepreneurship ONRamp initiative to further assist startups in our region and provide profile to Queen’s researchers and the Kingston innovation ecosystem.
Located in the University of Toronto’s Banting building, directly across the street from MaRS Discovery District, ONRamp connects entrepreneurs and incubators from across U of T and partner organizations, and helps startups accelerate their businesses by providing access to facilities, events, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in downtown Toronto. Queen’s is the newest academic partner to join ONRamp; other university partners include McMaster University, the University of Waterloo, and Western University.
“Queen’s and its partners in Kingston have nurtured a thriving innovation ecosystem here in the city,” says Kimberly Woodhouse, Vice-Principal (Research). “ONRamp will extend the influence of our entrepreneurs in Southern Ontario, increasing awareness of the cutting-edge research, invention, and commercialization coming out of our university and community.”
ONRamp provides 15,000 square feet of collaboration space and has over 600 active users. Queen's plans to use ONRamp to showcase startups and researchers, to host pitches, networking events, and consultations with Toronto-based stakeholders, including alumni, government and industry partners, and venture capitalists. Queen’s will also invite entrepreneurs, startups, and community partners to use the ONRamp facilities as a landing pad for meetings in downtown Toronto with potential investors, customers and suppliers, and government officials. Queen’s innovation ecosystem entrepreneurs and partners may take advantage of ONRamp’s amenities (including kitchen, lounge, hot desks, meeting rooms, and boardrooms) during business hours and/or to plan or attend community events.
“ONRamp provides physical space where Queen’s entrepreneurs, or Kingston-based entrepreneurs working with Queen’s, may access resources and connect with a broader network of entrepreneurs in order to grow their businesses,” says Dr. Woodhouse. “We will leverage the facilities to increase awareness about Queen’s research, innovation, and commercialization activities, and the innovation ecosystem and startups in Kingston and region.”
For more information about ONRamp, or how to access the facilities and programs via Queen’s membership, please contact Amanda Gilbert, Communications Coordinator at Queen’s University’s Office of Partnerships and Innovation. Upcoming events will be posted on the Queen’s events calendar.