The overall goal of the Commercialization Mandate Policy Framework (CMPF) is to help postsecondary institutions become more intentional in the generation, management, protection and commercialization of IP for the benefit of Ontario’s economy and long-term competitiveness.
For the purposes of this document, “IP development and commercialization success” is broadly defined as actions, activities and/or partnerships that can help further this goal, by:
- Improving IP capacity at postsecondary institutions through programming, training and information related to IP; and,
- Increasing commercialization opportunities for IP developed at or supported by the postsecondary institutions.
As identified in the Year 1 Annual Commercialization Plans (ACP) and summarized in IPON’s report, it is clear that while each institution has a unique starting point and capacity to undertake research, innovation, and commercialization activities, Ontario’s colleges and universities are making concerted efforts in their commitment to the objectives of the CMPF, regardless of whether this was previously an institutional focus. It is also evident that the sector is undertaking important work to maximize the value of the IP generated through Ontario-based research.
As noted earlier in this document, your institution is required to publish this section, supplementing the Year 1 ACP information your institution has already posted. The objective is to deepen understanding of the work underway, showcase success and inform best practices. The ministry understands that each institution will complete this section based on their own individual context, area of focus, strength, and progress and that “success” will be differently interpreted and defined on this basis.
Q. Describe your institution’s greatest IP development and/or commercialization success over the Year 2 reporting period, whether it is through programmatic/policy development or a specific case study.
Laurentian University’s first year commercialization plan focused on three actions, intellectual property education; engagement with private sector, research and innovation intermediaries; and engagement with our university community and innovation ecosystem.
With regard to intellectual property education, three learning sessions were hosted by the Office of Research Services between September and April. Students from a number of disciplines at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including psychology, business administration, engineering and computer science, participated in these in-person sessions. In addition, a general “IP 101” overview was presented through a service partner during an industry-academic mixer event held in the Fielding Innovation Space. These educational sessions were complimented by one-on-one consultations between the Director, Research and Innovation and various faculty and students.
Engagement with the private sector and innovation intermediaries was greatly facilitated through provincial funding. In 2023 Laurentian University, in partnership with Lakehead, Nipissing and Trent Universities, was successfully awarded funding from Intellectual Property Ontario under a pilot program targeted at enhancing post-secondary commercialization efforts while driving economic growth. The objective of the Northern and Rural Innovation Cluster (NRIC) was to inventory and highlight the collective research assets of the institutions to demonstrate the range of capabilities and resources available for collaboration in critical minerals, cleantech and electric vehicle technologies. During the project period, Laurentian and its partners held a number of workshops, networking, and connector events with the goal of augmenting intellectual property literacy within both their own institutions as well as with community partner organizations, while facilitating access to intellectual property services. Upon completion of the project, the NRIC published an Asset Map which inventoried and itemized key assets and areas of expertise within the institutions as well as a high-level overview of supporting non-government organizations that are critically important to the development of innovation within these sectors.
Efforts continue to foster intellectual property, entrepreneurship and innovation engagement both within the University itself and the greater community ecosystem. The Office of Research Services, through the Jim Fielding Innovation Space and its associated The Foundry programming, hosted a number of educational sessions and guest speakers with the goal of initiating an interest in entrepreneurship and a culture of learning, collaboration, and innovation. A recent highlight was the Voyageurs’ Innovation Challenge during the University’s 2024 Research Week. This annual competition boasted 6 competitive teams composed of faculty and students from diverse and multidisciplinary research backgrounds. Sponsored by a community partner, the event is judged by industry and local partners and draws a large viewing crowd showcasing innovation and connecting the academic an industrial communities.
Further, The Foundry continued to lead, and participate in, innovation activities with its partners including the hosting of Innovation for a Greater Sudbury and Sudbury Innovation Alliance meetings, being an active partner, sponsor and host facility for a Google Developer Groups Sudbury codefest, and leading the coordination of Sudbury’s innovation ecosystem presence at the Ontario Centres of Innovation’s Discovery X. Finally, the Director, Research and Innovation, continues to be an active volunteer in the university commercialization community as a steering committee member for both AUTM Canada and the Ontario Research and Innovation Alliance.