Ontario makes changes to enhance research and commercialization services for tech firms

The Ontario government is making key changes to two of its ministries to better support tech-based firms through their business cycle from research to the global marketplace. The changes impact the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (MRIS) and the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG) with the creation of two new branches led by veteran bureaucrats.

The changes are intended to encourage crossover within the relevant provincial ministries and make their business offerings more accessible and effective as global competition intensifies and diversifies. Further changes and details are ongoing and will be announced in the fall.

The new Research, Commercialization and Scale-ups branch is headed by Assistant DM John Marshall, formerly president and CEO of the Ontario Capital Growth Corporation and ADM of the Open for Business division of MEDG.

Marshall's office will be responsible for maximizing the impact of the province's research funding mechanisms to support research excellence and strengthen the commercialization pipeline. It will also work with delivery partners to provide support and services to help start-ups clear commercialization hurdles and develop and deliver support and services to "high-growth / high-potential entrepreneurs to assist rapid scale-up growth and strengthen their path to market leadership"

The Strategic Programs Development and Delivery Office will be headed up by long-time MRI official Bill Mantel, former Assistant DM of Research, Commercialization Entrepreneurship. Mantel will be responsible for working across ministries – MRIS, MEDG and the recently created Ministry of Infrastructure, tasked with making $160 billion in infrastructure investments over a 12-year period.

The office aims to enable the rapid delivery of new innovation and scale-up programs and initiatives. The branch will seek to overcome barriers to rapid business growth by working collaboratively with stakeholders inside and outside of government and program sponsors.

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