Post-secondary education consortium joins Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine

eCampusOntario, a not-for-profit consortium of Ontario post-secondary institutions, is partnering with Bioenterprise Canada to support innovation, collaboration and technology for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. 

Bioenterprise, Canada’s Food and Agri-Tech Engine, has a national network of advisors, members and resources that support innovative companies in bringing their technologies and solutions to market.

Together, the two organizations will use their collective resources and networks to encourage connectivity, business support and funding opportunities in Canada’s agri-food innovation system.

“eCampusOntario adds valuable connections and resources from Ontario’s post-secondary sector to Bioenterprise Canada’s national network and we look forward to building stronger links between our memberships,” says Dave Smardon, Bioenterprise Canada CEO. “Together we can offer more comprehensive supports for the agriculture sector in areas like career development, talent attraction, and innovation adoption.”

eCampusOntario’s mandate is to support and advance innovation, collaboration, and digital transformation in education across Ontario. Through its programs and services, the organization helps the postsecondary sector support and address Canada’s long standing productivity problem by derisking investments in R&D, new technology adoption, and upskilling and training through partnerships with Ontario’s colleges, Indigenous institutes and universities.

“Our partnership is a natural fit as our commitment to upskilling, digital learning opportunities and connecting industry to the academic sector is a strong complement to the commercialization supports and programs offered by Bioenterprise,” says Robert Luke, CEO of eCampusOntario. “By working together, we hope to improve the productivity of Canadian businesses, help the agriculture industry move the needle in solving problems affecting their sector and help learners see a future for themselves in the agriculture industry.”