Ontario Centres of Excellence

About The Fund

Ontario Centres of Excellence, now operating under the name Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), is a not-for-profit organization that drives the development and commercialization of cutting-edge Ontario-based research and innovations into products and services that enhance the province's economic performance and global competitiveness. Established in 1987 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, OCI plays a pivotal role in fostering collaboration among the private sector, academic institutions, and research hospitals by harnessing industry and partner co-investments to support innovation. Specializing in sectors such as advanced health technologies, ICT, digital media, advanced manufacturing, and social innovation, OCI focuses on critical areas like cleantech, encompassing energy, environment, and water technologies. OCI's funding initiatives and programs are aimed at fast-tracking growth in the information and communication technology sector and bolstering Ontario’s position in fields like automotive manufacturing and life sciences. Programs like the Digitalization Competence Centre prepare local SMEs for digital transformation, enabling product release acceleration and market penetration. The Collaborate 2 Commercialize program bolsters academia-industry partnerships to solve industry-based challenges and foster IP commercialization. The Ready 4 Market Fund is Ontario’s pre-eminent pre-seed investment fund, and the Life Sciences Innovation Fund co-invests in early-stage companies in the healthcare sector. Additionally, OCI's Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network capitalizes on the region's strengths in automotive manufacturing and ICT, promoting innovation in the automotive field.Impacting the province's intangible economy, OCI also emphasizes maximizing innovation through academic-industry collaboration, spotlighting Ontario's 46 publicly-funded post-secondary institutions. OCI is supported by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade. Their mission, strategic plan, and annual reports emphasize a robust innovation ecosystem that supports research commercialization, which should further the province's growth and job creation.