It’s been a big week for Ryerson University, with a slew of major partnership announcements. We’ve compiled the juiciest tidbits here for your perusal.
Ryerson University to receive $1 million for Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation
The Globe and Mail is reporting that Joe Fresh has announced a $1 million dollar investment in partnership with the Ryerson University Fashion Zone to create a new fashion innovation centre. The Joe Fresh Centre of Fashion Innovation will act as an incubator to support as may as 21 fashion-focused business over the next 18 months.
“We’re aiming to identify businesses that have compelling ideas around all areas of fashion innovation, whether it’s building the next e-commerce app or inventing a powerful new manufacturing process or starting a new label,” Joe Fresh president Mario Grauso said in a statement to the Globe and Mail.
Importantly, the Joe Fresh Centre will accept applicants from outside of Ryerson University and its current programs.
CAIP invests $10.7 million to fuel ZII incubator network
Last week, the government of Canada announced an investment in Ryerson University via the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP). Over the next five years, Ryerson will receive up to $10.7 million in funding to establish ZII, a national research-driven incubator network.
“Digital technology and gaming are driving growth in Canada’s information and communications technology sector and enabling productivity improvements and innovation in virtually every other sector whether health care, advanced manufacturing, financial services, entertainment or the public sector,” said Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University. “Thanks to this strategic investment by the Government of Canada Our ZII network will support market-driven research, deepen links to domestic and international markets, grow new ventures and create jobs.”
The network will be managed in collaboration with Simon Fraser University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Ryerson indicated that its share of the funding would be allocated towards expanding its existing digital technologies and gaming-focused research groups and incubation zones.
