June MacDonald-Jenkins, project manager and industry liaison for CONII; Ann Dulhanty, manager of Technology transfer/commercialization for UOIT; and Debbie McKee Demczyk, director of the Office of Research Services and Innovation show off the materials presented by Durham College in the exhibitor’s booth at the OCE discovery conference in Toronto, Ontario.

For the first time in Durham College history, the Office of Research Services & Innovation participated in the Ontario Centres of Excellence discovery conference.

The conference was held May 17 to 18 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, to raise community awareness and present research opportunities that are available in Ontario’s innovation economy. Colleges, universities and businesses across the province united to promote the innovation market.

The annual discovery conference is the single-largest event in innovation and commercialization in Canada. It highlights industry and research, entrepreneurship and financing, and students and mentors with the goal of speeding innovation to market.

Durham College was part of an exhibitor’s booth this year, along with other research organizations in the region including the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham Strategic Energy Alliance (DSEA). The college’s main goal was to help promote research services to the community.

Director of the Office of Research Services & Innovation, Debbie McKee Demczyk, was thrilled to be part of the conference. “It’s about communicating Durham’s involvement with the community and just being there really,” said McKee Demczyk. “My favourite part was promoting the college and creating awareness.”

The discovery showcase featured guest speaker Steve Wozniak (Apple co-founder and Inventors Hall of Fame award winner), along with additional presentations. There were also student and entrepreneurship competitions.