Provincial grant furthers DC’s support to businesses to “drive innovation and economic growth”

Durham College (DC) will be able to continue supporting Ontario’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its commercialization services thanks to a recent grant from Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON). By extending the initial funding received in 2023, the $300,000 in new funding will help expand DC’s capacity for another year to support local SMEs as they scale with intellectual property (IP) services and DC’s newly developed consultation and IP investment program.

“Durham College is proud to be at the forefront of driving innovation and economic growth in Ontario,” said Dr. Joshua Cohen, Commercialization Specialist at DC. “Through the IPON initiative, we are empowering SMEs to protect and commercialize their intellectual property, ultimately contributing to the prosperity of our province.”

Dr. Cohen is leading the college’s consultation and IP investment program and shared it has already demonstrated remarkable achievements in its pilot year. After already investing over $100,000, DC’s IP program has benefited over 50 SMEs, which have resulted in eight patent applications, two trademark applications, and several patent licensing and non-disclosure agreements.

With 25 dedicated team members from DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE), the program has been instrumental in facilitating and fostering partnerships between the college and SMEs. The success stories emerging from DC’s IPON funding exemplify its impact on local businesses and the broader innovation ecosystem. EcoSafeSense, a start-up specializing in air quality sensors, and Inventing Future Technology Inc. (IFTech), a technology company focusing on virtual and augmented reality solutions, are among the beneficiaries of the program.

“EcoSafeSense and IFTech are prime examples of the transformative power of strategic IP support,” said Dr. Cohen. “By providing tailored consultations, funding opportunities, and proactive IP protection strategies, we are enabling these companies to thrive and innovate in competitive markets.”

DC’s IP program emphasizes education and strategy development to equip SMEs with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of IP management effectively. This is something that Michael Stanfield, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of IFTech, says is critical to business growth.

“We were able to work with Durham College and actually file our latest patent right through the program, so it was fantastic, and now we’re signed on as clients to IPON,” Stanfield shared. “I can’t speak highly enough of the filing process and of Josh and his help in this, it was really a great experience.”

IFTech’s latest innovation, ARAIG, the world’s first multi-sensory, multi-directional, force feedback suit provides real-world sensory simulation to the wearer and is poised to help save lives for those in combat.

“We feel pretty good about our patent because it means we’re protected, that we can do business without worrying about other companies putting a stop to us – or even competing similarly,” said Stanfield. “It’s exciting for us that this patent is already helping us move forward.”

Debbie McKee Demczyk, Dean of ORSIE, emphasized the collaborative efforts that have fueled the success of the IPON initiative. “The dedication and expertise of our team, coupled with strong partnerships with industry and academic stakeholders, have been integral to advancing innovation and commercialization efforts,” she said.

Moving forward, DC remains committed to expanding the reach and impact of the IPON funding, with a focus on fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the province.

DC is among 10 post-secondary institutions participating in IPON’s pilot funding program and sharing $1.7 million in funding. The investment is in support of the Government of Ontario’s Commercialization Mandate Policy Framework, which aims to help publicly assisted post-secondary institutions better commercialize ideas and products generated through Ontario research and innovation.

“This is a great initiative for Ontario when it comes to small technology companies who are looking to patent certain things – because that’s one of the difficulties, is the funding for that – so it’s a really great idea,” added Stanfield.

For more information about DC’s commercialization efforts, please contact Joshua Cohen, or visit us online to learn more about ORSIE and the college’s applied research services and projects.