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Ontario Tech College’s Vice-President of Analysis and Innovation might be placing that fancy title to work this yr because the co-chair of a province-wide initiative geared toward strengthening Ontario’s rising life sciences ecosystem.
Dr. Les Jacobs, a number one worldwide professional in human rights and international well being and a vice-president on the Oshawa faculty since 2019, will assist lead a Council of Ontario Universities (COU) initiative taking a look at alternatives to increase well being innovation, medical expertise, biomanufacturing, agriculture and agri-food.
The life sciences technique is considered one of two initiatives the COU, in partnership with the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), is creating this yr, with the opposite an acceleration of Ontario’s position as a world powerhouse within the electrical automobile transition.
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Dr. Les Jacobs at Ontario Tech College
Raed Kadri, the OCI’s vice-president of strategic initiatives and enterprise growth (in addition to heading up the Ontario Automobile Innovation Community), co-chairs each applications and can accomplice with Andrew Dean, Lakehead College’s Analysis & Innovation Vice-president, on the Crucial Minerals and Battery Innovation Group. This initiative will try to handle the province’s rising want for a resilient and sustainable provide chain to help electrification and the subsequent technology of battery applied sciences.
Ontario Faculties and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn mentioned getting access to key business leaders with high notch researchers might be key in “shaping the next generation” of expertise, creating new jobs and fuelling financial development in these “critical sectors.”

Andrew Dean at Lakehead College
“Postsecondary institutions are the pipeline to ensuring Ontario has highly skilled workers to meet our labour market needs, now and for decades to come,” mentioned Quinn. “The partnership between the Council of Ontario Universities and Ontario Centre for Innovation will educate the next generation of leaders across key sectors, driving further prosperity for our economy.”
The 2 initiatives, along with different applications already underway, underscore the transformative energy of collaboration between Ontario universities, authorities and business in boosting Ontario’s financial competitiveness and cementing its place as a world chief in innovation and development, mentioned COI CEO Steve Orsini.
“Ontario’s universities and government have a shared commitment to develop the talent and innovation we need to help drive economic growth in communities throughout the province,” mentioned Orsini. “By supporting the province’s priorities, these two initiatives will help build Ontario’s economy, strengthen the connections with local industries and ensure Ontario remains a global leader in innovation.”
Ontario Minister of Financial Improvement Vic Fedeli mentioned the initiatives will allow the province’s “world class talent” to be well-positioned to push the boundaries of innovation and additional solidify Ontario’s fame as a world chief in next-generation applied sciences.”
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