OTTAWA, October 12th – Mitacs Canada, a not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada, will join Startup Canada on October 18, 2018, as a partner of the fifth annual Startup Canada Day on the Hill.
Startup Canada Day on the Hill is the largest annual gathering of entrepreneurs, innovators, anchor companies, investors, industry leaders, media and government decision-makers to raise the bar in building Canada as an innovative, entrepreneurial nation.
Expected to draw over 2,000 attendees to the Shaw Centre in downtown Ottawa, Startup Canada Day on the Hill will bring together some of Canada’s top entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and government officials to discuss and promote policies to support startup and small business growth.
Up-and-coming entrepreneurs will also be inspired to grow and innovate with cutting-edge insights from world-class speakers; have a voice to government on the future of entrepreneurship and innovation in Canada; and be plugged into national and global networks to find mentors, investors, customers, and support to grow their business.
“Entrepreneurship plays an increasingly important role in skills development and economic growth in this country”, said Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director of Mitacs. “By leveraging the strengths of Startup Canada’s network, Mitacs programs, and Canadian universities, we can prepare students to become agile and adaptable business leaders of tomorrow.”
“Startup Canada is proud to partner with Mitacs to continue to grow the entrepreneurship movement across Canada,” said Startup Canada CEO Victoria Lennox “It is critical to facilitate conversations about entrepreneurship with our youth, the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and industry leaders.”
Mitacs has joined Startup Canada Day on the Hill to launch a national report on fostering entrepreneurship on campuses across Canada. Together, Mitacs and Startup Canada are hosting a panel on building the skills necessary for future competitiveness with a featured Policy Hack-a-thon on advancing youth entrepreneurship.
Earlier this year, Mitacs and Startup Canada launched a partnership to share an office on Sparks St. to grow collaborations between Canadian universities and Canada’s startup community. This partnership is the next evolution of the partnership between the two organization, focused on research, advocacy and putting the next generation of innovators in the driver’s seat.
“We are proud to grow our partnership with Mitacs”, said Victoria Lennox CEO of Startup Canada. Connecting students and startups further integrates a growing entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Startup Canada Day on the Hill will conclude with the national Startup Canada Awards Ceremony, a celebratory event to reward outstanding individuals and businesses advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.
For more information, please contact:
Maddie Stiles
Media Relations
1-613-627-0787 ext. 105
maddie.stiles@startupcan.ca
About Mitacs
Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that has fostered growth and innovation in Canada for business and academia for 19 years. Working with 60 universities, 4,000 companies, and both federal and provincial governments, they build partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada. Funded by the Government of Canada, all provinces, and Canadian universities, Mitacs internships and fellowships connect companies and organizations with researchers to advance innovation and support growth.
From aerospace systems to childhood literacy rates, Mitacs-funded research helps to strengthen connections, improve economic performance, and create jobs. They have supported more than 27,000 research internships, trained more than 37,000 student and postdoc career-skills participants, and supported more than 4,700 international research collaborations.
Mitacs has 25 offices across Canada, a robust leadership team, and a coast-to-coast business development team dedicated to building and supporting new partnerships.
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the national rallying community and voice for Canada’s 2.3 million entrepreneurs. Since launching in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to represent more than 200,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots communities from coast to coast to coast. Through digital programs and flagship events, Startup Canada is the network promoting, inspiring, educating, connecting and giving a voice to Canada’s entrepreneurs; supporting them to start, operate and scale businesses that build a better Canada for the world today and for future generations. For more information, visit www.startupcan.ca.