​​​​​​BRAMPTON, ON (September 4, 2020) – The City of Brampton is building an Innovation District in the heart of downtown Brampton to promote a dynamic startup community, develop local talent and support entrepreneurs.

Next Wednesday, the new Ryerson Venture Zone will officially launch in Brampton’s Innovation District. This new incubator is dedicated to helping build and grow new businesses within Brampton, create high-skilled jobs, and develop a talent pipeline.

The Innovation District is a key initiative in the City’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy, and will continue to evolve in the coming months and years.

Innovation District Partners

In addition to the Ryerson Venture Zone, a number of entrepreneurial, business incubation, and accelerator spaces have joined Brampton’s Innovation District, including:

• Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC) Co-working Space & Small Business Resources - Located in a spacious 4,500 sq. ft. storefront, this co-working space is designed to fuel creativity and productivity. BEC hosts frequent seminars and offers business plan reviews and consultations with advisors at no cost to local entrepreneurs and innovators.

• Catalyst Cyber Accelerator (led by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and Ryerson DMZ) - This accelerator is Canada’s first Cybersecurity accelerator for startups and scale-ups. This accelerator, in conjunction with the other cornerstones of the Rogers Cyber Secure Catalyst (including Canada’s first Cyber Range, Cybersecurity training and research and development) is positioning Brampton to be Canada’s hub for Cybersecurity.

• Research Innovation Commercialization (RIC) Centre - A specialized business incubation and accelerator space, the RIC Centre helps startups scale up and take their businesses to the next level. The RIC Centre is a dynamic catalyst for tech companies and has specialized resources for companies working in the areas of Internet of Things, CleanTech and Advanced Manufacturing.

• The Brampton Board of Trade and the Downtown Brampton Business Improvement Area (BIA) are also key partners in building the Innovation District.

More partners are expected to join the Innovation District later this year.

Talent Development

The Innovation District also offers education and training opportunities to upskill or reskill talent from the around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). From Ryerson University Chang School of Continuing Education and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, to Sheridan College and Algoma University, the Innovation District is a growing hub for talent development.

Economic Recovery Strategy

On May 13, Brampton City Council endorsed Brampton’s Economic Recovery Strategy to move forward with restarting the local economy. The Strategy aims to bring resiliency and competitive advantage to Brampton’s economy through advancing immediate and long-term actions in line with its four corner stones: Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship, Investment, Infrastructure, and Arts, Culture and Tourism.

Quotes

“Brampton is moving quickly to build a robust Innovation District in our city and our location at the centre of Canada’s Innovation Corridor positions us an ideal spot for new investment. As our Innovation District matures, we will be able to provide supports to businesses at every stage of their journey.”   
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“The continued development of our Innovation District is a key action in our Economic Recovery Strategy, and the Ryerson Venture Zone is a key addition to our growing District. As we move our City forward out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are committed to advancing our innovation ecosystem and building an Innovation District second to none.”   
- Paul Vicente, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5; Vice-Chair, Economic Development and Culture; Co-Chair, Mayor’s COVID-19 Economic Support Task Force, City of Brampton

 “As we emerge from this pandemic and restart our local economy, we welcome entrepreneurs and potential investors to join our growing Innovation District. There are many reasons why Brampton is an ideal location for setting up a business, and we look forward to engaging with stakeholders to join us and be a part of the momentum.”
- Michael Palleschi, Regional Councillor, Wards 2 & 6; Co-Chair, Mayor’s COVID-19 Economic Support Task Force, City of Brampton

“With our prime location in the middle of Canada’s Innovation Corridor, Brampton is growing its innovation ecosystem with the goal of becoming a global leader in innovation. Our staff are committed to building partnerships and putting the necessary conditions in place to make Brampton an optimal location for entrepreneurs and businesses.”
- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton

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