Carleton University and the Italian Embassy collaborated on a special Canada-Italy innovation forum today, drawing dozens of university presidents, representatives of leading research centres and venture capitalists to participate in discussions and hear speakers, including the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.
Called Spin-off and Startups: Innovation Partnerships Between Universities, Researchers, Institutions and Industry, the event was co-hosted by the University of Toronto and the Public Policy Forum. It brought together key decision-makers to chart a way forward amid the economic turmoil in Europe.
“Our goal is to accelerate the process of innovation both in Canada and in Europe,” said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “Learning from each other, we will speed the commercialization of innovation, leading to new companies, employment, and economic growth.”
“By working with leading universities such as Carleton and developing strategies to more quickly commercialize university inventions and technology, we can leverage historic cultural ties between Canada and Italy,” said Massimo Egidi, President of LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome.
Participants discussed existing agreements between Italian and Canadian universities and explored future possibilities for co-operation, particularly in science and technology, to bolster both the Italian economy and provide a template for the European Union.
Discussion sessions included developing innovative strategies, accelerating innovation and research partnerships, funding innovation, and a special look at the automotive, aerospace and agri-foods sectors.
Also attending were the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Italian Ambassador Andrea Meloni and Nöel Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate.
The event was broadcast live on Carleton’s website at www.carleton.ca/ci/canadaitalyinnovation.
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For more information:
Christopher Cline
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
Christopher_Cline@Carleton.ca