Entrepreneurship, which economists say is vital to our economic recovery, is thriving at Carleton University and is being featured in a recent Council of Ontario Universities (COU) release. The document specifically cites Carleton’s cutting-edge entrepreneurial programs Technology Innovation Management, Lead to Win and Born Global.

“Carleton has a history of innovation and collaborating with the private and public sectors to promote economic development,” said Kim Matheson, vice-president, Research and International. “For the past decade, we have been leaders in encouraging and facilitating entrepreneurship among our students and alumni, and within the community.  We continue to do so through our Sprott entrepreneurship programs and the creation of 1125@Carleton, a space that will spark the connections that mobilize innovative ideas into real solutions, successful startups and the creation of jobs across the region.”

Founded in the fall of 2013, 1125@Carleton was born of the recognition that researchers at Carleton have exceptionally broad expertise that, in collaboration with their partners, can make a significant contribution to the physical, social, economic, cultural and environmental health of our communities.

1125@Carleton connects researchers with communities, from local to global, to develop viable and scalable solutions. It provides a space – both virtual and physical – that brings private and public users together, giving them the capacity to co-develop and implement solutions.

Entrepreneurship at Carleton is part of a provincewide trend at Ontario universities, where many thousands of students a year are learning how to create their own jobs and jobs for others, according to the COU report.

“Our report is putting a spotlight on the exciting trend toward entrepreneurship at Ontario universities,” says COU President Bonnie Patterson. “It’s also a celebration of all those creative young minds who really are improving lives, transforming the economy and helping people all over the world through social innovation.”

Economists have said economic growth depends on startups and innovation. The U.S.-based Kauffman Foundation, which is devoted to entrepreneurship, recently concluded that any new job growth comes entirely from startup firms. And the recent National Household Survey by Statistics Canada concluded that almost one in 10 Canadians reported earning some form of self-employment income in 2010.

Carleton is providing students with the skills and networks that will help them create their own businesses, and is encouraging business models in areas that will bring positive social change to their communities.

Fort more information on Carleton’s programs, go to: http://cou.on.ca/publications/reports/pdfs/entrepreneurship-at-ontario-universities—fuellin

Quick Facts:

  • The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well among young Canadians:
    • Forty-six per cent of Canada’s postsecondary students recently surveyed by Pollara said they see themselves starting a business a year after graduation.
  • More than half a million entrepreneurs created their own jobs in the last year, and it is anticipated that Canadians will increasingly become their own bosses as the global economy continues to recover: CIBC report.
  • The self-employed are more educated – a third of them have a university degree, which is double the rate seen in 1990: CIBC report.

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For more information
Steven Reid
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
(613) 520-2600, ext. 8718
(613) 265-6613
Steven_Reid3@Carleton.ca

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