News from HalTech Regional Innovation Centre

August 2012

Greetings!

Welcome to our first official HalTech Newsletter. Wow - it is hard to believe that the summer is coming to an end and September is almost upon us! You know what that means right? Back to school and back to regular programming. Make sure you check out our upcoming programs and events!

Top 6 Grants & Funding Sources for Halton Companies

Embedded Executive (Ontario Centres of Excellence)

Embedded Executive program provides loans to a maximum of $50,000 to acquire the services of an experienced entrepreneur or business executive to work inside a company for a limited time as an embedded executive. The approved company is required to match the amount of CCR's Embedded Executive loan.

Venture Start (Regional Innovation Centres)
Venture Start is a new program that enhances the success rate of start-up enterprises by providing essential business training for technology entrepreneurs. Plus, your start-up enterprise has the opportunity to receive matching seed financing of up to $30,000. Applicants must have a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

First Job Program (Ontario Centres of Excellence)

Companies, including start-ups, receive awards of up to a maximum of $25,000. Host companies provide the remaining salary and benefits.

OCE's First Job program provides support for a highly skilled master's or PhD graduate's first year salary in a research and development capacity at an Ontario company. Graduates begin promising careers and employers benefit from enthusiastic researchers. It's a win-win for Ontario.

Graduate Enterprise Internship/Youth STEM (FedDev)

The Graduate Enterprise Internship is designed to help develop the business and management skills of graduate students and recent graduates of programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing funding for internships with small- and medium-sized companies in southern Ontario.

Applied Research & Commercialization Initiative (FedDev)

Applied Research and Commercialization Initiatives a pilot initiative aimed at addressing the gap between research and commercialization in southern Ontario by encouraging collaboration between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and post-secondary institutions.

Engage Grants (NSERC)

The EG Program supports well-defined projects undertaken by eligible university researchers and their private-sector partners. A maximum grant of $25,000 will be awarded to the academic researcher to cover the direct project costs associated with the research activities needed to address the identified problem.

President's Message

Since joining HalTech, just three short months ago, I have been amazed at the level of community spirit and commitment within the business community here in Halton. It is my pleasure to work with this dynamic community - entrepreneurial, business and government - to strengthen and grow the IT, manufacturing and social innovation sectors.

In our first year, HalTech focused on the start-up community, assisting early stage companies and entrepreneurs to get going. Our go-forward strategy is to continue to support these entrepreneurial, fledgling entities while at the same time beginning to lend a hand to the many successful nascent small and medium sized businesses in our community. HalTech is not alone in this SME focus and we will work with partner organizations in the region, municipalities and in the community to harness our collective efforts to strengthen the economic fabric of the region.

Our regional partnerships began over the summer with two important events - a Family Picnic and upcoming Demo night - in partnership with Silicon Halton, a very unique grassroots organization which fosters the support and intellectual imagination of the Region.

In September we will roll out our "Partners @ Our Place" program - a one-of-a-kind program where partner funding organizations will offer focused consultations for Halton Tech companies at the HalTech Offices in the SPARK Incubator at Sheridan College.

After my brief time in our community, I've already come to realize that Halton has the potential to become the best place to raise a family and grow world class companies at the same time.

~ Karen Sievewright

Issue: 1

In This Issue

Top Grants & Funding Sources for Halton Companies

President's Message

Featured Profile

Upcoming Events

Featured Profile

I AM Mpowered, founded by Sunjit Khamba, is a start-up company that came to HalTech looking for assistance. They have spent time working with our team and we have connected them to the VentureStart program where they are now working closely with an EIR at The RIC Centre in Mississauga. I AM Mpowered has recently received some great PR in a write up in the Globe & Mail.

Click here to read the article in the Globe & Mail.

Upcoming Events

August 23rd @ 7pm: Silicon Halton & HalTech Demo Night .

September 12th @ 11:30 am:

HalTech Learn over Lunch: VentureStart 101.

September 14th @ 10am:

HalTech Marketing Peer2Peer: How to grow your business while leveraging your existing customers.

September 18th @ 8:30am:

Social Media 101.

To learn more about these events and to register click here.

We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Karen, Robin, Raajan, Donna & Anne

HalTech Regional Innovation Centre

Don't Forget	Silicon Halton & HalTech Demo Night is coming up this Thursday night. Don't forget to register to attend and see local companies showcase their talent!
Please RSVP by clicking here.