Premier Ford Stops by KW Today on Summer Road Trip

Friday, 17 July 2020 13:45

Premier Doug Ford was in Kitchener Waterloo today to announce a made in Ontario Intellectual Property Action Plan.

KITCHENER/WATERLOO - Premier Doug Ford was in Kitchener Waterloo today to announce a made in Ontario Intellectual Property Action Plan.

The plan is to help ensure the social and economic benefits of taxpayer-funded research and innovation stays right here in the province. In addition, the government unveiled the second round of research projects approved and supported through the $20 million Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund.

Premier Ford says through these efforts, researchers will be working to find ways to prevent, detect and treat COVID-19.

"Our researchers and entrepreneurs are leading the charge against COVID-19 with made-in-Ontario solutions and ground-breaking research and clinical trials for vaccines, treatments, rapid testing, and modelling. Through this action plan and research fund, we want everyone in the province to benefit from this trailblazing work and ensure Ontario is recognized as the best place in the world to carry out research and develop new technology and innovative processes."

The government is strengthening Ontario's intellectual property (IP) position through the Intellectual Property Action Plan. The plan will drive the province's long-term economic competitiveness by prioritizing IP generation, protection, and commercialization.

The government is also creating the Special Implementation Team on Intellectual Property (SITIP), which will be comprised of the IP experts who previously served on Ontario's Expert Panel on Intellectual Property. The team will provide advice on the implementation of the Intellectual Property Action Plan, including the commercialization of research and IP in the province's postsecondary institutions and innovation centres to ensure that Ontario is open for jobs and open for business.

Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli says they will strengthen Ontario's IP literacy by developing standardized, web-based basic and advanced IP education curriculums.

"Ontario is home to some of the brightest and most innovative people and businesses in the world, and it's critical that we leverage that advantage globally, while ensuring we keep the value of homegrown ideas in the province for the benefit of Ontarians. This Action Plan will drive our economic competitiveness and support businesses and innovators as they create the made-in-Ontario solutions that will be essential to our economic recovery."

The postsecondary, research and innovation sector will also take a leading role in Ontario's economic recovery and future prosperity. You can listen to the Premiers remarks from today below.