Carleton University to open west Ottawa innovation space
Ottawa’s Carleton University is proceeding with plans to launch a purpose-built innovation space in Ottawa’s west end.
The facility would create a new ecosystem where partners from industry, finance and academia would collaborate. For Carleton, it would help to expand research and educational partnerships with more than 540 companies in west Ottawa's Kanata North Business Park.
Construction on the 2,000-square foot space is scheduled to start in June, and a move-in date planned for late August and an opening after Labour Day.
“This unique facility leverages our proximity to this national innovation hub and further enhances Carleton’s reputation as a leader in high-tech research, teaching and innovation,” said Carleton President Benoit Antoine-Bacon. “In close contact with tech industry leaders, our students will cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and benefit from hands-on learning towards leadership positions in this critical sector.”
Carleton’s new centre will include collaboration space, meeting rooms, a café and garden terrace where faculty, staff and students can connect with companies on site. The centre’s neighbours are anchor tenants L-Spark software accelerator and the Kanata North Business Association.
“Carleton will work with Kanata North businesses to develop new talent pipelines and opportunity for cross-disciplinary, work-integrated learning, and our student entrepreneurs will more easily connect with Kanata North businesses,” says Dana Brown, dean of the Sprott School of Business. “Overall, Carleton seeks to help create a feedback loop where tech park strengths support university research and learning, which in turn bolsters private-sector success that feeds back into the university.”
Carleton has a long relationship with the Kanata North business community. Researchers from Carleton’s Faculty of Engineering and Design have been involved in more than 45 research projects with Kanata North-based companies over the last decade.