More Bang for the Buck as Ontario's Commercialization Leaders Join Forces to Bring Promising Technologies to Market

TORONTO, ONTARIO AND KINGSTON, ONTARIO, Jun 15 (MARKET
WIRE) --
Two of Ontario's leading organizations for the commercialization of
research are joining forces to accelerate the development of promising
discoveries by the province's researchers and entrepreneurs.

The Centre for Commercialization of Research (CCR) - launched in November
by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) and the Networks of Centres of
Excellence of Canada - and PARTEQ Innovations, the technology
commercialization office of Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, have
signed an agreement to work together to advance exciting technology
innovations across Ontario.

Although this partnership marks the first formal relationship between the
two organizations, there's no ice-breaking needed between the two
parties, said CCR's Managing Director, Dr. Mario Thomas.

"With this collaboration, CCR builds on the successful relationship OCE
has had with PARTEQ for some time. For several years, our two
organizations have worked together to fund and develop some incredible
made-in-Ontario technologies. Now we have the premier facilitator of
early-stage research in Ontario and the leading technology transfer
office directing their resources and expertise towards a common goal:
making Ontario a leader in Canada's innovation economy by commercializing
breakthrough technologies."

Last year OCE was awarded nearly $15 million from the federal government
to establish CCR. By providing a focal point for OCE's commercialization
efforts, it complements and extends existing research, talent and
commercialization programs to cover the innovation continuum from the
initial research idea to market success. OCE and PARTEQ both have more
than 20 years of experience in growing companies, creating jobs and
advancing novel ideas to market. The two groups will leverage their
strengths in technology development funding, industry and business
contacts, intellectual property protection and commercialization. "This
endeavour is about mutual benefit," said John Molloy, CEO of PARTEQ.

"We have a tremendous working relationship with OCE, which we can grow
through this new partnership. Sharing our expertise, resources, and
access to opportunities will ensure that the optimal commercialization
resources can be dedicated to specific projects. No single institution
can create a commercialization infrastructure to cover all areas of
research. It is only by networking and working together that we can
maximize our commercialization success and get these ideas into the
marketplace."

There are already a number of opportunities on the horizon for CCR and
PARTEQ including the recently-announced GreenCentre Canada, a national
Centre of Excellence for commercializing Green Chemistry discoveries; and
a newly signed collaboration agreement between PARTEQ Innovations and the
People's Republic of China Innofund, a non-profit government fund focused
on supporting the innovation activities of small and medium sized
companies in China.

The CCR-PARTEQ collaboration will be led by Randall North, formerly
Executive in Residence and Associate Director of Commercialization at
PARTEQ. Mr. North is a professional engineer with more than three decades
of experience in engineering, product development and marketing of
advanced technologies. He is a graduate of the University of New
Brunswick and Carleton University.

About PARTEQ Innovations (www.parteqinnovations.com)

PARTEQ Innovations is the not-for-profit technology transfer arm of
Queen's University. PARTEQ works with researchers and the business and
venture capital communities to bring early stage technologies to market.
Since 1987 PARTEQ has been instrumental in the establishment of more than
40 companies developing a variety of products, from potential drugs for
Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease to automated bacteria detection for
water systems, solar-powered appliances, and advanced materials used in
the plastics, automotive, aerospace and household appliance industries.

About Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc. (www.oce-ontario.org)

Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc. drives the commercialization of
cutting-edge research across key market sectors to build the economy of
tomorrow and secure Ontario's global competitiveness. In doing this, OCE
fosters the training and development of the next generation of innovators
and entrepreneurs and is a key partner with Ontario's industry,
universities, colleges, research hospitals, investors and governments.
OCE's Centres work in communications and information technology, earth
and environmental technologies, energy, materials and manufacturing and
photonics. OCE is funded by the government of Ontario and is a key
partner in delivering Ontario's Innovation Agenda. OCE through its Centre
for Commercialization of Research (CCR), an initiative supported by the
Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada, also acts as a catalyst
which allows innovative businesses to grow and achieve sustainable,
commercial success and global competitiveness.

Contacts:
PARTEQ Innovations
Mary Anne Beaudette
Director, Communications
613. 533. 6000 ext. 78238
mbeaudette@parteqinnovations.com
www.parteqinnovations.com

Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE)
Sean McNeely
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
416. 861. 1092 ext. 1034
Sean.mcneely@oce-ontario.org
www.oce-ontario.org

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