The Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation

Algonquin College will be one of 10 colleges receiving a portion of a new $10-million provincial investment to work with small and medium-sized businesses across Ontario.

The Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation (CONII) - of which Algonquin is a member - is getting the funding to be able to include additional Ontario colleges in its program and increase its capacity to provide more businesses with access to the support network of college students and researchers.

The network, launched in mid-2007 with a grant through the Ontario Research Commercialization Program (ORCP) connects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with colleges' research, marketing and business resources to help the entrepreneurs develop and commercialize their research.

CONII's areas of focus cover a wide range of spaces, from hospitality and tourism and digital media, to alternative energy and environmental technologies and construction.