Digital Media Hub
Digital Media Hub
Ontario Government Infuses $26 Million into Kitchener Digital Media Hub
"The Communitech Hub: Digital Media & Mobile Accelerator" to Drive New Enterprises and Jobs in Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region, ON (November 6, 2009) - Ontario's Minister of Research and Innovation John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener-Centre, today announced that the province is providing $26 million to Communitech to create Ontario's hub for digital media tools, technology and applications. The Communitech Hub: Digital Media & Mobile Accelerator will serve as a 'club-house' of innovation for digital media companies and entrepreneurs and drive creation of new companies and jobs in Waterloo Region and throughout Ontario.
"Ontario is already recognized as a global leader in the digital media sector and today we are sending a clear signal to digital entrepreneurs everywhere - Ontario means business. The Hub will strengthen our ability to support innovators right here in Waterloo Region and across the province, as they work to turn new ideas into new jobs and globally-competitive businesses," said Minister Milloy.
The Hub will also have R&D and capital support from established companies in the Waterloo region including RIM, Open Text Corporation, Christie Digital Systems, Agfa HealthCare and Dalsa as well as the City of Kitchener.
"Waterloo Region is a perfect fit for The Hub. We are home to globally-recognized research and industry leaders, a highly-skilled workforce, and now - the business development and commercialization muscle that we need to help build Ontario's digital economy," said Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga.
Communitech, the region's organization dedicated to commercialization of innovation, has championed The Hub project to support businesses at all stages of their growth and enhance the tech sector overall. It is also the host organization of the new Canadian Digital Media Network - a federal centre of excellence designed to interconnect Canada's clusters of digital media expertise.
"Our focus is business-driven commercialization of high-tech innovations, and we believe the Province has invested in The Hub because Communitech has a track record of success in supporting companies at all stages in their evolution from start-up to multinational success story. Canada needs even more tech success stories and we're here to help create those," said Iain Klugman, president and CEO of Communitech.
Some features of The Hub will include:
- 30,000 square foot open innovation hub 'club house' bringing together knowledge, activities, tools and expertise;
- 2,000 square feet dedicated to enabling entrepreneurs to 'incubate' ideas in close proximity to tools and services they need to succeed.
- 8,000 square feet allocated to partner lab space with platforms and tools provided by established partner companies including RIM, Open Text, Agfa, HealthCare and Christie Digital Systems;
- A versatile immersive environment with reconfigurable projection and display systems;
- Full audio-visual production studios including advanced equipment such as scalable sensors, cameras and media capture equiptment;
- Medical imaging software platforms for development purposes;
- A suite of expert resources including entrepreneurs in residence, project manager support, marketing and branding expertise.
"Speaking on behalf of all the partner companies involved in this venture, we're delighted at the level of commitment provided by the Province which demonstrates strong support for the high-tech community and digital media in particular. This is a strategic investment in Ontario's future," said Tom Jenkins, Executive Chairman & Chief Strategy Officer of Open Text and Chair of the Canadian Digital Media Network Advisory Board.
Background
Digital media is created by using visual images and video, as well as sound and user interaction software to create, communicate and use information from large data sources. Some examples include medical imaging, 3D cinema and animation, virtual prototyping in manufacturing and virtual reality environments for enhanced education.
Several local digital media companies are internationally competitive and have been growing in the global market including: Christie, formally the digital projection unit of Electrohome, Desire2Learn, Dalsa, Open Text and RIM.
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