Welcome to OCIP

The Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform (OCIP) helps Ontario companies address business challenges with a comprehensive, coordinated process to support research & development and workforce training.

Sign Up for OCIP

How OCIP Works

Register your business
Submit an Innovation Challenge
Get matched with a research expert
Get matched with one of our funding partners
Start the project

Here’s an example:

H.G Electric is an Ontario business specializing in the manufacture of modular electric vehicle chassis, drivetrains and components. They are looking to retool their lithium battery production line to use a superior chemical technology. H.G Electric has in-house capacity to manufacture at scale, but requires expertise in battery chemistry, electrical engineering and environmental testing.

H.G Electric creates a business profile and submits an Innovation Challenge (i.e. a project proposal) to OCIP. OCIP matches the Innovation Challenge to researchers and facility leads at Grey University, who have expertise in battery chemistry and electrical engineering. These researchers scope the Innovation Challenge, and provide their perspective on the work required, including feasibility, budget, timeline and resources. The Innovation Challenge is then matched with the Electric Vehicle Research Grant, a funding program that can provide financial support for the proposed work. Now that the Innovation Challenge has funding and the support of Grey University’s research experts, the Innovation Challenge becomes a Project, and research and development (R&D) can begin.

OCIP tracks the Project’s progress through regular reports, which will populate a SR&ED claim at the Project’s completion. H.G Electric retains all IP for the new manufacturing process, which produces higher performance batteries at a lower cost, significantly increasing their global competitiveness.

*All organizational or institutional names are fictitious. No identification with actual businesses or academic institutions is intended or should be inferred.

OCIP Platform Features

One application, multiple services

Get access to post-secondary research expertise, funding programs, specialized equipment, students and more through a single application

Business-friendly agreements

Standardized engagement agreements to simplify the partnership process and ensure intellectual property benefits accrue to the business

Workforce Training

Tap into accessible courses and micro-credentials to access verified, relevant industry skills and training

Helping Businesses Innovate and Grow

OCIP simplifies the process of setting up an R&D partnership and provides businesses with access to supporting services to turn ideas and prototypes into commercial success.

OCIP is open to all Ontario businesses. The platform guides you through the process of creating an Innovation Challenge (i.e. a project proposal), helps match you with research experts and facilities in Ontario’s colleges, universities, Indigenous Institutes, and streamlines access to multiple funders and programs for non-repayable grants to support student hiring, research, and project expenses.

Why OCIP?

Making R&D accessible to businesses

Small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, (those with less than 500 employees) account for the vast majority of Ontario’s businesses. Yet, a 2007 study found that only 4% of those companies made significant investments in research and development (R&D), while 77% of Canadian SMEs made no R&D investments at all. Research experts in Ontario’s higher education institutions can help.

A bridge between higher education institutions and businesses

Colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes across Ontario have faculty experts, specialized equipment, and students eager to gain experience in industry. OCIP is the bridge between post-secondary research capabilities and economic opportunities for Ontario businesses.

Support every step of the way

OCIP simplifies the entire process for Ontario businesses to build mutually beneficial R&D partnerships with Ontario’s higher education institutions.

OCIP provides support at every step of the process

defining a project
finding a research expert and funding
managing the project to completion

We offer business-friendly processes and standard agreements that work with all of Ontario’s higher education institutions.

OCIP is here to help

OCIP is a product of eCampusOntario, a provincially-funded non-profit organization that supports Ontario’s higher education institutions. We support digital transformation and encourage innovation, collaboration and education partnerships to connect Ontario’s campuses to the future of learning and innovation.

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eCampusOntario is a not-for-profit centre of excellence and global leader in the evolution of teaching and learning through technology.

OCIP is made possible with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.