Communities around the world are seeking to understand how to foster innovation and drive sustained economic and social prosperity in their region. Don will highlight the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in driving job and wealth creation and the role regional innovation centres play in ensuring on-going economic competitiveness. In addition to highlighting international examples of vibrant innovation hubs, Don will also discuss two unique examples from Sudbury that not only have made a significant impact in supporting the City’s innovation agenda, but can also serve as a model for other communities in identifying and capitalizing on their innovation potential.

1. Accelerating the Innovation Agenda in
Economic Developers Council of Ontario
Presented by Don Duval
Toronto, ON
February 3rd, 2016
Accelerating the Innovation Agenda in
Ontario Communities

2. Sudbury at a Glance – A Snapshot of our Community
• Population of 160,000 covering an area about 2/3
the size of P.E.I and offers 330 lakes – more than
any other municipality in the world
• Strong academic institutions including a leading
research and teaching hospital
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research and teaching hospital
• Home to Canada’s 2nd and 8th largest science
centres
• Boasts the one of the world’s leading mining supply
/ service technology clusters
• Globally recognized for its aggressive and successful
land revitalization / reclamation program

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4. About the NORCAT Innovation Mill
As part of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, NORCAT’s Innovation Mill
serves as Sudbury’s Regional Innovation Centre partnering with community
stakeholders to help start and accelerate the growth of innovative
companies.
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5. 4-10% of new companies
become high-growth firms.
Only…
But the top…
Why Should We Care About Start-up Tech Companies?
But the top…
1% in any given year generate roughly
40% of new jobs.
5% in any given year generate roughly
66% of new jobs.
Source: High-Growth Firms and the Future of the American Economy, Kaufmann Institute, 2011
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6. What are the Top “Things” Entrepreneurs Want / Need?
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7. What Services do Regional Innovation Centres Provide?
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8. Accelerating Growth vs Constraining Factors – What’s Next?
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9. Fostering Community Engagement to Drive Innovation
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Start-up Need: Access to
equity / risk capital to support
venture growth.
Start-up Need: Access to
advanced manufacturing /
electronics lab facilities.

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12. …the Platform
effect…
…or maybe the
Springboard
effect…

13. Passion
A desire to help their community for the greater
economic and social good of the community.
Finding the Right Community Champions – Easier Said than Done!
Entrepreneurial CredentialsEntrepreneurial Credentials
Important to engage champions that have “been there,
done that” and reflect the culture of your customers.
Time
With our aging baby boomer population retiring – full of
knowledge and wealth – now is the time to engage
those with time to contribute. 13

14. …the most successful
entrepreneurs are driven by
impact rather thanimpact rather than
experience or money…

15. The “Coles Notes” Playbook for Driving Community Innovation
Don’t just build a
delivery organization –
build a platform with
the intent and ability to
engage the “right”
community champions.
Refresh and understand
the needs of your start-
up innovation
community and know
that every community is
a bit different.
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community champions.
Find and engage the
“right” champions –
they exist!
Find the “right” champions and collectively create / foster a culture of
entrepreneurship and innovation and drive sustained job and wealth creation together.

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17. Fostering Community Engagement to Drive Innovation
…startups that have helpful
mentors, track metrics
effectively, and learn from
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Start-up Need: Access to
engaged mentorship and
advisory support.
effectively, and learn from
startup thought leaders raise
7x more money and have 3.5x
better growth…

18. NORCAT
Sudbury, ON | Timmins, ON | Onaping, ON
@norcat
www.norcat.org
www.facebook.com/NORCAT
www.linkedin.com/company/norcat
Don Duval
Twitter: @don_duval