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November 2014

Publications INNOVATION NEWSLETTER
INNOVATION - Ryerson University Research & Innovation Newsletter

Issue 12: November 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

Feature Stories

Partner in Innovation

Spotlight

Around Campus

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Ryerson campus with Toronto skyline
Ryerson is actively engaged in entrepreneurial and market-driven research throughout its campus. Photo credit: Ryerson University.

Ryerson University is cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus. In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week (opens in new window)  (November 17-23), this newsletter highlights some activities of our faculty, centres, and institutes that are dedicated to the research and development of new processes, products, and technologies that are helping to drive businesses forward and advance the Canadian economy.

Entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world are developing new products and services, creating new ventures, or driving change in existing organizations. They share a common drive to challenge the status quo, to take risks, and to try again in the face of failure. Ryerson is actively engaged in entrepreneurial and market-driven research throughout its campus. The University is home to the Digital Media Zone (DMZ) (opens in new window) , the top ranked university incubator in Canada and fifth ranked in the world by the University Business Incubator Index. New zones are being created, including the SocialVentures Zone (opens in new window) , incubating new social innovations and enterprises.

With one of Canada's largest entrepreneurship departments at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM), we are actively building the entrepreneurial pipeline and encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset among our students. Ryerson recently received $2 million (opens in new window)  from the Ontario government's Campus Linked Accelerator (CLA) Program to expand its leading role in entrepreneurship and innovation, and to create jobs for young people. For the second year, Ryerson hosted the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure’s Summer Company Program (opens in new window) , providing mentorship, training, and seed funding to 51 students between ages 15-29 to help them with their startup companies. Ryerson is Canada's first and only Ashoka Changemaker Campus (opens in new window) , recognized for its mandate to meet societal needs. The University also received a J.W. McConnell Family Foundation RECODE award (opens in new window)  to support social innovation research, student-based social innovation activities, and seed funding towards social enterprises.

With more than 100 research centres, institutes and labs, Ryerson researchers are driving innovation in digital media, big data, 3D printing, health care, transportation, the environment, and more. They are also researching innovation and entrepreneurship processes to advance evidence-based policies and practices through collaborative research projects like the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) (external link, opens in new window)  and SI-Drive (external link, opens in new window) , as well as through the Entrepreneurship Research Institute (opens in new window)  and others. Ryerson was one of two Canadian Universities awarded funding under the Canadian Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP) (opens in new window) , receiving $10.5 million for a program on Digital Media and Gaming in collaboration with Simon Fraser University and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Ryerson's approach to innovation is attracting international attention. Ryerson has collaborated with the Bombay Stock Exchange Institute (opens in new window)  in Mumbai on Zone Startups/India to help entrepreneurs incubate their startups and expand into both the Indian and Canadian markets. Similarly, the Canada-China Institute for Business and Development (CCIBD) (opens in new window)  builds and advances transnational connections and entrepreneurship between Canada and China through research partnerships and knowledge exchange, and new initiatives are being created in South Africa, England and elsewhere.

 

Wendy Cukier
Vice-President, Research and Innovation

 

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FEATURE STORIES

Ryerson Leads in Entrepreneurship Education and Research

Ryerson University is a leader in research on entrepreneurship and innovation, promoting the development of evidence-based policies and strategies to make Canada an "Innovation Nation". With the largest entrepreneurship program in the country and the Entrepreneurship Research Institute (ERI), housed in the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM), Ryerson researchers are examining innovation and entrepreneurship processes and the most effective practices to advance them.

Ryerson led research on the Ontario report for the 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) (external link, opens in new window)  which provides an annual assessment of entrepreneurial activity, aspirations, and attitudes of individuals in 70 economies around the world. Researchers Charles H. Davis (Associate Dean, Faculty of Communications and Design), Howard Lin (Professor, Business Management), Dave Valliere (Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship and Strategy), and Neil Wolff (Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship and Strategy), led the research. The preliminary study results presented at the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurship (ONE) indicated that Ontario is higher than the average among innovation-driven economies on entrepreneurship measures. Figures for the province of Ontario are comparable to figures reported for national world leaders, which include Singapore, Israel, and the United States.

The researchers also found, however, some room for improvement. The four weakest links in Ontario's entrepreneurship ecosystem are entrepreneurship education and training, financing for new and growing firms, R&D transfer, and capabilities to start and grow businesses. Ontario also needs to do more to foster and support entrepreneurship led by young people, women, and immigrants.

Ryerson is actively addressing these areas through research with partners beyond the University and across the world. Housed in the TRSM, the Canada-China Institute for Business & Development (CCIBD) conducts research to advance transnational entrepreneurship. Director of the CCIBD, Dr. Howard Lin is exploring cross-border innovation linkages among transnational communities of immigrant Chinese professionals, demonstrating the importance of social capital moving between China and Canada. Dr. Sui Sui, Assistant Professor in Global Management Studies, researches the behaviour of international entrepreneurs from developed countries. The TRSM also recently hosted a conference entitled The Power of the Diaspora Networks (opens in new window)  to highlight the importance of Canadian diaspora networks in promoting trade and investment.

Ryerson has joined the European Union-funded SI-DRIVE (external link, opens in new window)  project, funded under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP7). The project explores how social innovation can be incorporated into existing models of innovation, and maps social innovation globally in an effort to better understand success factors. Ryerson will help build the network in North America to develop theoretical frameworks and to map and evaluate social innovation activities. In addition to Ryerson, there are 24 institutions in 22 countries including CRISES at the University of Quebec, The Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, The Young Foundation in London, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Berta Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Capetown.

In recognition of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Ryerson is releasing the Ontario report for the 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor along with a panel discussion (opens in new window)  of the results on November 18.

 

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Technology Innovations to Advance Mobile Payment Security

Building the Pipeline of Entrepreneurs with Summer Company Program

Ryerson University is training Canada's next generation of entrepreneurs. With its globally recognized Digital Media Zone (DMZ), named one of the world’s top five incubators, Ryerson is also building the entrepreneurial pipeline as the only University to host Ontario's Summer Company Program. More than fifty youth aged 15-to-29 participated in the 2014 program, double the number from 2013. Together they created 51 companies and generated more than $164,000 in sales over the summer. The program targets youth who are returning to school, with a particular focus on those facing barriers, and offers training, mentoring and seed funding courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure.

"There is no shortage of ideas at Ryerson. Our students make the province better for everyone," said President Sheldon Levy at the Summer Company graduation.

Companies started through the program were diverse - from a theatre collective, to a vegan bakery, to a website development company. One of the most successful 2014 companies, Crimson Fish (external link, opens in new window) , was founded by Ryerson Film Studies student Neil Hanson and is dedicated to creating high-quality visuals and stories for emerging Canadian businesses. Another participant, Jalisa Luces-Mendes, started the company Proof.it (external link, opens in new window) . "It was a good experience for creating a business plan, budget, and cash flow," said Luces-Mendes. The company created an app that allows apartment hunters to review rental properties.

Students worked with a diverse range of faculty and industry mentors who helped them cultivate their business and marketing skills. Dr. Alison Kemper, Assistant Professor in the Entrepreneurship & Strategy, mentored four students. One of the Ryerson students under her mentorship, Parham Rokni, started Cleopatra's Accessories, a retail company that offers modern and vintage accessories sourced from countries around the world. Ryerson Master's candidate Matthew Tokarik started a small energy consulting firm, 2ND Lot (external link, opens in new window) , which was recently accepted into Ryerson's Innovation Centre for Urban Energy (iCUE). "I see entrepreneurship as a potential career choice," Tokarik said. "I made some strong relationships to move forward with. Our goal in the near future is to build an industry presence." 

"Entrepreneurial skills are essential, whether you are in business, engineering, social work, photography, biology, or public administration," Dr. Wendy Cukier, Vice-President, Research and Innovation said, noting that the Summer Company participants were from a full range of disciplines. "A recent survey showed more than 50% of our students in virtually every discipline have considered starting their own businesses. We need to give them the mentoring and the support they need to succeed."

 

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PARTNER IN INNOVATION

Reducing Workplace Injuries through Market-Driven Research

Ontario employers spent more than $1 billion between 2003-2007 to compensate workers who have experienced musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace. Work-related lower back pain is the most frequent injury that causes labour disruptions and reduces business productivity. Repetitive lifting, bending, and leaning are manual work tasks that can cause chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Mohammad Abdoli-Eramaki, Associate Professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health and Director of the Occupational Biomechanics, Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Lab, Ryerson University, is conducting market-driven research to create products to help address this serious health problem.

Dr. Abdoli-Eramaki's Dynamic Trunk Support device supports a worker's upper body when leaning forward to complete manual tasks. The invention was developed in collaboration with his Ryerson colleague, Dr. Ahmad Ghasempoor, Associate Professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

Building upon his previous success, Dr. Abdoli-Eramaki is currently developing an ergonomic assistive device with Engineer Mohammadreza Naderpour, which can be worn by workers who perform tasks at elevated heights. To complete operation such as installing and repairing overhead electrical wires, or trimming trees along roads, workers often have to stoop or reach far distances, and remain in an awkward posture for a prolonged period of time. The Bucket Work Trunk Support, invented by Abdoli-Eramaki, can be integrated into the fall restraint safety harness that workers are already required to wear to reduce back injury.

Dr. Abdoli-Eramaki worked with equipment manufacturing company POSI+, and energy provider Toronto Hydro Electric Systems, to design, test, and patent the device. "Devices need to be designed with consideration of the work task at hand," says Dr. Abdoli-Eramaki. "Because the application is specialized, it is important to carry out research and development with an industry partner to advance commercialization."

 

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Partnering on Wearable Technology to Improve Heart Health

Advanced technologies are changing the way patients are treated, and wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices are the latest of these tools. Dr. Kristiina McConville, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ryerson University, is applying her expertise in human computer interaction and human balance control to a partnership with Kiwi Wearables (external link, opens in new window) , funded by NSERC. You can watch a video about the NSERC Engage partnership here. (external link, opens in new window) 

Kiwi Wearables is a start-up company that develops interactive platforms for different health and fitness applications. McConville is helping Kiwi implement cutting-edge dry sensors in wearable heart monitors. "Kiwi and I came together to address a very specific problem that has significant implications for the health of Canadians," said McConville.  

Heart rate monitors typically used by patients outside of clinical settings tend to have bulky sensors that are often inaccurate for both medical and fitness purposes. With the advent of smaller, lighter, and more accurate sensors, it is now possible to design a wearable device that provides continuous heart monitoring on the go.

McConville and her research team are developing a device with additional onboard signal processing, analysis, and data recording. These sensors are capable of detecting ECG signals from many locations in the body so that both patients and healthy individuals can comfortably provide their medical professionals with quantitative data taken from a range of activities during everyday life. This real-world data will provide a more accurate picture of heart activity throughout the day and will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, as well as improved overall wellness.

"In terms of an overall impact on health services, a convenient and wearable heart monitoring system is an accurate and low-cost way for hospitals to pre-screen patients, which has the potential to drastically reduce wait times, lifting a significant burden from Canada's health care system," said McConville.

Wearable technologies are an important focus of Ryerson researchers and entrepreneurs. The University recently collaborated with IBM and WEAReABLES to host Toronto's first Sports Wearable Hackathon (external link, opens in new window)  in the Mattamy Athletic Centre, formerly Maple Leaf Gardens.

 

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SPOTLIGHT

New SocialVentures Zone Supports Student Entrepreneurs

As Canada's first Ashoka Changemaker Campus, a recent recipient of RECODE funding from the McConnell Foundation, and participant in the global SI-DRIVE research initiative, Ryerson University is leading the way in enhancing Canada's social innovation ecosystem. The SocialVentures Zone (opens in new window)  is the newest addition to Ryerson's zone network, engaging enterprising students in developing their own projects to advance social innovation. After only a few months in operation, the projects have demonstrated the ingenuity and commitment of Ryerson students to drive innovation and social change in their communities.

Jennifer Fischer, Environment and Urban Sustainability student, is developing the potential of vertical gardening in urban spaces. She is applying her strong understanding of organic gardening to develop raised-bed community gardens in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood.

Environment and Urban Sustainability students, Amber Grant and Robert Ozimek, are project leads of the newest venture being incubated in the SocialVentures Zone. Known as Ryerson's Urban Forest Stewards, their intention and commitment is to improve the integrity and presence of urban forests in cities. Working in conjunction with the Ryerson Nature in the City (external link, opens in new window)  app, developed by Dr. Andrew Millward, Associate Professor of Geography, the Forest Stewards will use the app to assist with the educational portion of their enterprise. The Ryerson campus is their current community of focus but they will apply their proactive environmental maintenance to other spaces in Toronto.

Social-Innovator-In-Residence Alex Gill helps students develop their ideas at the SocialVentures Zone. "The social issues we are facing need new thinking, new energy and new enthusiasm," Gill says. "I am sure our student teams will come up with ideas that no one has yet thought of - and then we can see how well they will work. That will be really exciting." Helen Burnstyn, distinguished visiting professor in social innovation and enterprise, will also provide leadership and mentorship to budding social entrepreneurs involved with zone learning.

In an environment without boundaries, students can produce novel social ventures while acquiring the skills needed to drive change. "While the Zone builds on the rich history of world-changing ideas in the humanities and social sciences, it is fuelled by social innovators across the university and in the broader Toronto community," says Jean-Paul Boudreau, Dean of the Faculty of Arts. "It lends itself to cross-collaboration with other zones present on campus. Given its focus on social innovation and entrepreneurism, the Faculty of Community Services and the Ryerson's Ashoka Changemakers have been natural collaborators."

Ryerson Students and alumni across faculties, with innovative ideas or projects, are encouraged to submit their applications on the SocialVentures Zone website (opens in new window) . For more information about Social Innovation at Ryerson, see our social innovation website (opens in new window) .

 

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AROUND CAMPUS

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor | Ontario Report Launch

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 | 1:00pm-3:00pm
Image Arts Building, 122 Bond Street, The Commons

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor is an annual assessment of the entrepreneurial activity, aspirations and attitudes of individuals and experts around the world. The 2013 survey covers 75% of the world population. As part of the Canadian GEM team, Ryerson is pleased to be the lead university for the Ontario report.

 (google form) RSVP (external link, opens in new window) 

 

NSERC RCI Foundation Lecture | Getting "Function" Right: Why Genomics Needs Philosophy

Thursday, November 27, 2014 | 7:00pm-9:00pm
350 Victoria Street, ROOM: LIB 72, Ryerson University

Dr. W. Ford Doolittle, an evolutionary biologist, has devoted his career to the exploration of cell evolution and the determinants that affect the structure of genomes. Saturated by controversy, evolution theories have abounded for years. Even geneticists have engaged in evolutionary debate, challenging one another on the beginnings of human biology. Dr. Doolittle brings his passionate perspective to the discussion on recent claims that there is no 'junk' in the human genome.

The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ryerson University invites you to attend this lecture by the world renowned Dr. Doolittle.

RSVP (external link, opens in new window) 

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Ali Miri
Image: Dr. Ali Miri is working with OnTab, a start-up company at Ryerson's Digital Media Zone to create an innovative and safe, cloud-based mobile payment solution.

Technology is quickly changing the way we shop, both in store and online. Consumers can now complete transactions anywhere, at any time, with just the touch of a finger. Even though mobile payments have become more secure than credit card payments, concerns remain around trust and privacy.

Mobile payments are the future of the payment industry. The industry is forecast to be worth over $200 billion by 2015. Dr. Ali Miri, Associate Chair and Professor in Computer Science, conducts research into computer networks and new applications of security and privacy technologies to prevent fraud. He looks at how these techniques can be effectively implemented in mobile banking and payment applications. Working with OnTab (external link, opens in new window) , a start-up company at Ryerson's Digital Media Zone (DMZ), Dr. Miri is helping to create an innovative new way to safely process payments in retail stores with a cloud-based mobile solution.

OnTab offers unique location-aware authentication, acquiring the location of the transaction first to protect against fraud. OnTab then asks the customer to authorize the payment using their banking PIN and a verification message is sent to the merchant to complete the payment process. OnTab has been designed to work seamlessly with existing Point of Sale systems, automatically connecting to a merchant's terminal without requiring internet access. This means that no new infrastructure needs to be built for retailers to implement OnTab.

Dr. Miri played an essential role in developing this technology along with OnTab founder, Dr. Behzad Malek. This mobile payment system is a comprehensive solution for customers to make mobile payments safely and conveniently using a variety of methods at retail locations, including bitcoins, PayPal, and digital wallets.

"Ryerson has a unique approach to entrepreneurial opportunities, and provides various types of support to these kinds of initiatives," says Dr. Miri. "Our success so far has greatly benefited from the enthusiastic support we have received, and the opportunity to work with many similar-minded entrepreneurs at the University."