Initiatives
Learning Programs
Magnet Student Work Placement Program, external link, opens in new window
The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) brings together employers, students, and post-secondary school stakeholders to create quality work-integrated learning opportunities. The Magnet Student Work Placement Program is run through the Office of Zone Learning by not-for-profit, digital social innovation platform Magnet.
Professional Skills Development Zone, opens in new window
The Professional Skills Development Zone provides opportunities to develop transferable skills like critical thinking, communication, interpersonal relations and technical skills. Participants can choose from a combination of workshops and learning modules and apply for work placements at Ryerson Zone startups or other employers.
Startup School, external link, opens in new window
Startup School provides fundamental entrepreneurial education to aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs alike. Students and founders can take advantage of practical education on topics curated to accelerate a startup’s growth. Join top industry experts, academic thought leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs as they lead sessions on the topics crucial to entrepreneurial success.
Zone Learning Curricular Pilot Program
This limited elective course allows students to receive credit towards their degree for the work they do in the Zone Learning network. Still in its early stages this program offers a curricular supplement to the experiential learning that happens in our 10 Zones. The program features a unique curriculum built around entrepreneurship and innovation.
Investor Readiness with NACO Canada, external link, opens in new window
This program helps founders to gain the information required and attain the coaching needed in raising capital and resources to transform their good ideas into investor-ready companies. The Investor Readiness Program allows participants to virtually meet investors through 3 online sessions. 1-on-1 coaching is also available.
TechTalent Accelerator, opens in new window
The TechTalent Accelerator prepares undergraduate and graduate students to foster industry specific skills, knowledge, and experience with exposure to evolving challenges and opportunities faced by the Tech Industry. Students participate in seminars, complete training courses and gain hands-on experience through hack-a-thons, job shadows and internships.
Regional Programs
Ryerson Venture Zone in Brampton, opens in new window
Located within the burgeoning Brampton Innovation District, external link, opens in new window, The Zone aims to enhance the city’s social and economic vitality by supporting the growth of new business, creating high-skilled jobs, building a talent pipeline, and solidifying Brampton’s standing as a global hub of innovation.
Niagara Falls Ryerson Innovation Hub, external link, opens in new window
The Niagara Falls Ryerson Innovation Hub (NFRIH) brings together ambitious founders and teams to enable innovation through unique opportunities and valuable resources. The NFRIH provides resources and mentorship to help startups succeed and scale their businesses. The NFRIH is run in partnership with FedDev Ontario, the DMZ and Spark Niagara.
DMZ Innisfil, opens in new window
DMZ Innisfil is more than just a workspace. In partnership with the Town of Innisfil, DMZ Innisfil will be a staple to the town’s growing startup community by providing exclusive resources and access to a network of partners, customers and investors from Canada’s top tech incubator-accelerator.
National Programs
Incubate Innovate Network of Canada, external link
The Incubate Innovate Network of Canada (I-INC) is a pan-Canadian, internationally connected network of high-performance university-linked accelerators and incubators. Along with UOIT (now Ontario Tech) and SFU, Ryerson University is a founding partner of the network. Now with 13 partner institutions nationwide, I-INC creates an ecosystem for the efficient commercialization of University-based and science and technology-enabled innovation.
Lab2Market, external link, opens in new window
Lab2Market (L2M) is the first national-level program in Canada to fund and equip graduate students and their faculty supervisors with the entrepreneurial skills needed to assess the commercial viability of their university-based research innovations. Lab2Market is run in partnership with Dalhousie University and Memorial University. The program is funded with support from support of FedDev Ontario, ACOA, Mitacs and Ocean Supercluster – Ocean Startup Project.
Catalyst Cyber Accelerator, opens in new window
Located in Brampton's Innovation District, the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, helps Canadians and Canadian companies seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges of cybersecurity. The Catalyst has partnered with the DMZ, to launch the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator. Headquartered in Brampton this accelerator is the first of its kind in Canada providing growth strategies, mentorship and resources for the most promising cybersecurity scale-ups and help them succeed.
Lab2Market Health, external link, opens in new window
Lab2Market-Health (L2M-H) is a virtual adaption of Lab2Market (L2M), specifically designed to address the need for ‘path-to-market’ support for researchers solving pressing problems in the healthcare industry. Over 7 weeks, L2M-H will prepare researchers to navigate the path to market for new health technologies, from diagnostics, drugs and therapeutics to medical devices, health system responses, disease surveillance, digital and virtual health solutions and beyond.