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News Release:
Ontario Gives Boost To Digital Economy
Backgrounder:
Ontario And The Communitech Hub: Digital Media & Mobile Accelerator
For the Media

PODCASTS

	“We’re about to take digital media here in the Province of Ontario to the next level…Today we’re sending a clear signal to digital entrepreneurs everywhere: Ontario means business.” John Milloy, Minister of Research and Innovation
	“This is the beginning of a new world of digital media and mobility, and The Hub represents a fundamental catalyst to that growth.” Doug Cooper, President, Intel Canada, Ltd.
	“The Hub will connect us with other communities across the province, and lead the way in building new companies, new jobs and new wealth for Ontario.” Carl Zehr, Mayor of Kitchener
	“By investing in Ontario’s clusters of digital excellence in Stratford, in Toronto, in Niagara Region and here in our community, you’ve shown the leadership this province expects – and we will deliver on that commitment.” Tim Jackson, Past Chair, Board of Directors, Communitech Remarks made during event on November 6, 2009 to announce an investment of more than $26 million in The Communitech Hub: Digital Media & Mobile Accelerator, a new centre that will help emerging digital media companies grow and succeed in the global market.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
November 6, 2009

Ontario Gives Boost To Digital Economy

McGuinty Government Helps New Centre Grow Companies And Jobs

NEWS

Ontario is supporting a new commercialization centre that will help digital media entrepreneurs build new companies and create jobs.

The province plans to invest more than $26 million in The Communitech Hub: Digital Media & Mobile Accelerator (“The Hub”), a new centre that will help emerging digital media companies grow and succeed in the global market. In particular, The Hub will look beyond the entertainment sector to focus on companies creating hardware and software for industries, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare and finance.

Based in Waterloo Region, The Hub expects thousands of jobs could be created over the first five years by serving entrepreneurs across the province.

This investment supports Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the province’s plan to make innovation a driving force of Ontario’s economy.

QUOTES

“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 across the province, as they work to turn new ideas into new jobs and globally competitive businesses.”
— Minister of Research and Innovation John Milloy

“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.”
— Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga

“Digital media and mobile computing are the future of Canada’s technology industry. The Hub is a place where entrepreneurs and business leaders can make connections, start companies, and create jobs for Ontario.”
— Iain Klugman, President and CEO, Communitech

QUICK FACTS

The Hub will focus on commercialization, business development, and access to financing. It will offer state-of-the-art tools and lab space, with equipment and support provided by industry leaders including Open Text Corporation, Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc., Intel, Agfa HealthCare and Research In Motion.
Worldwide, the digital media sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the knowledge economy, and its double-digit growth rate will help drive the global media market up to US$2.2 trillion by 2012.
Ontario has the third-largest entertainment and creative sector in North America, after California and New York. Ontario’s digital media industry generates more than $1 billion annually.