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Ontario Government Launches Fund to Develop Cluster Initiatives

January 21, 2016
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Through a partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the government of Ontario is launching the Cluster Development Seed Fund, offering grants of up to $100,000 to support cluster initiatives. The funds are part of the Partnerships for Jobs and Growth Act, passed in 2014 by the Ontario government. According to the act, clusters – geographically concentrated groups of interconnected businesses and related entities – perform an important function in regional economic development by increasing productivity, innovation and competitiveness. To help support the development of these clusters, Ontario is offering funding through two streams: supporting cluster consortium building and networking, as well as research and feasibility studies.

Cluster organizations applying for funding must demonstrate a clear business case for requiring the funds, explain how the activities undertaken would contribute to Ontario’s cluster development, and provide evidence of 1:1 matching funds from industry and other partners for the amount of grant funding requested. Applications are due March 1, 2016.

A more detailed application guide is available here: http://www.occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CLUSTER-DEVELOPMENT-SEED-FUND-APPLICATION-GUIDE.pdf

international, clusters