C4: connecting WORLDiscoveries™ to Southwest Ontario
C4 is a technology transfer consortium that fosters innovation in Southwest Ontario by promoting commercialization. Comprised of ten universities and research institutions, C4 members coordinate their resources, cooperate with governmental and industrial bodies, collaborate in multi-disciplinary research to solve real world problems, and commercialize the results of their research.
The C4 members are:
This diverse group of universities and research institutions provide a broad and deep base of expertise for WORLDiscoveries™ to draw on. By working together, the C4 institutions achieve economies of scale enabling a more robust effort than they could accomplish individually.
C4 Resources
Participation of WORLDiscoveries™ in C4 provides Western, Robarts and Lawson researchers with access to additional support for their technology development and commercialization efforts, such as:
- Access to specialized C4 personnel
- Enhanced marketing opportunities
- C4 Proof-of-Principle Fund
Specialized personnel
C4 has made it possible for its members to hire specialized personnel to share amongst the member institutions. For example, business development managers with expertise in areas such as photonics, food processing and computer engineering are now available to the WORLDiscoveries™ community. In addition, C4 employs several other resources, including a copyright officer, patent searchers and marketing specialists.
Marketing Opportunities
C4 has a focused marketing program of events, online activities and seminars designed to promote technologies at industry events. The C4 conference and trade show campaign puts your discovery in front of potential licensees.
C4 Proof-of-Principle Fund
The gap between finished research, early stage technology development and commercialization can be wide. The C4 POP Fund helps you bridge that gap by investing in further validation, patenting, prototype development and commercialization and industry partnering related activities. Further information on this fund is featured at Commercialization Funding
