Public Statement on the Annual Commercialization Plan (2023):
Nipissing University is committed to developing processes, awareness, education, and supports for the commercialization of research, knowledge, and scholarly activities. The Office of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovation (ORIGS), under the oversight of the incumbent Associate Vice President, Research, Innovation, and Graduate Studies (AVP, RIGS), will develop the infrastructure necessary to support innovation and commercialization at Nipissing University.
The primary mission of a publicly funded institution is to create and disseminate public knowledge. The goal of Nipissing University’s Commercialization Policy, together with the Strategic Research Plan (2019-2024) and Intellectual Property Policy is to encourage the creation of intellectual property (IP), and to facilitate the development and commercialization of IP, while safeguarding the academic freedom and interest of the University, its faculty, staff, and students.
At Nipissing University, we approach research and innovation activities in a manner that aligns with our mission and values, protects our intellectual property, and ensures that agreements are mutually beneficial for the parties involved. As outlined in our Strategic Research Plan (2019-2024), we “seek to maintain and grow our leadership role in research areas relevant to the regional community that have national and global impact. Simultaneously, Nipissing continues to encourage and support groundbreaking research in other areas of strength.
- This mission will be achieved in part through our researchers working in our region with Indigenous and other partners in a way that not only allows us to make a difference in our community but influence discovery and dialogue on important issues around the world.
- The success of this mission depends not only on the researchers themselves but also on institutional support; not solely based on monetary assistance but also human resources at all levels. Continued investment in our research infrastructure is central to the fulfillment of our mission.
- This mission must also include our students; allowing them to participate in forward- looking discussion and debate as well as participate in real groundbreaking research projects, learning research skills that provide the foundation for the next generation of research excellence.”
Part of having this regional focus is that we frequently enter into research agreements with Indigenous Communities. As such, we would approach our partnerships and agreements in a good way, with respect for the First Nations principles of OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) and other principles and teachings that guide our relationships and agreements.
In our Year 1 Annual Commercialization Plan (ACP), Nipissing University was given the opportunity to describe our engagement with the private sector, research, and innovation intermediaries, Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), and our on-campus research and innovation ecosystem. In terms of private sector engagement, we highlighted our overall approach to partnerships with the private sector, our strengths in providing innovative services to Ontarians, and examples of our recent partnerships secured to date. We also discussed how we have engaged with research and innovation intermediaries to date. This includes agencies through the BioEnterprise Network, Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (iiON), IPON, and promoting access to educational opportunities related to intellectual property, innovation, and commercialization.