The International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) got a firsthand look at the thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem in our region during their visit to Windsor on April 26th. The tour began at the University of Windsor EPICentre. Participants explored the EPICentre’s incubation and coworking spaces, got to know incubator members and EPICentre staff, then toured the MakerSpace located in the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation (CEI). Attendees enjoyed a delicious breakfast catered by Anchor Coffee House while attending a presentation by EPICentre Director Wen Teoh and President and CEO of WEtech Alliance Yvonne Pilon. EPICentre and WEtech showcased the work the Windsor-Essex Entrepreneurial ecosystem has been doing to support budding entrepreneurs while educating the InBIA on some fun facts about Windsor-Essex; for example, did you know that Windsor-Essex has the largest vegetable greenhouse cluster in North America and 2nd largest in the world?
The visit then extended to the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator, where they took a quick tour of some of the spaces and discussed the programs and partnerships offered. The tour then continued to Invest WindsorEssex’s Automobility and Innovation Centre, where participants received a brief overview of Windsor-Essex with a specific highlight on the recent $5 Billion investment by LG/Stellantis JV NextStar and what opportunities exist for entrepreneurs across the region. The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre also provided a debrief of their programs and resources, including Starter Company Plus, Summer Company, Digital Main Street, the region’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, and more.
While participating in the tour of the Automobility and Innovation Centre, the InBIA were treated to some famous Windsor-style pizza from Oven 360 while also experiencing Canada’s largest publicly accessible virtual reality cave. In addition, the tour included a demonstration of Project Arrow, the first all-Canadian zero-emission concept vehicle designed and developed using the VR Cave. Finally, participants had the opportunity to drive in one of the many virtual test tracks used for the simulation testing of Autonomous vehicles.
InBIA is a global nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurs in innovating and advancing their startups. InBIA offers networking opportunities, industry-specific training, access to resources, and numerous support platforms to assist entrepreneurial startups in reaching their needs. InBIA hosted its 37th annual conference in Detroit from April 23 to 26. As part of the conference, they offered two tours for the attendees, one of which was the tour to Windsor. The visit provided a valuable chance for innovators within the Windsor region to showcase their advances and for the InBIA to learn and gain insight into the budding innovation ecosystem of Windsor, Ontario.
The InBIA was able to experience firsthand the uniqueness of Windsor’s innovation infrastructure in furthering technological advancements. In addition, the entrepreneurs highlighted various factors that made Windsor the perfect location for their startups, including the supportive ecosystem, enthusiastic community, and excellent business infrastructure in the region.
The Windsor entrepreneurship ecosystem is a vital factor in the evolution of technological advancement within the region. The ecosystem comprises several organizations providing support and resources, including mentorship, coworking spaces, funding assistance, legal aid, and business planning training.
In conclusion, InBIA’s visit to Windsor allowed science and technology enthusiasts to explore the region’s potential and offer insights to aid its expansion. The various facilities and programs, including the University of Windsor EPICentre, WEtech Alliance, the Accelerator, and the Automobility and Innovation Centre, highlighted the culture of innovation prevalent in Windsor, Ontario. The region’s supportive, collaborative environment, unique infrastructure, and dedicated support systems are all factors that guarantee the growth of entrepreneurial startups and the consequent expansion of the Windsor innovation ecosystem.