We've got innovative minds, outstanding research facilities, industry-academia collaboration, exceptional R&D tax credits - and a government that's making IT research and commercialization a priority. It's a powerful combination.
Our R&D infrastructure includes:
- thousands of researchers at our educational institutions conducting research in every area of IT
- ORION (Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network), which facilitates research among universities, colleges and research centres in Ontario and through connection to CA*net 4, enables collaboration with researchers around the world
- the Centre of Excellence for Communications and Information Technology and the Centre of Excellence for Photonics, which work with industry and research centres to move new products and technologies from the lab to the marketplace quickly
- and R&D tax credits that are among the most generous in the world. In fact, they can cut the after-tax cost of a $100 R&D expenditure to less than $36.
Companies need to establish operations where they will find the ingredients for continued growth and success. When Chennai, India-based Polaris Software was looking for a location to launch its ambitious North American expansion it chose the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It was a simple decision for the leading global provider of banking, insurance and financial technology solutions.
"We chose the GTA because of the excellent infrastructure and resources here," says Rahul Petkar, CEO of Polaris' Canadian operations. "It's a cost effective jurisdiction with a skilled, well educated workforce, located in the heart of Canada's financial and high technology centre, and only a short distance from major U.S. clients."
The company also found it easy to bring people from overseas for temporarary work terms. Polaris' 5,900 square foot development centre, which includes the company's global performance engineering lab, has been up and running since March 2007 and with continued business growth, there are plans for expansion.
