General News

April 2, 2024

Statement From Burlington Economic Development And TechPlace Regarding Amalgamation Of Haltech And Innovation Factory

April 2, 2024 | Burlington, ON

Earlier today, Haltech Regional Innovation Centre and Innovation Factory announced their amalgamation, effective immediately.

I would like to start by congratulating our partners at Haltech and Innovation Factory for this exciting new direction. First and foremost, we are excited for the new opportunities this will offer Burlington Economic Development and TechPlace, and we are already working with the Innovation Factory team to explore what these could be. We are excited to welcome them to TechPlace, and help the team feel at home in the space.

Haltech Regional Innovation Centre has been a co-location partner at TechPlace, our innovation centre located at 5500 North Service Road since we first opened its doors in 2017. Since then, Haltech has led a great deal of our programming, supporting TechPlace members and connecting their clients to the services they need in Burlington. It has been a relationship that epitomizes collaboration and partnership, and we are incredibly proud of Haltech’s growth over the last six years into a regional beacon of support for local entrepreneurs and technology startups. We are grateful to have played a role in that growth by providing the space and place Haltech and their clients need to thrive at TechPlace.

I would like to extend a very personal and heartfelt thank you to Shann McGrail. Under Shann’s leadership, Haltech went from being the newest RIC to one known for robust female-focused programming, value-packed events and a close-knit community of entrepreneurs and seasoned advisors. We’re excited to see where Shann goes next, and I’m confident that whatever she chooses todo, it will be amazing.

We share a rich history of partnership with Innovation Factory as well, and we are excited about the opportunity to develop this partnership further. I have known David for more than 10 years, going back to before we opened TechPlace. He was one of the first people to encourage us to open a space in Burlington and he sat on the advisory committee of ecosystem leaders that helped shape the strategy behind it. We’re thrilled to welcome David and his team to TechPlace and know that under his leadership, great things will happen here.

Through our partnership with Innovation Factory over the years, we’ve seen what happens when you move past geographical borders to focus on a collaborative, regional approach to innovation and economic growth. We have watched our members pitch to the Lions at their incredibly popular Lion’s Lair event, and we have also welcomed Innovation Factory clients as LaunchPad companies. Since 2021, we have also co-led the Acceleration+ program with Innovation Factory and Haltech. With $3 million in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, we’ve been able to support 41 international startups across nine countries through the program. This is the power of regional partnership.

I’d like to take this opportunity to reassure our members and partners that this change will have no effect on TechPlace’s daily operations. When you visit TechPlace, you can still expect to receive the same level of support you’ve come to know and love. The only change you may notice is some new friendly faces in the hallways. I encourage you to introduce yourself, and learn more about Innovation Factory, their team, their values, and their plans for supporting entrepreneurs at TechPlace, in Burlington, and across Halton Region.

Sincerely,

Anita Cassidy
Executive Director
Burlington Economic Development