A globally competitive Ontario is built on the strengths of its regions. Cultivating local ecosystems of talent and innovation helps create the type of environment that enables people to find jobs in their hometowns and communities, and attract investment from industry looking to partner with local businesses and help them scale.

Ontario’s universities are embedded in their local communities, employing thousands of residents and supporting businesses through the economic activity of students, the university and faculty, alike. They are conducting ground-breaking research that leads to new technologies and helps build a sustainable economies.

But their impact extends much further than the place where they’re located.

This booklet features some of the ways Ontario’s universities are helping to drive regional economic development, and create an environment where businesses, both large and small, can thrive.