The London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) has partnered with Western Research Parks (WRP) to share ideas that have an impact.
LEDC focuses on supporting local businesses and attracting new ones to London, while WRP specializes in connecting academia and industry – a key intersection for fostering this partnership. With a focus on sectors like health and advanced manufacturing, the speaker session in the Connector Sessions, From Idea to Impact, puts London businesses on the map for investors, clients, customers, and students.
“By supporting collaboration between academia, industry, and community partners, we’re building an innovation district that fosters growth and empowers startups and emerging technologies to thrive,” says Dr. Gailene Tobin Vandenheuvel, executive director at WRP. "Through our extensive partnership network and expertise in economic development, we highlight the opportunities London offers for these companies to scale and succeed."
Initially, the partnership between LEDC and WRP focused on exploring ways to connect startups and established enterprises with academic expertise and resources at Western University.
“Today, our partnership has evolved into a strategic collaboration,” says Larry MacKinnon, director of business development at LEDC. “We co-host impactful events like the ‘From Idea to Impact: Insights from MedTech Leaders’ connector sessions which bring together leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.”
Another co-host in the series is BioNext, a Western based MedTech incubator dedicated to accelerating the translation of early-stage ideas into commercial innovations. BioNext supports entrepreneurs with access to infrastructure and a network of facilities for prototype manufacturing, testing, validation, and preclinical and clinical development services.
The Connector Sessions provide businesses with a platform to connect with experts, share ideas and gain insights to accelerate their growth. On a local level, this partnership strengthens London’s position as an innovation hub, creating jobs and attracting further investment. It also fuels significant growth in several sectors, including environmental sustainability, engineering, IT and advanced manufacturing.
“By connecting London-based companies with national and international networks, we position the city as a key player in addressing complex global challenges,” says Tobin Vandenheuvel.
LEDC and WRP hope their partnership will help establish London as a global model for interdisciplinary excellence in research translation, student engagement and innovation.
“The WRP-LEDC partnership is proof of how collaboration can drive innovation and growth,” says Tobin Vandenheuvel “Together, we’re building a thriving innovation district that benefits the entire community.”
