Explore 200,000 sq. feet of ideas, innovations and solutions that are shaping Ontario's future.

Apple co-founder, philanthropist, author, television personality, Inventors Hall of Fame award winner and the man who helped shape the computer industry shares insights from his incredible life and recent book iWOZ: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I invented the Personal Computer, Co-founded Apple and Had Fun Doing It during a question and answer session. Currently Steve is Chief Scientist at Fusion-io.

Introduced by:

Mark Adler, President and CEO, Economic Club of Canada

Moderator:

Steve Paikin, Host, TVO's The Agenda

This panel will explore some of the challenges and opportunities in financing innovation. The discussion includes a focus on bringing innovation to financing innovation.

Moderator:

Michael Nobrega, President and CEO, OMERS

Panelists:

Ryan Little, Principal, Rocksteady Investments

David W. Pamenter, Partner, Business Law, Gowlings

Don Roberts, Vice Chairman, Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, CIBC World Markets Inc.

George Ross, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Research and Innovation and Deputy Minister, Ministry of Consumer Services

Each year, Ontario's best student researchers showcase their final-year college and university undergraduate Connections projects to a panel of judges at OCE's Discovery conference. These final year undergrads have been working with industry partners to address technology problems currently affecting industry. This year, Connections participants are eligible to win one of three $2,000 cash prizes as the best university, college or Ontario Power Authority (OPA) energy conservation projects.

Moderator:

Dr. James Doran, Business Development Manager, Ontario Centres of Excellence

Judges:

Sean Conway, Special Advisor to the Principal (External Relations), Queen’s University

Suzanne Corbeil, Director, Global Outreach, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Dr. Hadi Mahabadi, Vice President and Director, Xerox Research Centre of Canada

Joanne Kviring, Executive Director, Physicians Services Foundation

Dr. Molly Shoichet, Professor, Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto

The 2010 Winter Olympic medals are coming to Discovery. The presentation will deal with the engineering complexity and ingenuity of the manufacturing process of the 2010 Winter Olympic Medals. The innovation for new coinage materials and minting technologies at the Royal Canadian Mint will also be presented. See these finely crafted works of art up close.

Presenters:

Dr. Xianyao Li, Chief Research and Development Officer, Royal Canadian Mint

Jennifer Holmes, Project Manager, Royal Canadian Mint

Renato Romozzi, Project Engineer, Royal Canadian Mint

Got a few minutes? That's all aspiring entrepreneurs get when they make their best pitch to some of Canada's leading venture capitalists and angel investors.

Moderator:

Bryan Kanarens, Managing Director, Ontario Centres of Excellence, Investment Accelerator Fund

Judges:

Andrew Abouchar, Partner, TechCapital Partners

Michael Curry, Managing Partner, Investeco

Scott Pelton, Vice President, Investments, Growthworks Capital Ltd.

Damien Steel, Vice President, Venture Fund, EdgeStone Capital Partners

Jeff Steiner, Principal, GPEX Capital Ltd.

Dominic Talalla, Partner, Trellis Capital

Ontario's "Next Generation" Innovators compete live. University and College research students will compete for cash prizes by pitching their leading edge research project, presenting why industry needs their research and what the potential impact of their work is. Presentations are five minutes followed by a two minute question period from a panel of judges. The winner takes home $2,500, second place $1,500 and third place $1,000.

Moderator:

Dr. Marc Nantel, Director, Business Development, Ontario Centres of Excellence

Judges:

Dr. Suhayya Abu-Hakima, President and CEO, Amika Mobile Corporation

Dr. Peter Annan, President, Sensors & Software Inc.

Darlene Homonko, Executive Director, GHBN

Lucy Keating, Partner, Commexus Inc.

Dr. Ian Smith, Director General, Institute for Biodiagnostics, NRC

There are many misconceptions in the marketplace that lead first time entrepreneurs astray. Through its Business Advisory Services program, MaRS has teams of advisors who meet with entrepreneurs and founders of high tech companies to help them achieve success. Hear from MaRS advisors in Lifesciences, ITC and Cleantech, the top misperceptions that they have to correct to keep their clients on the best path.

Moderator:

Tony Redpath, Vice President, Partner Programs, MaRS

Panelists:

Krista Jones, Advisor and Practice Lead, Information and Communication Technology, MaRS

Dr. John McCulloch, Advisor, Life Sciences and Health Care, MaRS

Paul Mertes, Volunteer Advisor, Cleantech Practice, MaRS

Panel members will discuss how to bridge the technology gap and the important role each key sector including automotive, energy, infrastructure, builders and government agencies play in getting Ontario Plug-in-Ready.

Moderator:

John Wood, Executive Director, Automotive Partnership Canada

Panelists:

Cara Clairman, Vice President, Sustainable Development, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and co-founder of Plug N Drive

Dr. Jatin Nathwani, Chair, Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), University of Waterloo

Tom Odell, Technology Planning Manager, Chevrolet Volt Product Manager, GM Canada

Bob Singh, Manager of Assets, HydroOne

What should smart look like in the grid of 2020? From a technological and consumer perspective a panel discussion on the possibilities, opportunities and realities of developing and implementing smart grid solutions in Ontario. What are the options? What are the costs? Who will see the benefit?

Moderator:

Paul Murphy, President & CEO, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)

Panelists:

Bernadette Corpuz, Senior Associate, National Energy and Infrastructure Industry Group, Gowlings

Jonathan Norman, Director, Transmission and Distribution Policy, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure

Juan Macias, General Manager, GE Digital Energy

William Smith, Senior Vice President, Energy Sector, Siemens Canada Limited

Ingenuity in creating and providing new products, materials and systems for a truly green economy, is being taxed as never before. Market and community leaders are recognizing that no single group has all the answers. Better ways must be found to connect scientific advancements and innovation to cost effective manufacturing processes, community development, consumer demand and cultural acceptance. Our panelists will share their experiences and discuss both the successes and challenges they've encountered along the way.

Moderator:

Andrew Bowerbank, President and Chief Strategy Officer, EC3 Initiative

Panelists:

Debbie Baxter, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability & Facilities Manager, Chief Sustainability Officer, Loyalty One

Mike Pedersen, Group Head, Corporate Operations, TD Bank Financial Group

Ted Simpson, General Manager, Philips Lighting Canada

Laurent Tainturier, President, BASF Canada

Ontario communities aren't alone in seeking ways to better manage our water resources. Conservation, delivery, efficiency and security concern communities across Canada and around the globe. These challenges create opportunities. How can Ontario, home to some of the world's leading water technology companies and water researchers, become a major player in the global water market? What kinds of technologies exist and what will be needed? Dive into this important discussion on the future of water technology in Ontario with our expert panel.

Moderator: 

Rick Findlay, Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian Water Network

Panelists:

Dr. William Cairns, Chief Scientist, Trojan Technologies

John Coburn, Managing Director, XPV Capital

Angella Hughes, President, CEO and Director, Xogen Technologies Inc.

Deborah Martin-Downs, Director, Ecology Division, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Nicholas Parker, Executive Chairman, CleanTech Group

Moderator:

Dr. Rafael Kleiman, Professor and Canada Research Chair in MicroElectroMechanical Systems, Director, Centre for Emerging Device Technologies, McMaster University

Panelists:

Dr. Tim Bender, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto

Scott MacDonald, Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures

Nicolas Morgan, Vice President, Business Development & Marketing, Morgan Solar

Dr. Ted Sargent, Professor, Canada Research Chair in Nanotechnology, University of Toronto

David McFadden, Chair, Board of Directors, Ontario Centres of Excellence

Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO, Ontario Centres of Excellence

Every year, Ontario recognizes world-class innovators who are changing the face of medicine, health technology, cleantech, communications technology and digital media. On May 18, 2010, Premier Dalton McGuinty will once again honour a remarkable group of Ontarians who are inventing our economic future and shaping our world.

Ontario Centres of Excellence, in partnership with MaRS, is pleased to host the 2010 Premier's Innovation Awards, which will celebrate the people and companies that are driving innovation in Ontario.