There is a place where ideas happen. It is in surroundings that encourage leading research and have continuous access to a stream of brilliant minds. That place is here, in 26 research parks across Canada, from Vancouver Island Technology Park, Victoria to Agritech, Truro.

Over 1,000 companies and 40,000 knowledge workers have located in these parks to have ready access to everything they need to generate ideas for now and for the next generation. Tomorrow they will welcome the brain power of our children.

Parks attract unconventional thinkers, those who see around the corners better than others. They possess the ability to think about ideas differently with a marked originality to their thought process that has practical implications. Such thinkers are attracted to like-minded people in a setting that allows for workplace freedom empowering workers to do their jobs more effectively by knowing that suggestions put forth will be well received.

Research Parks have taken the academic free thinking model and built this philosophy around it. The result is a business-based collection of like-minded companies and organizations that focus on fostering, encouraging and nurturing unconventional thinking above all. The parks each have a path in place to provide the necessary assistance to move ideas from discovery through to commercialization.

Unconventional thinkers are naturally attracted to places where there is freedom to do what they do best. The parks are such a place – and it is working – to strengthen Canadian’s innovation strategy and our children’s future.

Carol Stewart, President, AURP Canada