Not only did the SMART Toronto Technology Alliance officially open the doors to its new home Wednesday, but the association also learned that the province was contributing funds to one of its programs.
The Toronto Centre for Technology – which was opened with the click of a mouse as opposed to a ribbon cutting – will offer a revolving showcase for technological innovations, an on-site interactive digital media incubator, a technical development lab and event space to the city’s high tech community.
“This is the only facility of its kind in North America,” David Terry, the alliance’s chair, said of the 10,000 square-foot centre. “We have created…a destination and a venue that will act as a hub and a magnet for the technology community of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Our goal is to put the success and innovation of the Toronto technology community firmly on the map. This centre will help achieve that goal.”
Jim Flaherty, Ontario’s minister of enterprise, opportunity and innovation, who was on hand to help open the centre, also announced that the province was providing $275,000 towards the association’s interactive digital media program. The mandate of the program is to advance innovation, encourage best practices, share resources and profile the best of the city’s digital media community.
“We’ll use the funds to specifically promote and showcase the interactive digital community here in this centre,” said Terry, who added that the opening of the association’s new centre is “just the beginning – the start of our vision.”
The SMART Toronto Technology Alliance can be found online at www.smarttoronto.ca.
