What began as a partnership less than a year ago between the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) and SMART Toronto Technology Alliance turned into a merger last week in an effort to create a stronger organization for all their members.
Through the merger, CATA and SMART Toronto will meld their services, memberships and resources. The new alliance is intended to expand services and business tools and kick start new projects that the newly formed organization will offer. SMART Toronto will retain its identity and operate as a division of CATA and its members will automatically become CATA members, gaining access to its business development, advocacy and research. CATA members will now have access to SMART Toronto’s regionally delivered programs and initiatives, according to a statement issued by the groups.
SMART represents the interests of the technology industry across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and serves a base of companies that includes software developers, systems integrators and telecommunications outfits. Given CATA’s presence across Canada, SMART anticipates an increase in business services and networking on a national level, more access to federally funded programs and research tax credits.
In November 2002, the two organizations announced they had partnered to offer business development services to their joint members and to offer e-mail marketing services, conferences and a slew of other business tools to help their member companies grow.
CATA is online at www.cata.ca.