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By Kathy Michaels
Local business incubator, the Okanagan Research and Innovation Centre, entered a partnership tonight that should help transform more of Kelowna residents’ entrepreneurial efforts into success stories.
Law firm, Pushor Mitchell LLP was named a knowledge partner, which means they’ll be committed to offering legal expertise to fledgling business owners. Specifically, that role will amount to mentorship, support and advice which will be delivered through a series of seminars and round table education sessions on legal issues that arise in the start-up process, such as intellectual property and financing.
Pushor Mitchell partner Blair Forrest, who is the head of the firm’s Technology and Securities Law practice group, explained that access to legal expertise will help more innovative companies succeed, and in turn generate new high-tech jobs and sustainable economic value across the Okanagan.
“In addition to the support that ORIC offers its client companies in terms of shared infrastructure; flexible space; a sharing and learning environment; cross-company collaboration; business networks; and facilitated interactions with industry and higher education; we believe that the availability of timely, cost-effective and value-adding business support services, such as legal and intellectual property advice, is critical to the formation and growth of early-stage innovative companies,” said Forrest.
“It is often access to these business services that is key to the success of early-stage technology companies.”
Martin Yuill, ORIC’s Kelowna director, said Pushor Mitchell had been a strong supporter of the centre’s incubator concept since it opened its doors in November 2008.
“We are pleased that Pushor Mitchell has joined us in this exciting partnership to deliver value to a growing technology community, and shares ORIC’s vision of creating long-term economic benefits for the region through support for innovators and entrepreneurs.”
ORIC’s business incubation program in the Okanagan Valley is designed to catalyze the process of starting and growing technology companies by providing entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful.
Tags: business incubator, ORIC
