York U bringing together innovators and entrepreneurs in new maker space in Markham

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TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2017 – York University will officially open its new innovation and entrepreneurship centre, YSpace, in downtown Markham on Monday.

YSpace will offer students, members of the community and startups, a large-scale co-working space and a maker space, where they can access training programs for entrepreneurs, connect with other organizations in the community, and build virtual or actual prototypes.

The new entrepreneurship centre is already reaching out to community and private sector partners to promote and support creativity in the community, where York will open its Markham Centre campus in 2021.

Rhonda Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor, and Rob Haché, vice-president research & innovation, will open the centre with Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

Representatives of a dozen startups that have benefitted from Innovation York’s programs and services will demonstrate their products and technologies, and how they are commercializing them.

Among the many products and technologies being featured at the opening are:

  • A bed sheet that monitors patients wirelessly using fabric sensor technology;
  • Technology to help realtors produce 3D showcases of homes;
  • A food science technology designed to help address world hunger by making freeze drying much more accessible; and
  • A mobile app to provide translation service for emergency patients with limited language proficiency.

WHAT:           Opening of YSpace innovation and entrepreneurship centre in Markham

WHEN:           Monday Nov. 6, 2017, 1 to 3pm

WHERE:         169 Enterprise Blvd., Markham (Cineplex Complex), 3rd floor, MAP

York University is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. York U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:
Janice Walls, York University Media Relations, 416 455 4710 (mobile), wallsj@yorku.ca