Toronto Region Research Alliance

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Toronto Region Research Alliance
Non-profit_
Non-profit_type = Economic Development
founded_date = 2005
founder =
location = MaRS Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
origins = Toronto City Summit Alliance
key_people = Courtney Pratt, CEO
area_served = Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington, York
focus = Investment Attraction, Research Capacity Building, Public Awareness
method =
revenue =
endowment =
num_volunteers =
num_employees =
num_members =
owner =
Non-profit_slogan = Engaging Innovation
homepage = http://www.trra.ca
dissolved =
footnotes =

The Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA) is a non-profit organization committed to transforming the Toronto Region into a world-leading centre for research and research-intensive industry. Mission. URL: [http://www.igloo.org/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA%2Fmission&r0_output=xml&s=cc http://www.igloo.org/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA%2Fmission&r0_output=xml&s=cc] . Accessed on: November 29, 2007.]

Founded in 2005, its board of directors is composed of senior leaders from business, universities, colleges, and hospitals in the region. TRRA is a results-oriented, non-profit organization supported and funded by a wide range of regional stakeholders and the governments of Ontario and Canada. About TRRA. URL: [http://www.trra.ca/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA&r0_output=xml http://www.trra.ca/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA&r0_output=xml] . Accessed on: November 29, 2007.]

About TRRA

History

TRRA was conceived in June 2003 as a result of the civic consensus achieved through the Toronto City Summit Alliance (TCSA)Toronto Region Research Alliance launched by TCSA. URL: [http://www.torontoalliance.ca/tcsa_initiatives/research_alliance/ http://www.torontoalliance.ca/tcsa_initiatives/research_alliance/] Accessed on: November 29, 2007.] . TCSA represents over 40 civic leaders from the private, labour, voluntary and public sectors in the Toronto region Toronto City Summit Alliance - Backgrounder. URL [http://www.torontoalliance.ca/about_tcsa/backgrounder/ http://www.torontoalliance.ca/about_tcsa/backgrounder/] Accessed on: November 29, 2007. ] . This unique group came together in 2002 to assess our urban region's strengths and challenges and shape a framework for action that could move the region forward over the next five to 10 years. TCSA released its report, "Enough Talk: An Action Plan for the Toronto Region", in April 2003Enough Talk: An Action Plan for the Toronto Region. URL: [http://www.torontoalliance.ca/docs/TCSA_report.pdf http://www.torontoalliance.ca/docs/TCSA_report.pdf] Accessed on: November 29, 2007. ] . This report included a recommendation to form TRRA.

Mission

The organization's goal is to help mobilize the Toronto Region and to promote its strengths, in order to help the region compete more effectively at the international R&D level.TRRA works partners throughout the region to:
* Attract new innovative and research-intensive companies and to expand those already in the Toronto Region
* Strengthen the Toronto Region’s public and private capacity for research, development, and innovation.Mission. URL: [http://www.igloo.org/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA%2Fmission&r0_output=xml&s=cc] Accessed on: November 30, 2007.]

TRRA aims to be a neutral convener, catalyst and advocate on issues and opportunities related to its R&D mission. The organization works to forge regional agreement on strategic priorities. In addition to its significant sales activities, the organization delivers informed analysis, promote cross-sectoral dialogue, increases awareness, and facilitates coordinated action.

The organization focuses on the following three broad research-intensive sectors:
* Bio life sciences
* Information and communication technology (ICT)
* Advanced manufacturing, including materials science, clean tech, and energyMission. URL: [http://www.igloo.org/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA%2Fmission&r0_output=xml&s=cc] Accessed on: November 30, 2007.]

Funders

Toronto Region

One aspect that sets the organization apart is that it encompasses a large geographical region. TRRA defines its geography as the regions, or census subdivisions, of Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington and York. The region is sometimes defined as the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo.Mission. URL: [http://www.igloo.org/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA%2Fmission&r0_output=xml&s=cc http://www.igloo.org/community.igloo?r0=community&r0_script=/scripts/folder/view.script&r0_pathinfo=%2F%7Bd467c1bb-e8ea-4579-b6b1-94652a4f4538%7D%2FAbout%20TRRA%2Fmission&r0_output=xml&s=cc] . Accessed on: November 29, 2007.]

The Toronto Region has a population of about 7.2 million [Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey. 2007] (including over 200 ethnic groups and 180 languages) [City of Toronto - Labour Force Survey, 2007] and a GDP over $300 billion [The Conference Board of Canada, 2007] . It has 9 universities, 8 colleges and 12 research hospitals. It also houses a skilled labor force, with 57% of workers holding a post-secondary degree. [Statistics Canada - Census, 2001]

External links

* [http://www.trra.ca Toronto Region Research Alliance Homepage]

References