Oshawa is home to several leading-edge institutions that drive cutting-edge research and academic programming. Oshawa's post-secondary institutions in Oshawa have unique mandates to collaborate with private sector industry partners to develop innovative business solutions. Partnerships with research innovation networks enable local companies to access new and competitive solutions that successfully impact today's marketplace through capstone projects, internships, competitions and state-of-the-art research facilities.

Durham College, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (O.R.S.I.E.)

Named as one of Canada's top 25 research colleges, Durham College is expanding into new realms of innovation through its Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (O.R.S.I.E.). O.R.S.I.E. has a direct impact on the economic advancement and sustainability of the region by working with small and medium-sized businesses to help them innovate, commercialize and develop their ideas so they can grow in the marketplace. It also supports and fosters the entrepreneurial spirit among young visionaries in the community.

Lakeridge Health Education and Research Network (L.H.E.A.R.N.)

L.H.E.A.R.N. welcomes more than 1,600 students annually to pursue their studies in state-of-the-art facilities. Lakeridge Health has partnered with more than 80 post-secondary institutions to train the next generation of healthcare providers in innovative high-fidelity simulation labs. To date, nearly 600 research studies and clinical trials have taken place across nearly every clinical program at Lakeridge Health.

Automotive Centre of Excellence (A.C.E.) at Ontario Tech University

A.C.E. is a $100 million multi-purpose testing and product development centre that supports core and integrated research. Commercially available to customers, A.C.E.'s sophisticated climatic wind tunnel can simulate an earthquake and create made-to-order weather - from sweltering jungle downpours to hurricanes to paralyzing arctic blizzards.

Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre (E.R.C.)

Ontario Tech University's Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre is a 9,290-square-metre facility that houses the university's unique-in-Canada education programs and research in geothermal, hydraulic, hydrogen, natural gas, nuclear, solar and wind energy technologies.

Innovation through Entrepreneurship

Ontario Tech University, in conjunction with Durham College, Fleming College and Trent University, and together with Spark Centre and the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster (G.P.I.C.) have launched the FastStart program, a powerful new resource designed to help university and college students acquire entrepreneurial skills and convert innovative business ideas into successful companies.

Spark Centre's THRIVE is a start-up incubator located in Downtown Oshawa that offers a hybrid of incubation and acceleration services for entrepreneurs in the technology sector.