The Stiller Centre Receives Incubator of the Year Award from CABI

LONDON, ON, Oct 6 /CNW/ - The Stiller Centre for Technology Commercialization has been named Incubator of the Year (Technology Category) at the Canadian Association of Business Incubation (CABI) Awards Luncheon in Toronto, ON.

The Stiller Centre was designed to provide a start-up friendly environment for the launch and early development of technology and life sciences-based companied. It is a collaborative effort of community and regional partners including the Province of Ontario, City of London, The University of Western Ontario and its Research Park, and Lawson Health Research Institute.

"We are delighted to have won this prestigious award," says Lee Smithson, Managing Director of The Stiller Centre. "The credit really lies with our strong team of personnel, who administer the unique programs that assist technology and life sciences start-up companies to bring their innovations to market. We are very proud of our economic development role we play with our partners in London".

This award validates the emerging successes also of the Stiller Centre since its inception.  The centre now houses 13 research and technology-based companies. It has provided an operating home for 70-120 knowledge economy jobs and helped tenant ventures secure more than $55 million in equity investment.

"This recognition by the Canadian Association of Business Incubation is encouraging news for London, as we embrace innovative new ways to build our local and regional economy," says Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best. "CABI's national award to Stiller provides objective confirmation we're on the right track to ensure our city's future prosperity."

CABI helps advance the business incubation industry and improve the success of small business incubators and their clients. Part of its mandate is to foster the interchange of ideas and educational experience, enhance management activities and career growth of incubator managers and others employed in the field, improve the business climate for the incubator industry and client firms and remove barriers to incubator and business growth. 

This award confirms the City of London and the Province of Ontario's strategic vision of constructing a state-of-the art facility that will benefit the community and region for decades to come.

"The Stiller Centre plays a tremendous role in fostering knowledge and technology mobilization efforts that give rise to solutions for global issues, while creating jobs, new businesses and investments in the City of London," says Ted Hewitt, Western's Vice-President (Research & International Relations). "This award recognizes a job well done, but also provides its member organizations with further motivation to ensure continued success."

"This award substantiates the vision of our management committee and the support of our stakeholders, the City of London and Western's Research Park. We are truly honoured to receive this commendation," adds Smithson.

For further information:

Lee Smithson
Managing Director
Phone: [phone]
www.stillercentre.com