In a recent interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business, and Claudia Krywiak, President & CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation, shared their insights on supporting small businesses and driving innovation across Ontario. Drawing from her extensive entrepreneurial background, Nina discussed how her hands-on experience as a former business owner influences her approach to policy-making, ensuring that decisions are made with the needs of entrepreneurs in mind. Claudia highlighted the significant milestones achieved by OCI, emphasizing their commitment to advancing cutting-edge technologies and fostering collaborations that position Ontario as a leader in innovation. Both leaders underscored the importance of resilience, passion, and tapping into available resources for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make a meaningful impact in their fields.
The Honourable Nina Tangri was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2018 as the Member of Provincial Parliament representing the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville. Nina Tangri is also Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business.
In June 2019, Nina was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade. In 2021, she served as the Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and in March 2023, she was the Associate Minister of Housing.
She has also chaired the Standing Committee on Social Policy and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, the Standing Committee on Government Agencies, and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. Professionally, Nina is an entrepreneur and small business owner with over 35 years of experience in insurance and finance.
Nina Tangri is passionate about bringing communities together and working with individuals, businesses, and organizations to learn how the government can make Ontario the best place to live, work, invest, and raise a family. Nina believes when communities prosper, Ontario prospers.
Claudia Krywiak – President & CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation
Dr. Claudia Krywiak is President and CEO at Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), a not-for-profit organization that works with industry, government, and academia to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of new technologies.
Since joining OCI in 2011, Dr. Krywiak has championed innovation as a key driver of competitiveness, productivity, and economic growth. She has led the development and deployment of large-scale strategic initiatives that brought together multiple levels of government, post-secondary institutions, anchor firms, and start-ups to fuel growth in emerging technology areas, including artificial intelligence, autonomous and electric vehicles, 5G and next generation networks, cybersecurity, and clean technologies.
Prior to joining OCI, Dr. Krywiak held the position of Vice President, Business Development at Mitacs, a national research organization that funds research and training programs.
Nina, as Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business and with your extensive background as an entrepreneur, how has your experience influenced your approach to policy-making and advocacy for small businesses?
As a former business owner, I know firsthand the challenges that come with starting and scaling a business. I was CEO of my own insurance brokerage for over 35 years, and I am grateful to have had that journey. Now, as Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business, I can bring my lived experience to the cabinet table. As decisions are being made, I am always thinking about the entrepreneurs those decisions are going to affect. I believe it is our job as a government to ensure Ontario remains the best place to live, raise a family, and start a business.
Claudia, as the President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of innovation, you have been instrumental in promoting innovation across various sectors. Could you share some of the key milestones and achievements OCI has reached under your leadership?
Over the past year, we’ve made some incredible strides at OCI. Together with the Ontario government and our industry partners, we invested $124 million into various projects focused on technology development, commercialization, and adoption. This effort supported over 500 SMEs across Ontario, creating and retaining over 6,200 jobs, generating $361 million in new sales revenue, and attracting $717 million in private sector follow-on investment. A couple of initiatives really stand out for me. First, the Digitalization Competence Centre, which is all about helping Ontario SMEs embrace digital transformation. We offer education, coaching, and support to help businesses develop and implement their own Digital Modernization Plans. Plus, through the Technology Demonstration Program, we’re helping companies adopt new equipment and processes to stay competitive. Another key initiative is the Critical Industrial Technologies program. This program is driving innovation in sectors like mining, advanced manufacturing, construction, and agri-food. We’re focused on helping SMEs understand the value of critical technologies, speeding up the development of Made-in-Ontario solutions, and making sure these innovations are integrated across industries. These milestones are just a glimpse of how we’re working to keep Ontario at the forefront of innovation.
Claudia, OCI has been involved in advancing technologies like AI, autonomous vehicles, and clean technologies. What do you see as the most promising innovation trends in Ontario, and how is OCI supporting their development and commercialization?
Generative AI is one of the most exciting innovation trends of our lifetime. It’s driving an incredible pace of technological advancement and is quickly being integrated by Ontario’s innovators into a wide range of applications from enterprise software and chatbots to creating ad campaigns, deploying autonomous vehicles, and even accelerating drug discovery. The possibilities are truly endless. Another area that’s really promising is the future of automotive and mobility. We’re seeing a rapid shift towards connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles, which is set to transform how we think about transportation and Ontario is leading the charge!
Biotech and Medtech are also areas where we’re seeing groundbreaking Made-in-Ontario innovations. From personalized medicine to advanced diagnostics and cutting-edge medical devices, these technologies are revolutionizing healthcare and improving lives. The investments that we’re making through Ontario’s Life Sciences Innovation Fund are paving the way for significant advancements in how we treat and prevent diseases. At OCI, we’re deeply committed to supporting these trends. We’re not just watching these innovations unfold—we’re actively helping to drive them. Whether it’s through funding, connecting startups with industry leaders, or providing resources to bring these technologies to market, we’re here to ensure that Ontario remains at the forefront of innovation.
Nina, during your tenure, what has been one of the most impactful pieces of legislation or policy changes you have been involved in that has significantly benefited small businesses in Ontario?
I have been fortunate enough to have been involved in several key policy changes over my tenure. I am very proud of our government’s recent investments made in our 2024 budget. We’ve made a total investment of over $13 million over the next two years in our Starter Company Plus program. Additionally, we’ve invested over $4.5 million over two years in our Summer Company program. These actions are going to deliver more resources and opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners across Ontario.
Claudia, collaboration is often crucial in innovation. Can you provide examples of successful partnerships between OCI and other organizations or industries that have led to significant technological advancements?
Collaboration is key to driving innovation, and one of the best examples I can share is the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). This is a partnership between OCI, the Ontario government, and industry, and it’s really the cornerstone of our efforts in the automotive and mobility sector. By bringing together Ontario’s strengths in automotive, manufacturing, technology, and mining, OVIN creates a powerful ecosystem. Start-ups, SMEs, and global leaders can access a wealth of resources, expertise, and opportunities.
Through collaborations with all levels of government, post-secondary institutions, and industry partners, OVIN is making big strides in the automotive and mobility sectors. It’s all about building a future with safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation, and these partnerships are at the heart of those advancements.
Nina, Ontario has a diverse and vibrant business community. What steps are being taken to ensure that businesses from all sectors and regions of the province have access to the resources and support they need to thrive?
As a government, we are creating the conditions for our aspiring business leaders and small business owners to thrive. By lowering taxes, reducing electricity costs, and cutting red tape, we’ve delivered an estimated $8 billion in cost savings and support for Ontario employers this year alone, with $3.7 billion directly impacting small businesses. This helps businesses generate more funds that can be allocated to hiring more staff, research and development, cutting-edge technologies, tools, and innovations. We have also provided funding to networks through our 17 Regional Innovation Centres, and 47 Small Business Enterprise Centres. These networks offer seminars, workshops, and training in addition to support on intellectual property (IP) and funding to help businesses increase their global footprint and diversify their revenue streams. In November 2022, we launched a new virtual Digitalization Competence Centre (DCC) in partnership with the Ontario Centre of Innovation through a $10 million investment. The DCC provides small businesses with training and support for emerging equipment and processes.
Looking forward, what are your top priorities as Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business, and what new initiatives or programs can we expect to see to support small business development in the province further?
Under the leadership of Ontario’s Premier, Doug Ford, our top priority will continue to be creating an environment for businesses to thrive. This means not just starting and operating but scaling up too. In the near future, we hope to announce a small business success strategy which will aim to be a roadmap to success for the future.
To wrap up Claudia, what advice would both of you give to aspiring small business entrepreneurs looking to make a significant impact in their fields?
My advice would be to really tap into Ontario’s innovation ecosystem. Work with organizations like OCI to access business support programs and connect with potential collaborators, investors, and customers. Our business development team is dedicated to helping companies innovate, grow, and succeed, so don’t hesitate to reach out and leverage the resources available to you at https://www.oc-innovation.ca/.
To wrap up Nina, what advice would both of you give to aspiring small business entrepreneurs looking to make a significant impact in their fields?
My advice would be to follow your passion and intuition. It is important to love what you do, and if you have done that, you are already half of the way there. It’s also important to steady your course. Entrepreneurship will have many challenges, but it’s important to be resilient. Your entrepreneurial spirit is Ontario’s spirit, and your businesses will contribute greatly to our economy and province as a whole. I’d also suggest small business owners seek out resources through their local Small Business Enterprise Centers and Ontario.ca/business. You’re not alone on your journey to establishing a successful business.
