ontario Government Funds New University Of Waterloo Campus In Stratford

    TORONTO -- Ontario is investing $10 million to help the University of Waterloo create a new Stratford campus focused on global business and digital media.

This campus will generate the next generation of digital media researchers, entrepreneurs, products and services by bringing together Stratford's renowned strengths in arts and culture, and the University of Waterloo's strengths in technology.

Areas of digital media research and development at the new campus will include mobile, wireless, sound, video, gaming, web design and animation.

"Ontario's entertainment and creative cluster is a cornerstone of Ontario's new innovative economy," said Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson . "This investment is about building on our strengths, forging synergies and supporting strategic partnerships to ensure that when the next Google is developed, jobs will be created in Ontario."

"Few regions and countries have generated the creative and collaborative synergies necessary to capitalize on the unprecedented opportunities allowed by the Internet and the rapid development of digital technologies. Through the strategic leadership of the Ontario government, the City of Stratford and Open Text Corporation, the dream of the UW-Stratford Campus is today closer to reality," said University of Waterloo President David Johnston.

The new Stratford campus will be housed in a new, 6,500 square metre facility and the university anticipates that an initial class of 125 students may commence as early as 2009. The campus will eventually grow to 500 students, 25 faculty and15 support staff.

Ontario's entertainment and creative cluster is the third largest in North America by employment after California and New York.

The Ontario government is supporting the digital media sector through the Next Generation of Jobs Fund, and the 2008 Budget, which proposes to enhance the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit and provide $7 million over four years for the Interactive Digital Media Fund.