New Ottawa-based wireless group established to promote business development
 
Ottawa, 12 September 2002
A new business network is being set up to help develop Ottawa’s growing wireless sector.

The Ottawa Wireless Cluster (OWC) is launching the first of a series of business seminars today with support from the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) and other industry associations. The OWC originated in September 2001, through the work of University of Ottawa Executive MBA participants, Angelo Santos and Kamal Krishnapillai. The OWC committee, with support from OCRI, has since grown to include Marwan Forzley, Eliot Burdett, Brian Davidson, Jennifer Meacher and Shawn Griffin.

Keynote speaker Dr. Michael Cowpland, President and CEO of ZIM Technologies International — the SMS-focused wireless company whose customers include Nokia, Bell and CBC Sports — will talk about the current trends in wireless and provide insight into the industry’s future. His presentation is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the offices of bitHeads Inc., 1309 Carling Avenue, Ottawa.

“Ottawa already has some well-developed clusters in the information technology sector, including software engineering and photonics. Both of which have a world-wide reputation for excellence,” said Cowpland. “Ottawa-based wireless businesses are a rapidly growing sector, so it’s a powerful move to come together to share information and ideas to accelerate this growth even more.”
Kamal Krishnapillai, director of sales and marketing with Interactive Circuits and Systems Limited, (a wireless hardware vendor) is one of the driving forces behind the new group. According to Krishnapillai, Ottawa’s wireless community has considerable expertise in chip and systems development. What’s needed now, he said, is to identify new areas of application.

“We’ve developed a three-year plan to use the OWC to strengthen relationships between Ottawa’s wireless community and other key technology players,” said Krishnapillai. “The monthly seminars that we’re launching today with Dr. Cowpland are intended to promote the development of a wireless cluster; to help businesses in this sector find new opportunities to work together and form partnerships with other industries to develop new applications. We have a strong foundation on which to build. Our challenge is in promoting synergies and nurturing a mind set where wireless companies work together as an industry.”
OCRI vice-president of marketing Jim Orban said the formation of the new wireless group is a necessary first step in providing the industry with a solid foothold in the global marketplace.

“OCRI’s research has shown that cluster development is a fundamental first step in strengthening our industries’ position in the global market,” said Orban. “OCRI is committed to helping Ottawa-based businesses succeed both locally and internationally. Supporting the growth of Ottawa’s budding wireless cluster is very much in line with our on-going business development strategy. By focusing on networking and synergy, the businesses that are coming together in this new seed cluster will be able to build on their common strengths, ensure employment growth and find new commercial applications for their innovations.”

OWC seminars are offered the second Thursday of each month. Seminars are the first step in the OWC’s work and it plans to expand to include other activities to support the development of the cluster. Information about the seminars is available at www.ottawawirelesscluster.com.

About the Ottawa Wireless Cluster
OWC is a network of independent Ottawa-based businesses participating in the wireless ecosystem. The businesses include wireless applications, services, enabling software and service management and provisioning, research institutes and universities among many others. For more information on the cluster and our activities visit http://www.ottawawirelesscluster.com.

About OCRI
The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) is Ottawa's economic development corporation. OCRI is the rallying point to bring business, education and research together to create the winning economic conditions that allow Ottawa's technology companies to thrive locally and compete globally. At OCRI we promote sustainable economic development to maintain our high quality of life. For more information on OCRI visit our web site at www.ocri.ca and for more information on the Ottawa Region please visit www.ottawaregion.com