Archived News

1999

WestLink Innovation Network Ltd. is founded on March 1, 1999 in Edmonton, AB
- Founding President: Jim Murray
- Founding Vice President and Chief Operating Officer: Derek Gratz
- Founding Member Institutions: University of Northern British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Regina and the University of Manitoba.
- Founding Member Representatives and Board Members: Max Blouw, Jim Murray, Janet Campbell and Ray Hoemsen

WestLink moves from Derek Gratz’s home office to the University of Alberta Research Transition Facility on 112 St
Member strategic planning session held in Victoria, BC. Provides full confirmation of WestLink’s direction and mandate
Leverage of funding from Western Economic Diversification with support from four western provinces, NSERC, CIHR, SSHR and the Alberta Heritage Foundation to build networking, commercialization and training programs in collaboration with industry
WestLink membership grows to 15 institutions

WestLink launches the Technology Commercialization Internship Program
WestLink membership broadens, welcoming colleges, technical institutions and other publicly funded research and education organizations
WestLink “Going Corporate” sessions launched in collaboration with University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, TECH BC and the University of Victoria
WestLink is featured in Simon Fraser University’s Research Partners’ publication, Fiercely Independent, Yet Happily Cooperative
Simon Fraser University releases their Spin-Off Company Report 2000 compiled by WestLink
A WestLink story, titled WestLink Launches Pilot Internship Program for Tech Transfer and Commercialization Skills, is published in Research Money publication
WestLink is featured in Access West, Western Economic Diversification's newsletter, in an article titled Linking Innovation in the West
WestLink's 2001 first Annual Conference takes place in Kelowna, BC
WestLink membership grows to 18 institutions

WestLink releases Aggregate Report of Spin-Off Companies Fiscal Year 2000: University of Alberta, University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University
WestLink's 2002 Annual Conference takes place in Canmore, AB
Western Economic Diversification announces $1.2M funding for WestLink and the press event is held at Innovation Place in Saskatoon, SK
TechMed 2002 events held in Ontario

The first Internship Program graduation takes place on April 23 in Winnipeg, MB. 18 individuals completed the 2001-2003 Internship Program
WestLink’s 2003 Annual Conference, titled Making the Connection, takes place from August 24-26 in Saskatoon, SK
Peer program to the Internship Program launched in Atlantic Canada. WestLink welcomes NT Atlantic interns to The Leadership Series: Technology Commercialization Boot Camp held in Winnipeg, MB. The event marked the start of the Internship Program’s second round of interns.
WestLink launches collaboration with UBC UILO/UBC Research to beta test Flintbox and increase development across WestLink member organizations
WestLink membership grows to 24 institutions

WestLink’s 2004 Annual Conference, titled From Prosperity to Partnerships, takes place from August 29-31 in Victoria, BC
2004 TechMed Conference is held in Vancouver, BC from April 26-28
WestLink’s Technology Bundling Approach is featured in the AUTM Canadian National Session in San Diego, CA
WestLink is featured in “Building the Profession: Growing Technology Managers” at AUTM’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Session chaired by Derek Gratz, President and CEO of WestLink
UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) engaged WestLink as part of their Global Best Practices in Commercialization Review. British High Commission supported preliminary collaboration between WestLink, Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) and UK Knowledge Transfer Program (KTP) entrepreneurs
WestLink membership grows to 25 institutions

WestLink is mentioned in the Conference Board of Canada Financial Post as one of the Six 'Quick Hits' to Cash in on Creativity
Derek Gratz is asked to join The Conference Board of Canada - Leader's Roundtable on Commercialization to promote networking and commercialization training
ACCT Canada – national network of networks (a community developed from the WestLink model) is founded, linking WestLink and its three peers in Ontario (OnSETT), Quebec (Les BLEUs) and Atlantic Canada (Springboard Atlantic)
The second Internship Program graduation is held on April 22, 2005 in Calgary, AB
The Leadership Series: Technology Commercialization Boot Camp is held in Calgary, AB, marking the third round of interns accepted into the Internship Program
WestLink’s 2005 Annual Conference, titled Parks and Pathways: Conquering Tough Commercialization Terrain, is held at The Banff Centre from August 28-30
WestLink collaborates with Corewest to host the 2005 Innovation and New Ventures Conference
2005 TechMed Conference is held in Winnipeg, MB from March 21-22
WestLink presentation in Singapore-Asia Pacific, in September 2005
WestLink, OCE/UK and KTP showcase, Calgary, October 3 and Toronto, October 5
WestLink membership grows to 26 institutions

WestLink processes and programs highlighted by the Conference Board of Canada’s “Picking a Path to Prosperity” commercialization white paper
WestLink is featured in Business Edge Magazine with a cover story in the Manitoba/Saskatchewan edition and a full page story in the Alberta edition outlining the success and recognition of WestLink’s programs and services
WestLink’s 2006 Annual Conference titled Tapping into the Entrepreneurial Mind, is held in Kelowna, BC from August 27-29
TechMed 2006 events - Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Vancouver
“Going Corporate” session grows across other provinces and is held in Saskatoon, SK
The Leadership Series: Technology Commercialization Boot Camp is held in Kelowna, BC from August 22-28 marking the fourth round of interns accepted into the Internship Program
In March 2006, UK DTI, WestLink and OCE collaborate on the “Doing Business Internationally” commercialization workshop in Vancouver, BC. UK international delegates, OCE representatives and all WestLink interns attend the collaboration session
First WestLink Internship Program international placement. Niel Pearce placed with UniSDirect University, Surrey, UK
WestLink membership grows to 30 institutions

TechMed 2007 wrapped up in Vancouver on May 16th after successful events in Edmonton on March 6 and Winnipeg on March 29
WestLink’s 2007 Annual Conference, titled Commercialization in Three-Part Harmony: Money, Research & Industry, is held in Winnipeg, MB from June 24-26
May 2007 Oxford UK: Canada-UK Commercialization Training Summit. Participants included UK DTI, WestLink, OCE, 10 WestLink interns and UK KTP entrepreneurs
Second WestLink Internship Program international exchange. Laura Montez is placed with Cambridge Enterprise in the UK

The Leadership Series: Technology Commercialization Boot Camp is held in Calgary, AB from January 2-6 marking the fifth round of interns accepted into the Internship Program
WestLink’s 2008 Annual Conference, titled Leaders of Today, Visions of Tomorrow, is held in Calgary, AB from June 16-18
WestLink holds the WestLink Connector in Vancouver, BC in partnership with Emily Carr University on November 6
2008 Health Technology Forum –Vancouver, Seattle, Portland (US, Canada, Japan collaboration)
WestLink membership grows to 33 member institutions