Item - 2015.ED6.13

The Economic Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture (EDC) and the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships (TOP), in consultation with the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management to launch the Green Market Acceleration Program (GMAP) for a period of two years as described in the report (August 20, 2015) from the General Manager, Economic Devlopment and Culture and the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships with the implementation requirements as set out in the Protocol for the GMAP (attached to the report as Appendix A).

2.  City Council authorize the heads of applicable City divisions to execute agreements on behalf of the City providing for the implementation of applied research partnerships, proof of concept projects and technology demonstrations using City assets or infrastructure under the GMAP in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3.  City Council direct all City divisions to work with local businesses, through the GMAP, to assist with their applied research, proof of concept projects and technology demonstrations, supporting the development of "made in Toronto" market-based innovative solutions to real world issues and growing Toronto's economy.

4.  City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships, to report back on the outcomes of the GMAP pilot program after two years and, if warranted, provide recommendations on the establishment of a permanent program.

5.  City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Director of the Toronto Office of Partnerships and working in partnership with other City divisions, to report back in early 2016 on a proposed innovation procurement policy that would enable the City to be a first-purchaser of innovative products, services and technologies from Toronto's businesses.

Companies in Toronto's green economy are rapidly growing, generating jobs and creating solutions to urban and environmental challenges.  To further support economic growth by our local innovators, Toronto companies are in need of sites for testing, proving concepts and demonstrating their new technologies.

This report seeks Council approval of the Green Market Acceleration Program (GMAP) to run in a two-year pilot phase to allow local businesses in the green economy to apply to the City to use City infrastructure and assets for certain applied research, proof of concept and demonstration pilots.  This will accelerate the development of innovative green products for introduction into the market and improve the global competiveness of Toronto businesses.

As part of the GMAP, this report seeks standing authority from Council for division heads to enter into non-procurement agreements with local businesses as currently no such authority exists.

Providing controlled access to municipally owned infrastructure and assets will assist local businesses as a stepping stone to the commercialization of new products and technologies.  It is anticipated that this will lead to increasing the number of green jobs in Toronto while streamlining the request process for non-commercial partnerships that support the development of innovative green technologies or solutions for local businesses resulting in more timely responses to such requests.  In addition the GMAP will reduce the workload of divisional staff that currently deal with these types of requests on an ad-hoc basis and will ensure that procurement policies are adhered to.