Ontario's brightest minds are joining Ontario's most innovative companies. Want to improve your capacity for innovation? If the answer is yes, we can help you.

Ontario Centres of Excellence's (OCE's) First Job program connects talented graduates with growing companies across Ontario that need research and development (R&D) to stay globally competitive. Graduates begin promising careers and employers benefit from enthusiastic researchers. It's a win-win for Ontario.

What is First Job?

Ontario's innovators are an invaluable resource, essential to the stability and prosperity of the provincial economy. However, the transition from academic study to industry is not always smooth, especially in difficult economic times.

By providing support for the first year's salary, OCE's First Job program helps Ontario companies hire knowledgeable, highly skilled graduates from Ontario publicly-funded academic institutions. Employment opportunities are in R&D with the goal of developing new products, services and processes, giving host companies the chance to expand their capabilities.

Across Ontario, leaders of the innovation economy are hiring science, technology, and entrepreneurship graduates through the First Job program, making Ontario a more attractive place to start a career.

To download or print a PDF backgrounder on First Job, click here.

Eligibility and Application Process

While all companies are eligible, primary consideration will be given to innovative, technology-based small/medium-sized companies, including start-ups. It is expected that the First Job intern will become a permanent employee of the company. The First Job Program does not support contract employees.

Application Process

The OCE First Job Program is fully allocated for this fiscal year (to end of March 2012). Revised guidelines for this program will be posted on our webpage in January.

All applications are to be completed by the company using the following steps:

Step 1 - Complete an online OCE First Job Enquiry Form to determine eligibility for the program. The company will receive a response on its eligibility within 7 - 14 days of receipt of the Enquiry form.

Step 2 - If eligible, the company will be sent a link and passcode to their online application form and supporting documents.

Step 3 - Prepare and submit a draft application for OCE feedback prior to the final submission. All applicants must work on their submission in cooperation with an OCE Business Development Manager. To contact a Manager in your region please click here.

Step 4 - Incorporate any feedback, sign the documents where indicated and submit all documents prior to the application deadline.

Final submission must include the following documents:

• A completed application form, signed by both the company and the job placement candidate.
• An up-to-date CV for the candidate.
• A company support letter confirming the role that the candidate will have in the company, the company's intention to sustain the employment of the candidate beyond the first year, and the candidate's expected contribution to the development of the technology and plan for growth of the company.
• A completed Company Expectation Survey from the company.

Assessment and Approval Process

All applications are subject to review by a panel of external industry members. Successful placements will be announced 6 – 8 weeks after submission of complete application.

IMPORTANT: This program is over-subscribed and the selection process is competitive. Not all eligible applications will receive funding.

Awards

All awards are conditional on a successful OCE interview with the company and candidate.

• Successful applicants will be required to complete an award contract, a mid-term progress report and a final report.
• Awards are issued in six month instalments - the first six months upon receipt of the signed contract from the company and interview of the candidate by OCE; the second six months after receipt of a satisfactory mid-term report. A final report will be required at the end of the internship.
• Company benefits are not considered to be part of the company contribution to the salary.
• Upon award, the candidate is required to complete an Innovation Leadership Attainment survey at the beginning and end of the internship and again after 2 years in industry..

Timelines

Applications are reviewed monthly. The 2011 application deadlines are as follows:

• November 25th
• December 23rd

The 2012 application deadlines are as follows:

• January 27
• February 24
• March 30
• April 27
• May 25
• June 29
• July 27
• August 31
• September 28
• October 26
• November 30
• December 21

All submissions will be processed and approved as expeditiously as possible with an expected 6 – 8 week turnaround from submission to notice of award or rejection.

OCE reserves the right to withhold from external review, any applications which are incomplete or do not satisfactorily meet the First Job criteria.

Performance Measures

OCE's First Job Program focuses on economic benefit to Ontario and with its success measured on six key metrics. These are:

• Economic Impact
• Market Success
• Development of Innovation Leaders
• Investment in R&D and Commercialization
• Environmental and Social Impact
• Client Satisfaction

For inquiries please contact:

Roxy Hamilton
Program Development Manager, Funders and Programs
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Tel: 1 (613) 726 3420 x4223 or 1 (866) 759-6014 x4223
roxy.hamilton@oce-ontario.org

Charmaine J. Llewellyn
Project Coordinator, Program Delivery
Tel: (416) 861 1092 x2421
charmaine.llewellyn@oce-ontario.org

Industry Partners

Each year, Ontario Companies benefit from OCE's First Job program. Listed below are some of our industry partners that have participated in First Job over the past three years.

AEMK Systems Inc., (Toronto)	Attodyne Inc., (Toronto)	Biomedical Photometrics, (Waterloo)	BKIN Technologies Ltd., (Kingston)
CES Online Innovations, (Kitchener)	Citadel Rock Online Communities Inc., (Ottawa)	Datec Coating Corporation, (Toronto)	Durham Strategic Energy Alliance, (Whitby)
EION Wireless, (Ottawa)	Larus Technologies, (Ottawa)	Monteco Ltd., (Mississauga)	MotionPro Inc., (Waterloo)
Netsweeper, (Guelph)	Opalux Inc., (Toronto)	Optiwave Systems Inc., (Ottawa)	OZ Optics Limited, (Ottawa)
Primal Fusion, (Waterloo)	SeeWind Design Corp., (Nepean)	SEH Computer Systems Inc., (Tavistock)	Shape Products, (Pickering)
Simulent Inc., (Toronto)	Sprung-brett RDI, (Waterloo)	StormFisher Biogas, (Toronto)	Tenova Goodfellow Inc., (Mississauga)
Unique Broadband Systems Ltd., (Vaughan)	Vennsa Technologies (Toronto)	Visual Cortek Inc., (Ottawa)	Vive Nano, Vocalage Inc., (Toronto)
WDI Wise Device Inc., (Markham)