OCE offers a wide range of programs and fellowships aimed at helping youth gain real-world work experience and entrepreneurial skills or build their own companies to make them investment and customer ready. 

Popular OCE Programs for Students & Recent Graduates

TalentEdge

TalentEdge provides students and recent graduates across all disciplines with real-world experience working with companies on collaborative R&D projects, allowing them to apply their skills and expertise to solve industry problems.

• TalentEdge Internship Program provides support for current college and university students (final year undergraduate, graduate and PhD), and recent graduates, with the exception of PhD graduates, to work on collaborative industry-driven projects.
• TalentEdge Fellowship Program provides support for Ontario-based PhD graduates and Postdoctoral Fellows (PDFs) to work on industry-driven research and development projects. 

SmartStart Seed Fund

SmartStart Seed Fund provides seed financing and financing for entrepreneurship skills training to Ontario-based start-ups led by young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 29, helping them grow their companies and make them investment and customer ready.   Learn More >

Entrepreneurship Fellowships

Entrepreneurship Fellowships support the development of an Ontario student or graduating student (within the last three years) to create an innovative start-up with an economic impact in Ontario. 

• David McFadden Energy Entrepreneur Challenge awards $25,000 and a suite of business services to one university or college student to assist in advancing the business concept that addresses the energy challenge issued that year.
• Martin Walmsley Fellowship for Entrepreneurship supports the commercialization of Ontario-based academic IP by awarding $50,000 a year for two years to a master's, PhD or post-doctoral fellow, graduate student or recent graduate within the last three years to turn their innovation based on science, technology or advanced engineering design into a viable business.

Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch

The Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch competition for high school students awards six winners with a reserved spot in Ontario’s Summer Company program, where they receive business training and support to turn their business idea into a reality.   Learn More >

GlobalStart Voucher

The GlobalStart Voucher Pilot Program is a nomination-based voucher program. It supports youth-led start-ups engaged with CLAs/OCEAs and RICs across Ontario that are targeting a market outside of Canada.     Learn More >