Ontario expands Digital Competence Centre

Additional funding to help more SMEs adopt digitally.

The government of Canadian province Ontario is investing an additional $3.6m (CA$5m) in the Digital Competence Centre (DCC) to continue helping small businesses grow through improved productivity and modernised operations.

"By expanding the Digital Competence Centre, we are giving Ontario entrepreneurs the tools, resources, and expertise they need to compete and succeed in today's increasingly competitive marketplace," said Associate Minister of Small Business Nina Tangri, who cited the provincial government's "targeted" investments for SMEs.

Introduced in 2022, the DCC has since provided over 800 grants to small and medium-sized enterprises in the province. To date, the Ontario government has invested CA$20m in the initiative, which is delivered in partnership with the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI).    

With the additional CA$5m funding, the goal is to help nearly 450 organisations via the DCC's Digital Modernisation and Adoption Plan, Technology Demonstration Programme, and Retail Modernisation Project Grant.

"Through investments in modernisation, automation, AI (artificial intelligence) adoption, and digital transformation, Ontario companies are improving productivity, increasing revenues, creating jobs, and strengthening their long-term competitiveness," commented OCI President and CEO Claudia Krywiak.

OCI's Raed Kadri added: "Ontario's economy is built on small businesses, making it critical to support entrepreneurs in adopting advanced digital technologies that will empower them to keep pace with industry demands."

Businesses assisted by the DCC are forecast to generate up to CA$600m in increased sales revenue, supporting approximately 3,000 jobs in the province.