MIT REAP
Focus - Nova Scotia

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE: https://onsidenow.ca/mit-reap-focus-ns-news-release

With partners such as the One Nova Scotia, ONSIDE has mobilized teams representing five Nova Scotia regions to participate in MIT REAP Focus Nova Scotia- a tailored version of the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP). This global initiative engages with communities across the globe to boost innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems to help transform economies.

Nova Scotia has a high innovation capacity by global standards and through this program, individuals and organizations from these regions are working together to harness this capacity to drive social and economic prosperity in our communities; and draw strategies for economic recovery. MIT REAP Focus, will help these regions grow their economies through evidence-based and practical approaches to innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Building off of previous work done by Team Nova Scotia who participated in Cohort 4 of MIT REAP Global, the Focus program works at a regional level to translate “MIT frameworks, research and insights into practical, actionable, and strategic interventions; convening and educating teams of key stakeholders; and empowering regional leaders to drive meaningful, long-term economic and social impact. MIT REAP’s frameworks rest on a multistakeholder model––participating teams include members from five key groups of actors in innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems: government, university, corporate, risk capital, and entrepreneurs.”

The regions committed to this year-long initiative include are; Strait Area /Cape Breton, Pictou, Valley, Western, and South Shore. Leveraging MIT’s approaches such as collective impact, each team is made up of ten core members who comprise the five major stakeholder groups of MIT REAP’s Innovation Ecosystem multi-stakeholder model. Members include entrepreneurs, corporates, risk capital, governments and post-secondary institutions. The core teams are supported by individuals and organizations within their communities to drive meaningful, long-term economic and social progress.

Learn about the MIT REAP Teams

1 https://mitsloan.mit.edu/press/mit-reap-launches-new-regional-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-acceleration-program-nova-scotia-following-successful-uk-pilot