Media Releases

Halifax, NS - Dalhousie University congratulates the Nova Scotia government on today’s announcement of the new business immigration streams: the Entrepreneur Stream and the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.

“These programs are welcome news. They align with Dal’s commitments to support immigration and diversity and to nurture entrepreneurship, and will help our graduates create businesses and make Nova Scotia home. I would like to see at least 50 Dal students take advantage of these programs in the next five years,” says Dr. Richard Florizone, president, Dalhousie University.

Dalhousie is committed to providing students with opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills and to providing entrepreneurs with opportunities to collaborate, innovate, launch and grow companies.

We're building our program to promote creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship on campus and off with a growing network of partners and alumni.

Fast facts

Dalhousie is a proud member of Nova Scotia’s innovation ecosystem and is working hard to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the province through support for students and local start-ups.

In 2014/15, Dalhousie University had 2,984 International students from 116 countries around the world. That number has grown 21 per cent since 2012.  

With partners, including the Government of Nova Scotia and other universities, Dalhousie hosts three collaborative “sandbox” spaces for student entrepreneurs: the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Sandbox, the Cultiv8 Agricultural Sandbox and the IDEA (Innovative Design and Entrepreneurship Academy) Sandbox. These sandboxes encourage collaboration between different disciplines. They support experimentation and connect students with mentors, investors and business leaders in the local community.

Dalhousie’s Starting Lean and LaunchPad Accelerator programs help students test, develop and accelerate their business ideas.

The Starting Lean program, an initiative powered by the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship, is designed to build a vibrant entrepreneurial culture and mindset among students, faculty and the community at large.

The LaunchPad Accelerator gives 10 local projects eight weeks, face time with community mentors, and $10,000 in seed money to put toward refining their business ideas. The accelerator is designed to bridge the gap between the talent and innovation coming out of Dalhousie and the broader start-up community in Halifax and beyond.

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Media Contact:

Janet Bryson
Senior Communications Advisor
Dalhousie University
902-494-1269
Jbryson@dal.ca