Manulife Partners with Canadian Innovation Organization, Plans Hackathon

In a new partnership, Manulife will become a part of the MaRS' FinTech Cluster, a Canadian innovation organization.

As part of the new pairing, MaRS will become Manulife's Toronto location for its Lab of Forward Thinking (LOFT). LOFT spaces provide a platform for employees to collaborate and construct new technological solutions for Manulife's various wealth and asset management, and insurance business lines.

Manulife has been prioritizing innovation all year. The company announced a hackathon at the MaRS Discovery District, patterned on the event it ran when it opened a LOFT site in Boston in July. There are further plans to expand its innovation network to Singapore. Earlier this month, the company named Tim Ramza Chief Innovation Officer, a newly created role.

"We're looking to our employees to solve problems and take risks using their own unique entrepreneurial talents," said Sebastian Blandizzi, Senior Vice President, Global Solutions Delivery and Chief Information Officer, Investment Division, Manulife.  "Initiatives like LOFT are critical to our future success as we strive to create innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers."

Added Salim Teja, Executive Vice President, Venture Services, MaRS, "The internal infrastructure that companies like Manulife are building, with projects like LOFT, is central to the future of business and technology innovation. LOFT's arrival at MaRS and our partnership with Manulife will significantly expand the resources and networks available to our entrepreneurial community."