CONII began in 2006 as an applied research and development network - based at 10 of Ontario's leading postsecondary institutions - aimed at helping small and medium enterprises solve their technical problems, adapting new technologies for the marketplace, and developing new or improved products and processes. Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation provided $3.5M over 3 years to give Ontario-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increased access to the expertise of Ontario's top researchers, and to the sophisticated equipment and research tools that existed within the member colleges.

In 2009, Ontario announced a further 3-year, $10.2 million dollar contribution to CONII. This enabled the expansion of the network from 10 to 20 colleges, and has created a province-wide network dedicated to connecting Ontario business to the applied research and commercialization expertise of across the Ontario college system. All 20 CONII-member colleges have an Industry Innovation Centre on their campus, which serves as the point of contact for the business community to the college applied research system. IIC staff assist by connecting business and community organizations with college expertise in order to foster economic development and innovation.

As a part of the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE), CONII colleges can help Ontario businesses speed up their R&D process and move their products to market more quickly, which enhances the province's competitiveness in the global marketplace. Through CONII, Ontario companies are able to access up to $30,000 in funding to support technical activities such as product, process and prototype development, proof of principle projects and testing, and business and commercialization services including business planning, market research, and marketing and communication strategies, in partnership with a CONII-member college. CONII is all about putting knowledge to work for your company. We understand the need of business to access innovative thinking, expertise and technology, and CONII colleges can provide this support.