While a possible university campus in Canada’s ninth-largest city remains in limbo without provincial funding, the City of Brampton and Ryerson University have agreed to partner up to create a "Ryerson Innovation Zone" in the city’s downtown.

“The Ryerson-led Brampton Innovation Zone is modelled after and connected to Ryerson University’s world-recognized zone network. These spaces are designed to bring people together to brainstorm, kick start projects, and help take startups from early-stage incubated companies to established thriving businesses,” said the city in a release on Jan. 7.

According to the post-secondary institution’s website, Ryerson’s “zone network” is currently made up of 10 zones each focusing on a different industry.

“Each zone offers one-on-one mentorship from experts as well as access to state-of-the-art workspaces and technologies. With zones you can develop your own ideas or put your skills to work by collaborating with a team,” reads the site.

Brampton’s new zone, which will open in early 2020, will focus the city’s innovation district, which already includes the Rogers Cybersecurity Catalyst, an entrepreneur centre with a co-working space, a site for a planned centre for innovation, as well as a scale-up incubator.

“This Innovation Zone takes us one step closer to a fully developed Innovation Ecosystem, which supports entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. We are committed to working on all possible options and partnerships to address the needs of Brampton students, entrepreneurs and the future workforce,” said Mayor Patrick Brown in the city release.

“Ryerson Innovation Zone in Brampton will help foster ideas and connect entrepreneurs with various organizations in the region, while equipping them with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to succeed and thrive in the modern economy,” added Ryerson resident and vice chancellor, Mohamed Lachemi.

Provincial funding for a Ryerson campus in partnership with Sheridan College — previously approved by the provincial government under former premier Kathleen Wynne — was pulled by the Doug Ford PC government last October.

Brampton is already home to Sheridan College’s Davis Campus and an Algoma University satellite campus located in the downtown core.

There is still no provincial funding allocated for a full university campus of any kind, but Brampton South PC MPP Prabmeet Sarkaria has said in the past he was still pushing for one.