Funding Opportunities: Commercialization

Welcome to the LDFP Commercialization Opportunity Index. The University of Toronto and local commercialization community offer multiple programs, competitions, resources, and services to help LDFP researchers and trainees translate their discoveries into commercial ventures. Please contact a member of the LDFP research office for more information (Mike Folinas, Sam D’Alfonso, or Lia Cardarelli).

Commercialization Resources

Commercialization Opportunities

AcceleratorFest

Just in time for back-to-school season, join the U of T Entrepreneurship (UTE) Community for the inaugural AcceleratorFest and discover the extensive resources, spaces and programs available to all U of T entrepreneurs across the tri-campus.

Meet representatives from 12+ campus accelerators and their startups and hear from founders who are building businesses that are making a major impact.

Tour ONRamp, U of T Entrepreneurship’s co-working and community space at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus and experience the thrill of our vibrant ecosystem.

Regardless of whether you have an idea for a company or already founded your startup, AcceleratorFest is open to all!

Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, 108 College St, Toronto

Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 12 - 6 pm

Register here.

Collaborate 2 Commercialize

The Ontario Centre for Innovation’s Collaborate 2 Commercialize program (C2C, formerly VIP) supports Industry/Academia collaboration solving an industry-based problem and driving the commercialization of Intellectual Property. The institution leverages the unique skills and specialized infrastructure instrumental in streamlining internal innovations and commercialization needs. Benefits include targeted training of individuals and direct engagement with Industry to work on commercially viable solutions.

C2C has two variants/options:

1: C2C R&D Standalone Grant

OCI cash contribution $20K-$150K (Industry Direct Cash $10K-$75K + in-kind, cash matched 2:1 by OCI)
Project duration 6-24 months
companies of any size, but with a demonstrated receptor capacity

2: C2C grant combined with NSERC Alliance Grant

OCI cash contribution $20K-$30K (Industry Direct Cash $10K-$15K + in-kind, cash matched 2:1 by OCI, and also matched 2:1 by NSERC for an additional $20K-$30K
Project duration 6-12 months
companies must be Ontario SMEs (global headcount <500 employees)
More info on the NSERC website (NSERC website may still refer to VIP rather than C2C)

For full application information and guidelines please visit the OCI website.

CQDM Connect-Pharma: Pitch Day

Call for Ideas: Platforms for Therapeutic Target Discovery

CQDM is pleased to launch a call for ideas for our upcoming CQDM Connect-Pharma: Pitch Day.

We are searching for world-class research on novel target discovery platforms to present to domain experts from leading global pharmaceutical organizations on November 13, 2024.

Our objective is to bring ground-breaking, innovative Canadian research to CQDM’s pharmaceutical members and facilitate interactions between our pharma members and the Canadian ecosystem. Collaborative projects developed with a CQDM pharmaceutical member are eligible to obtain funding via CQDM’s Quantum Leap program.

We invite passionate Canadian researchers and visionary teams to submit innovative ideas that have the potential to transform the landscape of medicine and improve patient outcomes.

Research Focus Areas: We are particularly interested in technologies that enable the discovery of novel targets in human disease including but not limited to, the following therapeutic areas:

Oncology
Neurology
Metabolic diseases

Rare diseases
Immunology

Exploratory techniques for target discovery can include, but are not limited to experimental, multiomic, and computational approaches.

We are seeking ideas that demonstrate creativity, scientific rigor, and a strong potential for real-world applications.

Process: All submitted projects will be shared with CQDM’s pharmaceutical members for review and ranking. Top ranked projects will be selected to present to CQDM’s global pharmaceutical members at a CQDM Connect-Pharma: Pitch Day on November 13, 2024.

Who can apply: Canadian academic institutions, biotech companies, and research organizations are eligible to apply. Collaborative projects that involve partnerships between academia and industry are also encouraged. We welcome multidisciplinary teams that can bring diverse expertise to the table.

Deadline and Submission: Submission deadline is October 10, 2024, please submit to appliquez-apply@cqdm.org. Detailed guidelines and instructions for proposal submission and the selection form are available here, via The Submission Form CQDM.

For more information, please contact: Simon Fournier, CQDM : sfournier@cqdm.org

IN-PART: Industry Partnership Opportunities

IN-PART is an online service connecting academics with industry and their research challenges.

Collaborative research projects currently available can be found on the IN-PART website. Applications can be as short as 200-300 words and should not contain confidential information. Please review all project criteria carefully and limit your submissions to opportunities of particular relevance.

Please contact Rohan Alvares in the Innovations and Partnerships Office for assistance with the application process and who can apply to the opportunity on your behalf.

Active campaigns will be updated here as they are posted.

Opportunity

Deadline

(usually 10:59 pm GMT)

Intellectual Property Education Program

UofT’s IP Education Program introduces the different types of IP, how to protect it, and how to get the most value from it.

The online program was built by UofT Entrepreneurship (UTE) and the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) with input from legal professionals and entrepreneurs.

Divided into two complimentary levels, IP Foundations and IP Strategy and Application, the program is integrated with Quercus (U of T’s online learning portal), allowing for inclusion into assignments, workshops, or classroom settings. In addition, U of T students who complete a module can have it recognized on their Co-curricular Record (CCR).

Program overview:

Level 1: IP Foundations

Intro to patents, trademarks, copyright, industrial design, and trade secrets.
Requires no prior knowledge and can be completed in ~2 hours.
Endorsed by the Province of Ontario’s IP Action Plan.

Level 2: IP Strategy and Application

IP strategy and commercialization, including best practices for inventors and entrepreneurs.

Learners must complete Level 1 before advancing to Level 2.

Intellectual Property: Protect, License and Fund with IPO

The Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) is your first stop for research commercialization at U of T. IPO helps turn innovations into patents, licenses, and startups, building successful relationships between researchers, industry, and investors.

What you need to know:

It starts with a disclosure: If a new technology, method, or product was created using U of T facilities or funding administered by U of T, a Confidential Invention Disclosure is your first step toward commercializing your research.
Ownership: U of T has a modern, flexible invention policy that is ‘Inventor’s Choice’ – in absence of pre-existing IP rights, inventors may choose to take personal ownership, or have U of T lead commercialization.
Intellectual property (IP) and patents: While there are many types of IP, patents may be affected by presenting and publishing. It is best to involve IPO early to help review, file, and protect your invention.
Funding: IPO can help maximize budgets by licensing technologies and leveraging internal, public, and private funding opportunities for research and startups.
Network: Access U of T’s growing international network of industry, mentors, and VCs to support technology validation, product development, and go-to-market.

In 2021, U of T inventors made over 180 invention disclosures, with IPO managing 74 priority patent applications, more than 39 licensing and option agreements, and 290 ongoing commercialization projects. In the last 5 years, companies based on U of T Research have secured more than $1.5 billion in investment and capital.

Learn more and get started @ uoft.me/inventors

Lab2Market Discover

L2M Discover is an innovative, early-stage program designed to inspire and guide individuals in exploring entrepreneurial pathways and research commercialization. The Lab2Market Discover program is uniquely designed to address the systemic barriers faced by underrepresented groups in research commercialization. By offering EDIA-focused cohorts, we ensure that women, non-Binary individuals, and BIPOC researchers have the tailored support they need to succeed.

Lab2Market Discover is offered free of cost and is open to any early-stage academic entrepreneurs, current students and recent graduates in Canada pursuing research (Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D., and Postdoc). Participants in the Lab2Market Discover program will not only gain valuable entrepreneurial skills but also contribute to the broader goal of making Canada’s innovation landscape more equitable and just. The program is an opportunity to be part of something bigger—advancing diversity in research commercialization and driving societal change.

Program Details

Duration: 10 weeks
Format: Free virtual program
Commitment: 1-hour live virtual class + 2 hours of homework per week
Schedule: Sessions every Wednesday starting October 2024
Eligibility: Open to Undergraduate, Masters, PhDs, and Postdocs in STEM and Social Sciences, as well as other research-based fields
Deadline to apply is September 27, 2024

Apply here.

OCI Life Sciences Innovation Fund

Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) Life Sciences Innovation Fund is an early-stage co-investment fund that supports companies in Life Sciences and Healthcare Technologies sectors related to human health. The fund is aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by life sciences entrepreneurs moving innovative and capital-intensive investments from a conceptual stage through to commercialization. Through the fund, OCI co-invests with angel and other investors to help de-risk the opportunity, assisting start-ups in becoming investor and customer ready and allowing them to attract follow-on investment.

ABOUT THE FUND

Eligible companies will receive up to $500,000 in early stage risk capital to scale their made-in-Ontario health solution both at home and in global markets. This will further grow the sector and strengthen its competitiveness in key areas such as cancer treatment, regenerative medicine, neuroscience and medical technologies.

BEST SUITED FOR LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES COMPANIES RELATED TO HUMAN HEALTH THAT:

Are Ontario or Canadian incorporated for-profit companies headquartered in Ontario
Currently raising a pre-seed or seed investments (total round sizes ranging from $1 million to $5 million)
Have raised less than $3 million in third-party capital

Learn more.

ONRamp: call to join

Looking for a community and workspace to build your business? Welcome to ONRamp@UTE! Located at the Banting Institute in the heart of downtown Toronto, ONRamp is a 15,000 square foot collaboration and co-working space for the U of T entrepreneurship community.

ONRamp connects innovative students, their startups and U of T Accelerators across U of T’s tri-campus.

Through access to facilities, events, and the business community in downtown Toronto, ONRamp helps to accelerate venture creation, learning and impact.

Members of ONRamp have access to three floors of co-working space, meeting rooms, event space, and amenities – located steps from the intersection of College and University.