The University of Toronto and local commercialization community offer multiple programs, competitions, resources, and services to help researchers and trainees at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy translate their discoveries into commercial ventures. Please contact a member of the Research Office for more information (Mike Folinas, Sam D’Alfonso, or Lia Cardarelli).
Commercialization Resources
- University of Toronto Innovations and Partnerships Office (IPO)
- IPO’s "Guide to Technology Transfer"
- IPO's "Researcher’s Guide to Industry Partnerships"
- University of Toronto Libraries Entrepreneurship Support
- PRiME Entrepreneur Resources
- University of Toronto Startup Guidebook
Commercialization Opportunities
- Award Opportunity for Commercializable Approaches to Increasing Healthspan and Longevity
-
Do you have an approach to increasing healthspan and longevity through medical devices, natural products, nutritional science and other tools.
The scientific journal Nature has recently launched a new Nature Awards Healthspan Accelerator and they are looking for research group leaders who are thinking about translating their scientific discoveries into a commercial product.
Four successful candidates will each receive a $10,000 cash grant and an immersive residential programme that takes place in London in June 2026. It is an excellent opportunity to engage with eminent scientist-entrepreneurs and explore the opportunity for commercial partnership.
Applications can be submitted online before the deadline on 10 December.
- Company and Competitor Research Workshop
-
For participants of all disciplines interested in learning more about researching companies and finding competitor information. Includes an overview of subscription databases and publicly available resources for company research.
You’ll learn how to:
- Evaluate different types of company information and understand the differences between public and private companies
- Find both direct and indirect competitor information
- Practice finding company documents and reports
Online via Zoom (participants will receive a link prior to session start); Tuesday, November 25, 2025, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Instructor: Catherine MacGregor, Coordinator, Finance Learning Centre & Liaison Librarian, cat.macgregor@utoronto.caRegister here.
This workshop is part of an Entrepreneurship Research Skills Co-Curricular Record (CCR) as recognized by the University of Toronto. They are open to all U of T students, faculty, and staff, but only current students are eligible to enroll in the CCR. A valid UTORid is required to access library databases.
- 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:
- 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.
- Lab2Market Validate Foundations Women in STEM Winter 2026 - Ontario
-
Applications Open for Lab2Market Validate Foundations Women in STEM Winter 2026 - Ontario
About Lab2Market Validate Foundations:
Validate Foundations is a three-day intensive virtual training program aimed at providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the process and best practices for research commercialization. Upon completion, graduates will possess the knowledge necessary to initiate their commercialization endeavors and strategically position their projects to capitalize on various opportunities within the ecosystem. These opportunities include Lab2Market’s Validate program, incubator and accelerator programs, and public innovation grants.
Eligibility: Women-identifying researchers (Undergrads, Masters, Ph.D., and Postdocs) as well as faculty members from any discipline at universities and colleges in Ontario. This program will be delivered by Brock University.
Application deadline: January 9, 2026 (Application Link)
- 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
- NSERC - Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grant
-
Four times per year, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) accepts applications for its “Idea to Innovation” (I2I) program, for the purpose of accelerating pre-competitive technologies for transfer to a Canadian company. Successful applicants receive awards of up to $125,000 for each phase of their commercialization project, with additional funding available as the project progresses.
UofT Internal Application Deadline for Current Round: Friday, December 19, 2025
NSERC Deadline: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
All projects must be based on inventions disclosed and assigned to the University, and should be managed in conjunction with the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) – the Innovations team in particular can assist with development of the Commercialization Plan, and can also assist in determining the appropriate Phase for your project.
For more information please visit the program's Funding Opportunity page or the program website at NSERC – Idea to Innovation grants (nserc-crsng.gc.ca)
Please note that a My Research Application (MRA) will be required for the institutional endorsement of the application. The MRA approval process should be started well in advance of the internal deadline to ensure a successful submission. Applications received after the internal deadline may impact IPO's ability to review and process your application prior to the NSERC deadline.
- Seminar Secure Innovation: What UofT Founders Need to Know to Protect Their Start-ups
-
January 29, 2026 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
In today’s ever-changing geopolitical landscape, understanding evolving government policies and frameworks is crucial for maintaining a competitive and secure innovation ecosystem and submitting successful grant applications. Join the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (OVPRI)’s Research Security Team (RST) for a webinar designed for founders, entrepreneurs and academic researchers seeking:
- Up-to-date information on the different research security policies and legislation that are relevant to start-ups and emerging companies
- Insight into threats and risks facing early-stage enterprises, including tactics and techniques used by malign actors to improperly acquire research and intellectual property
- A demonstration of tools and resources that can be used to better understand research security processes and improve the integrity of your enterprise Details for where and how the RST can assist
The session will also feature the CEO of a U of T start-up who will share insights from a founder’s perspective on navigating research security in practice and answer audience questions. A Q&A period will follow.
Intended Audience:
This webinar is tailored for members of the University of Toronto entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem who want to better understand frameworks and policies related to research security and how to navigate risks specific to start-ups and technology commercialization.
Presenters:
- Paul Jarrett, Director Research Security, VPRI
- Colin Baulke, Research Security Advisor, VPRI
- Michael Laurentius, Manager, Research Information Security Program
- Jon French, Director, University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
- Mattia Montagna, CEO, Quantum Bridge Technologies
Learning Objectives
- Recognize common security risks and tactics used by malicious actors targeting start-ups and understand how these can compromise research integrity and intellectual property
- Identify relevant federal and institutional research security frameworks that apply to start-ups and university-industry partnerships, including guidance on compliance and risk mitigation
- Apply available tools and resources to assess potential risks, strengthen security practices, and engage effectively with the Research Security Team for tailored support
- UofT Research Security Self-Assessment Tool
-
The Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation is pleased to announce the launch of the Research Security Self-Assessment tool.
Before applying for federal or provincial research funding, researchers are strongly encouraged to use this tool to help them identify research security policies that may be applicable to their project.
Researchers applying for research funding or requesting non-funded agreements may access this tool directly from the Research Security web page or via a new page in My Research Applications & Agreements (MRA). The new page in MRA provides helpful resources and does not collect new information for your application/agreement.
If you have questions, U of T’s Research Security Team is here to help you navigate research security requirements for funding applications and non-funded agreements. For assistance, please contact them early in your application process at researchsecurity@utoronto.ca.
