Unlocking canada's innovation capacity

The world needs more canadian research. canadian researchers need to move from invention to innovation

Canada’s world class research can have transformative impact on our most pressing challenges, from clean energy transition, health systems’ change, environmental clean-up, sustainable agriculture and more, but without the right people, it will remain in labs and publications.  This requires investment in people: translational skills and mindset training for the researchers who will be able to better take research to impact and increase Canada’s innovation capacity. 

To achieve this vision, the transformational invention to Innovation (i2I) programs have been designed based on world-class research and experience specific to science-based translation, and linked to national networks of academic and industrial mentors, helping  researchers unleash their entrepreneurial mindset along three complementary paths: entrepreneurial researchers, innovators in industry and venture entrepreneurs.

i2I Impact

i2I Participants

Participants from

Universities
1 +
Mentors
1 +
Years (launched in 2015)
+
Cohorts

i2I Participant Journeys

1 %

are Innovation Champions – advancing science and their careers in science-based industries

1 %

are Translational Scientists – changing research trajectories and culture in labs

1 %

are Scientist-Entrepreneurs – having launched ventures to take their research forward

1 %

are charting multiple paths at once

Testimonials

Dr. Christopher Mueller

Professor Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University

"The i2I Program has taken me from a frustrated researcher to an enthusiastic entrepreneur.”

Dr. Finlay MacNab

Postdoctoral Researcher, SFU

“The ability to communicate with investors, and with partners who don’t have a background in science, is critical to bringing a technology from the lab to market. The i2I program helped me see my work through a business lens. I not only learned to communicate but how to value technologies appropriately and to identify market opportunities and their associated risks and uncertainties.”

Dr. Elena Groppa

Senior Scientist, Borea Therapeutics

“The i2I program is perfect for people like me who are deeply involved in science, and who want to look for opportunities in the business world. A program like this opens your mind and teaches you that there is another world of possibilities outside of the lab”

Dr. Matthew Dahabieh

SVP and Head of Green Chemistry Solutions, Terramera

“The i2I program gave me the opportunity to learn business and entrepreneurship fundamentals in an approachable format with a diverse network of innovators.”

Dr. Anat Feldman

Senior Business Development Officer, STEMCELL Technologies

“Through the i2I program, I came to realize that, while I understood pre-clinical drug development and clinical trials, I knew nothing about taking a medication and getting it into market. If this was available when I did my PhD, I would have been an entrepreneur already.”

Dr. Courtney Calahoo

Scientist, Genics Inc.

“I met people with similar values, similar desires and dreams, and the innovation ideas I learned about all have real positive social impacts. Overall, the i2i program has given me hope about the future, the positive impact that science entrepreneurs have made and will continue to make in the coming years. And that I have the skills and knowledge necessary to also make an impact as a successful science entrepreneur.”

Partners / Supporters

Delivery Partners

Ecosystem Builders

Founding Partners

Questions?

Contact us at i2i@sfu.ca

This email address is regularly monitored and we endeavour to respond within 2 business days.

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