About
Founded at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, the i2I Research & Innovation Institute equips Graduate Researchers, Postdocs, Faculty and Clinicians across Canada with the skills, networks, entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities to turn research into real-world solutions.
We envision a Canada where innovative research moves beyond the lab and into the world, empowering researchers to transform discoveries into companies, products, and organizations that create lasting impact.
Our Approach
There is no single path that will transform Canada’s innovation capacity
Turning world-class research into real-world impact takes different skills at different moments: knowing how to match research to emerging needs, the strategic vision to spin off science-based companies, and the entrepreneurial mindset to grow those companies or the capabilities to build innovation capacity within existing organizations. Our programs develop participants across three i2I entrepreneurial pathways, Venture, Translate and Champion, allowing researchers to draw on each in different ways as their research, network and career evolve, moving fluidly between translational science, industry collaboration and venture creation. Grounded in evidence-based training, national partnerships and research that advances commercialization in emerging industries, our approach builds the strategy and capacity for breakthrough lab research to be mobilized into the companies, products and organizations that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
i2I Entrepreneurial Mindsets & Innovation Capabilities
On Ramps to Training
- Customized Training for Collaborating Organizations
- TTOs
- Mitacs
- Research Networks
- NSERC Create
- Perimeter Institute
- Axelys
- Providence Research
- NFRF-T
- HIBAR
- adMare
- BioProducts Institute
- AGE-WELL
- TransMedTech
- IVADO
- Collaborating Universities
- Indigenous Communities
Commercialization Skills Gained
- Mindset
- Market Prioritization
- Opportunity Creation
- IP Strategy
OFF RAMPS BY i2I MINDSET
Venture
i2I Sales Lab, CDI, Foresight
L2M Launch, L2M Validate
AdMare TX Accelerator
Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre
e@UBC, McGill Engine
SFU VentureLabs
Champion
Industry Innovation Roles
NRC IRAP, Innovate BC
IP Assist, DuPont, StemCell
Photonic, Ionomr
Green Centre Canada
Translate
TTOs, Mitacs, CIHR
Commercialization
NSERC i2I, Ignite
i2I CORE PROGRAMS
Our History
The Beginning
Program founded as the Graduate Certificate in Science & Technology Commercialization at SFU’s Beedie School of Business.
First innovation pitch
Inaugural cohort complete their program and pitch their re-framed innovation idea in what is to become a hallmark of the i2I Skills Training Program.
Mitacs begins their support
With generous funding from Mitacs, i2I is able to expand to four non-credit courses that ladder into the GCSTC.
Cohort Expansion
i2I’s first online, asynchronous cohort launches alongside the first Eastern Ontario cohort.
Continued Cohort Growth
Atlantic Region launches with a cohort led by Dalhousie University and Memorial University.
National Growth and NRC-IRAP
First National GCSTC cohort launches along with inclusion in the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program Pilot.
Program, Initiative, Regional Expansion
i2I Faculty Innovation Fellows Program begins alongside i2I's first Indigenous Outreach & Engagement. Prairie & Southwestern Ontario Region launch.
Lab to market grant awarded
i2I receives $22.9 Million CAD grant from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Institute established & new program
SFU establishes the i2I Research & Innovation Institute along with the launch of the i2I Commercialization Postdoc Program.
New Partner program & Innovation week
i2I and Conestoga College design ‘i2I Sales Lab’ for STEM innovators. SFU Innovation Week expands for its second year with more partners, panels, speakers and venture exhibits being featured!
FURTHER ATLANTIC & WEST EXPANSION
Two new Atlantic cohorts launched along with an agreement with the University of Victoria making them a Co-Delivery Partner and creating a new West Region.
PRAIRIE REGION EXPANSION
2027 means further development of i2I’s Prairie Region, notably with the University of Manitoba becoming a Co-Delivery Partner.
Meet Our Team
The National i2I Network brings together academics, industry leaders, and professionals dedicated to advancing i2I’s mission and delivering its core programs. Alongside them, a growing network of Research Fellows contributes research, expertise, and thought leadership to help drive the culture change needed to strengthen Canada’s innovation ecosystem.