Network

The National i2I Network brings together universities, researchers, industry leaders, mentors, and innovation partners from across Canada. Through a connected national community, i2I creates opportunities to share expertise, build relationships, and collaborate across institutions, disciplines, and regions.

A Commitment to Building Canada’s Innovation Capacity

With support from Mitacs and the Lab to Market grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the National i2I Network is building entrepreneurial and commercialization capacity across Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem. This long-term investment enables i2I to deliver nationally coordinated programming, strengthen partnerships across institutions and regions, and connect researchers with the skills, expertise, networks, and opportunities needed to translate research into impact. 

Working alongside university partners, industry, delivery organizations, and innovation ecosystem partners, the National i2I Network helps bridge the gap between research, commercialization, and real-world impact which strengthens Canada’s capacity to turn ideas and discoveries into economic and societal value.

The National i2I Network

There is no single path that will transform Canada’s innovation ecosystem

i2I is more than a suite of programs. It is a National Network of collaborating organizations including universities and colleges, industry and innovation organizations, accelerators, and community partners. These organizations create multiple on-ramps into i2I, helping researchers and innovators discover and access the Network regardless of their institution or location.   

The same ecosystem creates off-ramps to what comes next. Through regional and national connections, participants can access specialized expertise, mentors, industry partners, labs and infrastructure, funding opportunities, venture support, and other pathways that help move research toward application and impact.

Across Regions & Institutions

The National i2I Network operates through regional ecosystems that connect local strengths with national opportunities. Each region is anchored by a Regional Lead and partner institution, working together to coordinate programming, build relationships, and respond to the unique research, industry, and innovation priorities of their region.  

This regional-to-national model allows i2I to meet researchers where they are, while connecting them to opportunities and expertise from across Canada.

i2I Strategies & Initiatives

Creating more inclusive pathways from research to innovation and impact

i2I’s Strategies & Initiatives extend the reach of the National i2I Network by addressing gaps and opportunities that require a more targeted approach. Working with communities and partners, i2I develops initiatives that respond to distinct regional, sectoral, and community priorities while creating new pathways into Canada’s innovation ecosystem. Grounded in relationships, reciprocity, and equity, diversity and inclusion, these initiatives build on i2I’s commercialization expertise, national partnerships, and resources to expand access and opportunity – including with Indigenous, Northern, rural, and historically underrepresented communities.

EDI.I

With 5 or less years out of an advanced research degree looking to develop translational innovation skills, to explore new with new pathways for the impact of their research and/or match their research with a plan to meet a market or societal need.

North Initiative

Our Lab to Market Network:

i2I & Lab2Market

The Lab2Market Network provides a natural next step for i2I alumni advancing their commercialization journey. As an important off-ramp from i2I, particularly for researchers pursuing the Venture Founder pathway, Lab2Market connects participants to venture-focused training, mentorship, funding, and support to bring their innovations to market.

i2I & Sustainable Food Systems for Canada (SF4C)

The Sustainable Food Systems for Canada (SF4C) Network provides a natural pathway into i2I’s core programs for researchers interested in developing their innovation and commercialization capabilities. SF4C graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are eligible and can apply to i2I Skills Training and the Commercialization Postdoc Program, while faculty members can engage through the Faculty Innovation Fellows Program (FIFP) —connecting researchers to skills, mentorship, and networks that help translate research into impact.

i2I & Labs4

Labs4 provides an important applied pathway for i2I researchers looking to advance the technology readiness of their innovations. Through its Technology Readiness Level-Up (TRL) program, participants gain hands-on experience in applied research labs, with access to Technology Access Centres (TACs), mentorship, and support in product development, testing, prototyping, and market validation—helping move innovations from concept toward commercialization readiness.