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
- Derrick Rossi Innovation Awards
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The Derrick Rossi Innovation Awards provide funding of up to $300,000 over two (2) years to support proof-of-concept research projects focused on accelerating the implementation and/or commercialization of high-potential, cutting-edge research, with the promise of significant socio-economic impacts. Awards will support research and/or commercialization activities with a focus on knowledge mobilization, deployment and implementation.
Proposals will be evaluated based on innovation, addressing a critical unmet need, potential impact, feasibility, strategic partnerships and team capability. Successful projects will have strong socio-economic or commercial potential, enabling the research or technology to make a positive impact on society.
Applicants can request up to $300,000 per project. Applicants requesting more than $100,000 will require strong evidence of a significant value inflection point, including the potential to attract partnerships, additional grants and the strong potential to attract additional investments (e.g. letters of support).
The proposed project must be based on an existing invention or copyright disclosure filed with the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) by Friday February 13, 2026.
For each project, a Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted to IPO by Monday, March 2, 2026. Full applications are by invitation only and will be due by Monday, March 30, 2026.
Program Materials:
- Intellectual Property Education Program
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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
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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 Discover
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Are you interested in exploring the market viability of your research? As a researcher in emerging technologies, you may be considering an alternative career path beyond academia. With Lab2Market Discover, you’ll learn a new way of thinking and determine if you have a passion for business.
Lab2Market Discover’s online exploratory program helps you explore entrepreneurship and the potential of transforming your academic research into a world-changing tech-focused business.
Lab2Market Discover is offered free of cost and is open to current students and recent graduates in Canada pursuing research (Masters, Ph.D., and Postdoc). The program is tailored for individuals interested in understanding the necessary steps to commercialize research and determining whether entrepreneurship is a path they can or should pursue. Designed specifically for researchers completing their studies full-time, the program includes online readings, practical assignments, and interactive webinars, with a maximum time commitment of three hours per week.
Lab2Market Discover is run nationally and runs various cohorts throughout the year, check out the website to find the program for you.
- Lab2Market Health: Validate Foundations for Principal Investigators
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Innovation UBC is offering a special edition of Lab2Market Validate Foundations — open to Principal Investigators (PI) Canada-wide and designed around the unique position PIs hold in advancing health innovation. This free three-day virtual program, taking place on March 23, 25, and 27, equips participants with practical knowledge in research commercialization and health entrepreneurship.
Participants will hear directly from seasoned entrepreneurs and PI-entrepreneurs, learn from industry experts, and leave with the knowledge needed to take the first steps toward commercializing their research. Delivered by the Lab2Market Pacific Hub (Innovation UBC) at no cost to participants.
To apply, please visit the program landing page: https://innovation.ubc.ca/lab2market-validate-foundations
Date & Time: March 23, 25 & 27, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST (6 hours total)
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 19, 2026
- OCI Life Sciences Innovation Fund
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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
- UofT Research Security Self-Assessment Tool
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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.
