Welcome to the LDFP Commercialization Opportunity Index. The University of Toronto and local commercialization community offer multiple programs, competitions, resources, and services to help LDFP researchers and trainees translate their discoveries into commercial ventures. Please contact a member of the LDFP 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
- 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.
- 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
- ONRamp: call to join
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Looking for a community and workspace to build your business? Welcome to ONRamp@UTE! Located at the Banting Institute in the heart of downtown Toronto, ONRamp is a 15,000 square foot collaboration and co-working space for the U of T entrepreneurship community.
ONRamp connects innovative students, their startups and U of T Accelerators across U of T’s tri-campus.
Through access to facilities, events, and the business community in downtown Toronto, ONRamp helps to accelerate venture creation, learning and impact.
Members of ONRamp have access to three floors of co-working space, meeting rooms, event space, and amenities – located steps from the intersection of College and University.
- Reception desk
- Networking lounge
- Business centre
- RBC Hub event space
- Access to two kitchens, 14 meeting rooms, 80 workstations, 4 phone booths
- 24/7 member access
- SpinUP: 2025 Merck Blue Ticket
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The 2025 Merck Blue Ticket will provide one early-stage life science startup with:
- Mentorship opportunities with Merck’s scientists and business leaders
- Free 1-year membership at SpinUp, U of T’s first wet-lab incubator for life science innovation
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Candidate startups must meet SpinUp eligibility criteria.
Merck is eager to work with innovators who share the same commitment to cutting-edge science, regardless of therapeutic area or modality, and are looking to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Of note, Merck’s – core areas of focus include:
- Atherosclerosis & Metabolism
- Cardiovascular & Respiratory
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases & Vaccines
- Neuroscience & Ophthalmology
- Oncology
Learn more about Merck Research here.
To apply for the 2025 Merck Blue Ticket award, please complete this form by July 14th, 2025 (11:59pm EST) using only non-confidential information.
The winning startup will become a SpinUp member, and will be offered scientific and business mentorship by Merck.
Applications due: July 14th, 2025. Semi-finalists will be selected in August 2025.
See the SpinUp Blue Ticket website for more details.
- TIAP’s LAB150-NextGen Drug Discovery Program
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Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP) was very pleased to have recently launched a new iteration of our successful LAB150 Program (LAB150-NextGen) offering up to $1.6M USD per project to support drug development arising from academic labs at the University of Toronto and its affiliated research hospitals. Researchers with groundbreaking research on novel disease pathways and therapeutic targets are encouraged to apply.
In order to share further details and answer any questions you may have regarding the program, we would like to invite you to a special webinar as follows:
Date: June 6th, 2025
Time: 10:00am – 10:45pm EDT
Format: Online Event
If you have any questions, please contact commercialization@utoronto.ca or TIAP directly.
