Category: News

Valorization is an approach to innovation that turns publicly funded research into real-world value. It succeeds by building market feedback, applied validation, and clear adoption pathways from discovery to use.

It’s also an intellectual property strategy: identifying research-derived IP with commercial potential, protecting it and validating it against real industry need. Done well, it keeps Canadian IP in Canada — translating public research into new companies, good jobs, manufacturing and supply-chain activity, productivity gains, tax revenue and solutions deployed in Canadian sectors.

For decades, Québec has led Canada in valorization, investing in applied research capacity and industry-facing supports that help teams protect IP early, test it in real-world conditions and make the manufacturability, durability and scale-up decisions that determine whether a discovery becomes something the market can adopt.

Labs4 and its Québec hub, Labs+, are designed to extend that momentum across the country. A Canada-wide network of 38 colleges and universities, Labs4 works through 11 hubs — eight regional and three Indigenous entrepreneurship hubs — that tailor nationally standardized programming to local sectors, communities and innovation ecosystems.

Working through Québec’s well-established applied research ecosystem, Labs+ helps teams move from research promise to practical readiness through applied testing, prototyping and early decisions about manufacturability, durability and scale-up — the work that determines whether an idea becomes something the market can use.

This approach is increasingly reinforced at the policy level. In late 2025, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Axelys announced a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the valorization of public research — a signal that translating discovery into economic and societal value requires intentional support across the innovation continuum.

“Canada doesn’t need more isolated commercialization programs; it needs stronger, connected pathways that reflect how innovation actually moves,” says Dr. Jolen Galaugher, chair of the Labs4 executive committee. “Models like Labs+ show that when you build on ecosystems that already know how to translate ideas into practice, you can scale impact while leveraging local strengths and build confidence to invest where innovation already thrives.”

From IP to industrial use

Across Canada, applied research centres already play a direct role in moving public research into industrial use. In Manitoba, RRC Polytech’s Advanced Composites Development Centre — operated by the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) — has worked with the National Research Council of Canada and Magellan Aerospace to advance and validate NRC-developed composite forming technology by applying it in an industrial production context.

Labs4 is built to scale this pathway nationally. It embeds market feedback, applied expertise and commercialization guidance earlier, when design choices still shape outcomes. One of its core programs is Technology Readiness Level-Up (TRL), which supports researcher-entrepreneurs at the prototyping, demonstration, and pilot-ready stages.

Two TRL examples show what valorization can unlock:

• Pirouz Kiani, a chemistry researcher at the University of Calgary working with SAIT, shows valorization in practice by turning a patented nanobubble discovery into a pilot-ready cleantech system. His NanoStrip technology removes ammonia and sulphurs from agricultural, wastewater, mining and tailings pond streams. Through Labs4’s TRL program, he scaled the unit 40 times, validated performance at larger scale, and resolved key engineering issues with applied experts and lab facilities. That applied validation moves the work from “promising research” to “industrial-ready solution,” positioning NanoStrip for pilot deployments with partners — including a planned full-scale system for an Alberta biogas producer.
• Lucas Monter is developing a spray-on electroencephalography (EEG) electrode system,NeuroSpritz, that aims to reduce diagnostic delays by making EEG setup faster and more flexible. With routine EEG waitlists of more than six months in 73 per cent of Ontario clinics and hospitals — and setup times of about 50 minutes per patient — reducing setup time by up to 80 per cent could expand diagnostic capacity and improve access where staffing and infrastructure are constraints. Through TRL, he is advancing the system toward lab or simulated-environment validation and pursuing ethics-cleared pilot opportunities.

This is the point of valorization: not just proving an idea works, but building the pathway so Canadian IP can be protected, validated, adopted and scaled to create lasting value.

Québec’s advantage: an ecosystem built to connect

Québec is one of the few jurisdictions in Canada where a connected pathway from research to application operates at scale. Cégeps, universities, Technology Access Centres (TACs) and College Centres for Technology Transfer (CCTTs) link academic research to applied testing and industry-facing problem-solving.

Labs+ is guided by an advisory council that helps align Québec’s research, commercialization and entrepreneurship supports so projects move through the system without duplication or stalled handoffs. Members include Axelys, the Réseau des CCTT, Université de Sherbrooke, Concordia University and innovation hubs such as V1 Studio and District 3.

“Many support programs are available to assist innovators from the beginning to the end of their journey to commercialization. The key is to ensure a seamless transition, and that’s where the connections within the ecosystem become so important,” says Chantal Piché, associate director of innovation and research at Cégep de Thetford and executive lead for Labs+. “Labs+ adds value by strengthening and complementing these connections — bringing early-stage researchers into contact with applied expertise and commercialization partners at the right moment and helping projects move through the system with greater speed and clarity.”

As projects demonstrate technical and applied readiness, commercialization expertise becomes essential — particularly around intellectual property strategy, market positioning and investor readiness. In Québec, that role is anchored by Axelys, the province’s commercialization organization focused on accelerating the development and transfer of high-potential innovations from public research.

One of the most common reasons promising research stalls is timing: teams connect with real market need too late, after key technology decisions are already locked in. Labs4’s market-pull approach tackles that problem by pairing early market validation with entrepreneurship training, prototyping and demonstration — bridging the gap between technology development and product development and shortening the path to market. In Québec, Axelys helps make that approach practical through commercialization guidance, project review and connections to mentorship, training and, where appropriate, funding.

“Québec innovation is strongest when the ecosystem is built to connect,” says Jesse Vincent-Herscovici, president and CEO of Axelys. “When public research is supported with strong intellectual property strategy and commercialization coaching, knowledge turns into solutions that deliver lasting value. By collaborating with Labs4 and Labs+, we’re helping teams strengthen their IP, connect through our matchmaking platform, and build competitive technology portfolios so Québec innovations can reach the market.”

Under its mandate to mobilize Québec’s innovation and entrepreneurial support ecosystem, Axelys is helping Labs+ and Labs4 build that market-pull approach through commercialization guidance, project review and connections to training, mentorship and, where appropriate, funding opportunities for technology maturation and industrialization. Axelys has committed in-kind support valued at $40,000 per year to the TRL program.

What comes next

Valorization doesn’t happen by chance. Québec’s Labs+ hub shows what’s possible when market readiness is built in early, with applied validation and commercialization supports working as a connected system. Labs4’s role is to extend that way of working across Canada, adapt it to regional strengths and embed it consistently across programming — at a moment when Canada cannot afford for publicly funded IP to stall between discovery and adoption, or be commercialized elsewhere.

“TRL confirms what we already know: valorization is strongest when it’s built into the research journey early — and it shows this approach can be delivered at a national scale,” says Jolen Galaugher. “That’s the principle we’re building into every new Labs4 program. When we protect promising IP early, validate it against clear market need and surround R&D teams with applied expertise, more Canadian research gets tested, adopted and scaled here — and that’s how Canada turns public research into a repeatable engine for growth and impact.”

Related Stories

• Labs+: Activating Québec’s CCTT Ecosystem to Accelerate Research to Market
• Labs4: Leveraging the know-how of Canada’s colleges to drive innovation and productivity
• Meet the TRL Researchers Delivering Practical Results Across Canada’s Health, Tech and Ag Sectors

Canada is rich in research, but finding pathways to bring good ideas to market remains a national challenge. In Québec, a new innovation hub is tackling that gap head-on.

Labs+ is the province’s hub of Labs4, a pan-Canadian initiative that helps student-researchers and early-stage innovators move their work out of the lab and into the market by embedding commercialization support early in the innovation journey. At the heart of this effort is the Technology Readiness Level-Up (TRL) program, which connects participants with applied research support to advance, test and validate their ideas.

Labs+ integrates TRL into this network, enhancing an already proven system for real-world impact. The result? A model that pairs national ambition with regional infrastructure — giving participants access to the people, tools and environments they need to move their ideas forward.

A Hub Shaped by Québec’s Innovation Context

Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all national model, Labs+ adapts to Québec’s diverse innovation landscape — where some regions focus on AI and digital tech, and others are anchored in manufacturing, energy, and process industries.

“What makes Labs+ so effective is its approach: embedding commercialization support within a trusted, province-wide applied research network,” says Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Labs4 board chair. “By delivering national programming through Cégep de Thetford and Québec’s CCTTs, we’re reaching innovators early, surrounding them with the right expertise and helping them make real progress toward the market. That’s the power of building on local strengths.”

Québec’s 59 College Centres for Technology Transfer (CCTTs), embedded in cégeps and coordinated through the Réseau des CCTT, work directly with industry and communities to deliver applied research, prototyping, testing, and technical support that reflects regional economic realities. Together, they bring more than 2,400 specialists to bear across diverse sectors.

“From the outset, Labs+ was designed to complement Québec’s existing entrepreneurship ecosystem,” says Chantal Piché, Associate Director of Innovation and Research at Cégep de Thetford and executive lead for Labs+. “Through consultations, we identified a clear gap between early-stage R&D and commercialization — and that’s where this initiative responds. The strength of our model lies in bridging that space through the CCTT network.”

Cégeps and their affiliated CCTTs play a central role in delivery. As hub lead, Cégep de Thetford connects Labs4 programming to the CCTT network and community partners, ensuring national standards are delivered through trusted local institutions.

“Collaboration is a vital part of our college ecosystem,” says Labs+ Hub Manager Olivier Bélanger Laurin. “Trust and local knowledge are essential. We’ve connected with more than 20 partners so far, and we continue to expand the network to ensure participants have the best possible conditions.”

A consultative committee — including Axelys, the Réseau des CCTT, and representatives from Université de Sherbrooke and Concordia University (via V1 Studio and District 3) — helps ensure the program complements existing supports, aligns with industry needs, and adapts as priorities shift.

Matching Innovation Needs with the Right Expertise

Labs+ deliberately supports a wide range of participants and projects, recognizing that innovation challenges and solutions vary across sectors, backgrounds and lived experience.

This process is led in collaboration with Réseau des CCTT and supported by Meryem Bouchoucha, a research and innovation development advisor with more than a decade of industry experience. An engineer by training, Bouchoucha works directly with participants to understand their technical and operational needs, then pinpoints the expertise most likely to move the project forward.

“In more than 70 per cent of cases, I recommend a CCTT with complementary expertise,” she explains. “Researchers often think they need a centre with the same expertise they already have. But what really helps are people who can challenge assumptions, identify constraints, and adapt the work for real-world conditions.”

This reflects Québec’s industrial landscape, where challenges often require cross-disciplinary solutions.

Applied Research in Practice

Matching participants with the right CCTT isn’t just about expertise — it’s about providing access to environments for real-world testing.

Many student-researchers enter TRL with lab-scale prototypes but little experience testing them under market conditions. Several CCTTs offer pilot-scale infrastructure and industrial-grade equipment that simulate production realities.

These environments surface challenges early, showing what breaks, what needs redesign, and which assumptions don’t hold. Because CCTTs operate on industry timelines, participants confront the commercial realities of applied research from the outset, not as a late-stage adjustment.

Labs+ gives participants access to research capacity that’s typically out of reach for early-stage innovators. Working within centres that serve established companies lowers barriers and shortens the learning curve at a critical stage of development.

Current TRL participants are tackling a wide range of challenges. One placement at C2T3 focuses on developing a photonic switch for optical and telecommunications. Others are working with Centre Kemitek, a CCTT specializing in green chemistry and scale-up, on chemical processes, continuous manufacturing and AI-integrated modelling to accelerate product development.

Labs+ also supports community-based research. Cégep de Thetford and their CCTTs, COALIA and Kemitek, are partnering with 3R Minerals to explore the recovery and valorization of historic mining residues containing critical and strategic minerals. While COALIA is not yet hosting Labs+ participants, its mineralogy and plastics expertise signals clear potential for future collaboration as the Hub evolves.

TRL isn’t a finish line — it’s a launch point. By working inside industry-facing centres, many participants develop ongoing relationships, a sharper understanding of industry expectations and clear pathways to pursue applied research through follow-on projects, funding or future partnerships.

What Comes Next

Though still early in its rollout, Labs+ is already gaining traction. The hub supports up to 15 participants annually and continues to draw strong interest. This demand keeps the focus on projects where applied research can make the biggest difference.

For participants, the impact often continues well beyond the TRL placement. Many build lasting relationships with CCTTs, pursue follow-on collaborations and secure provincial innovation funding to advance their work. Labs+ is emerging as a clear entry point into Québec’s applied research ecosystem — not a one-off experience, but the beginning of a broader innovation journey.

CCTTs are also seeing increased engagement. Labs+ gives them a chance to engage earlier, working with student researchers to apply insights that can shape a project before it hits the market or major funding stages. For many centres, it expands their role in the innovation pipeline, complementing work with established SMEs while deepening connections with emerging talent. As interest grows, so does institutional buy-in. More CCTTs are looking to host participants and take a more active role.

“Labs+ works because it builds on what’s already here — strong expertise, trusted relationships, and a willingness to work together,” says Bélanger Laurin. “We hope this approach will make programs like TRL a perennial part of the innovation landscape.”

Related Stories

• Valorizing Canadian Innovation: How Labs4 and Labs+ Turn Research into Economic Value
• Labs4: Leveraging the know-how of Canada’s colleges to drive innovation and productivity

Labs4 will leverage the applied research expertise and industry connectivity of Canada’s colleges to drive innovation and productivity across sectors. The impact stories below highlight how institutions that lead Labs4’s regional hubs are already advancing the productization of research and commercialization of new technologies—from clean energy and advanced materials to health innovation and Indigenous entrepreneurship.

These examples demonstrate the real-world capacity of colleges, polytechnics, and universities to deliver solutions that support industry, serve communities, and strengthen Canada’s innovation economy.

Manitoba Hub

RRC Polytech and Les Verts Living grow urban innovation

With support from RRC Polytech’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) and the Prairie Research Kitchen, urban agriculture researchers at Les Verts Living developed TerracePro: a pesticide-free hydroponic growing system designed for indoor urban farming. The product moved from concept to market through applied research, prototyping, and faculty mentorship, showing how hands-on support can help scale sustainable agri-food innovations.

RRC Polytech expands composites research capacity

RRC Polytech’s Advanced Composites Development Centre is partnering with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Magellan Aerospace to advance and validate NRC’s composite forming technology for industrial use. The project applies NRC’s innovation directly to Magellan’s aerospace production line, demonstrating its readiness for large-scale integration while exploring a future business case for adopting automated layup and forming technologies. Supported through Labs4, this initiative strengthens RRC Polytech’s automation capabilities and exemplifies how applied research facilities help accelerate the commercialization of IP by testing technologies in real-world manufacturing environments.

Revitalizing Métis foodways through applied research

Rayne Ryle Côté, a Métis researcher and food innovator, is working with RRC Polytech and the Prairie Research Kitchen to reclaim traditional Métis food practices. Her work blends cultural knowledge with recipe development and product testing to create marketable food products rooted in Indigenous traditions, while strengthening community-based entrepreneurship.

British Columbia Hub

BCIT MAKE+ collaborates with Providence Research on medical innovations

BCIT’s MAKE+ group collaborated with Providence Health Care’s Providence Research to co-develop new medical devices through the annual Skunkworks innovation challenge. One result was a 3D-printed diabetic foot pad designed to relieve pressure and prevent injury, illustrating how applied research and clinical insight can accelerate patient-focused healthcare innovation.

BCIT students build AI model to support smarter airport operations

Students from BCIT’s Business Information Technology Management program worked with Vancouver International Airport to build an AI model predicting hourly demand for taxis and carshares. The project used real-time flight data to improve traffic flow and reduce emissions, offering both technical learning and a direct contribution to more efficient airport services.

Northern Alberta Hub

Turning plastic waste into industrial-grade materials

Dr. Muhammad Arshad’s research team at NAIT is working with Heartland Polymers to improve the quality and usability of recycled plastics. By developing new blends of polypropylene and scaling from lab to pilot production, the team is advancing sustainable alternatives for packaging and manufacturing and showcasing the circular economy in action.

NAIT research team develops peat alternatives for land and garden use

Researchers at NAIT are partnering with Plantae Technologies and the Métis Settlements Development Corporation to develop peat replacements made from crop residues like hemp, wheat, and barley. Supported by the Scotiabank Net-Zero Research Fund, the project aims to reduce emissions and create sustainable materials for reclamation and horticulture.

NAIT partners with startup to develop industrial batteries that use saltwater

At NAIT’s Centre for Grid Innovation, startup Aqua-Cell is developing a large-scale industrial battery that uses saltwater instead of rare or hazardous materials—offering a low-cost, locally made energy storage solution for the clean energy transition. With support from NAIT’s applied research staff, the company has refined and scaled its prototype into a grid-ready system that can operate even in extreme temperatures.

NAIT Applied Research partners with Lakeland College for a safer, stronger bison industry

To improve animal health monitoring and reduce stress-related losses in the bison industry, NAIT partnered with Lakeland College to develop BisonSense—a remote sensing system that collects real-time data on weight, muscle and fat development, and signs of illness. Designed to withstand Alberta’s harsh climate, the solar- and wind-powered system allows ranchers to monitor herds non-invasively, improving decision-making while reducing labour and animal handling.

Southern Alberta Hub

SAIT and IS Energy co-develop real-time flow monitoring tool

At SAIT, researchers worked with IS Energy to design and field-test FLOW, a compact flow meter that measures oil, gas, and water ratios in real time. Using optical sensor technology adapted from NASA, the device increases safety and accuracy in wellsite operations while reducing emissions and downtime, making energy innovation more efficient and sustainable.

Medical delivery using drones

Researchers at SAIT’s Centre for Research and Innovation in Unmanned Systems came together with researchers at University of Calgary’s W21C Research and Innovation Centre and the TeleMentored Ultrasound Supported Medical Interventions (TMUSMI) Research Group to provide Indigenous communities and remote access sites immediate real-time at-the-scene emergency response and health care delivery through the fusion of drones, medical devices, tele-mentoring and point-of-care testing and treatment.

Hybrid water desalination system integration for hydrogen production

SAIT’s Centre for Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions partnered with Arrowhead Abandonments to repurpose and optimize an existing Hybrid Water Desalination System to produce pure water for sustainable hydrogen production. By integrating advanced technologies such as ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration, the system is now capable of treating river water and ensures high purity water production for hydrogen electrolyzers.

Kuugalaaq cultural campus

In partnership with Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq / Kitikmeot Heritage Society, SAIT’s Green Building Technology Access Centre played a pivotal role in creating Kuugalaaq, a first-of-its-kind modular cultural workspace in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. This initiative seeks to bridge traditional Inuit knowledge with sustainable building practices, addressing the challenges of constructing energy-efficient infrastructure in Arctic conditions. Kuugalaaq serves as a hub for traditional activities, local innovation, and renewable energy testing while targeting high-performance building goals.

Saskatchewan Hub

New fibre processing line supports clean manufacturing in Saskatchewan

Sask Polytech’s Innovative Manufacturing Centre has added new capacity for processing agricultural biomass like flax and hemp. Located at the B-TAP facility in Hafford, the equipment enables the conversion of farm waste into high-quality fibres, supporting local manufacturers and creating new circular economy opportunities for the agri-food sector.

Sask Polytech and BetterCart advance grocery AI solutions

The Digital Integration Centre of Excellence at Sask Polytech is working with BetterCart Technologies on AI tools that help consumers compare grocery prices more effectively. The project focuses on building machine learning models that distinguish price changes and predict trends, enhancing retail analytics while providing students with real-world AI development experience.

Ontario Hub

Humber Polytechnic explores the metaverse for post-secondary learning

With support from eCampusOntario, Humber is exploring how metaverse technologies can support immersive learning experiences. Faculty, students, and partners are testing virtual environments that enhance engagement and collaboration and laying the groundwork for scalable, inclusive models of digital education.

Real-world learning drives innovation at Humber

At Humber, applied research is embedded across disciplines, giving students the chance to solve real industry problems while building their portfolios and career connections. From social innovation to new product development, these hands-on projects demonstrate how post-secondary institutions can drive community and economic impact.

Humber students design the future of driving with LeddarTech

In collaboration with automotive tech company LeddarTech, Humber students in industrial and interaction design helped prototype advanced driver assistance systems. The project challenged students to integrate AI-powered sensors into user-friendly vehicle interfaces, blending design thinking with industry needs to imagine the car of the future.

Healthcare access meets innovation in Humber’s mobile clinic project

Humber Nursing students and faculty co-designed a mobile, nurse-led health clinic to serve underserved communities in Toronto. Developed with community partners, the clinic model integrates health and social services in one accessible platform, showing how applied research and student leadership can address complex, real-world health inequities.

Québec Hub

Innovating in 3D manufacturing: COALIA and Fablab propel thermal innovation

COALIA worked with Fablab to improve the strength, efficiency, and sustainability of additive manufacturing. By expanding the use of biosourced and recycled materials and improving the reliability of 3D-printed components, this project demonstrates how applied research can accelerate industrial adoption and reduce environmental impact.

Revolutionizing workforce training by combining virtual reality and pedagogy

Modjo Solutions partnered with INÉDI to develop a virtual reality (VR) training system using digital twin technology. The platform simulates realistic manufacturing breakdowns, allowing learners to troubleshoot complex machinery in a safe, immersive environment. This applied research is now supporting the commercialization of scalable VR-based training solutions for both industry and education.

Modernizing fishing with a fish identification application powered by AI

Québec’s Ministry of the Environment partnered with CIMMI to develop iPêche, a mobile app powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision. Now widely adopted by anglers, iPêche is also generating valuable biodiversity data for conservation efforts, demonstrating how applied research can commercialize tech solutions that benefit both people and ecosystems.

The circular economy serving the recovery of contaminated soils and the energy transition

To address the dual challenges of contaminated soils and rising demand for critical metals, CTRI, COALIA, and Northex Environnement partnered to develop a mechanical separation method that recovers valuable metals without damaging soil integrity. This applied research collaboration is now enabling more sustainable, circular approaches to soil remediation and critical mineral recovery, advancing innovation with commercial and environmental impact.

Solidel and Novika Solutions: a partnership serving innovation

To advance the development of its innovative solar-powered Altitude streetlight, Solidel partnered with Novika Solutions to integrate wireless connectivity, remote programming, and other smart features into its multifunctional design. With support from Québec’s CCTT network and ERAC Centre-du-Québec, the collaboration helped accelerate product development while reducing errors and costs.

Kemitek helps Borale Soap Factory go from small batch to market-ready manufacturing

Kemitek partnered with Borale Soap Factory to scale up production using its new pre-commercial manufacturing facility, helping the company meet growing market demand. By providing access to pilot-scale equipment and technical support, Kemitek enabled Borale to move from small-batch production to a more efficient, commercially viable process.

Kemitek helps Visionaturolab scale natural bio-descaler

Kemitek supported Visionaturolab Inc. in developing and scaling up its new natural bio-descaler, playing a key role in moving the product toward commercialization. The collaboration reflects Kemitek’s ongoing role in helping innovative entrepreneurs bring sustainable products to market.

Atlantic Hub

NSCC researchers develop solar windows for smart buildings

At Nova Scotia Community College, researchers are partnering with GlasOcean Electric to develop semi-transparent solar windows that generate energy while letting in light. The project offers students hands-on training in clean energy and contributes to the commercialization of building-integrated solar technology.

Plug-and-play energy monitoring for marine vessels

Led by SEATAC at NSCC, this project developed a ready-to-use vessel monitoring system that helps operators track fuel use and reduce emissions. With real-world testing aboard working boats, the project delivered a practical, industry-ready tool for improving sustainability in Canada’s marine sector.

Portable energy generators scaled for market by NSCC team

NSCC partnered with GlasOcean Electric and COVE to help a local entrepreneur scale up portable renewable energy generators. The project refined prototype designs and improved production processes—supporting clean tech adoption while giving students experience in product commercialization.

At the inaugural Labs4 National Summit, hosted by RRC Polytech in Winnipeg, leaders from Canada’s colleges, universities, and innovation ecosystem gathered to mark a new chapter in the country’s productivity and commercialization agenda. The event underscored how Labs4 is connecting applied research and entrepreneurship through nationally coordinated, regionally delivered programs that give researcher-entrepreneurs the tools to commercialize new technologies and strengthen Canadian competitiveness.

Labs4 is Canada’s applied research commercialization engine, connecting colleges, polytechnics, and universities to turn intellectual property into market-ready products and services. By embedding IP generation, data stewardship, and commercialization training into every stage of applied research, Labs4 is helping Canada capture and retain the value of its own innovation.

Hosted by RRC Polytech — the national lead for Labs4 — the summit brought together innovation partners from across the country, including Labs4 leadership, regional hub managers, researcher-entrepreneurs, industry collaborators, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. Together, they celebrated how the network is mobilizing intellectual property, expanding access to commercialization training, and advancing a more inclusive, hands-on model of innovation leadership.

“Labs4 represents the next chapter in Manitoba’s innovation story, with RRC Polytech as a principal author,” said Fred Meier, President and CEO of RRC Polytech. “Leading this collaborative network validates that applied research is a vital link along Canada’s chain of innovation and increases our ability to support entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises across the country to transform their novel ideas into reality. Together, we’re accelerating the commercialization of intellectual property that boosts productivity, creating good jobs and spurring economic growth.”

Building Canada’s Bridge from Research to Market

Labs4’s rapid progress over the past year marks its transition from start-up to full national delivery. In just twelve months, the initiative has built a unified, coast-to-coast system that mobilizes intellectual property through applied research — linking 38 institutions, hundreds of researchers, and industry partners into Canada’s first truly integrated commercialization platform. In doing so, Labs4 is strengthening Canada’s ability to turn research into domestically owned ventures and technologies, and ensuring that intellectual property and economic returns stay within the Canadian innovation ecosystem.

Through two flagship programs — the Technology Readiness Level-Up (TRL) and Market to Lab (MtL) initiatives — Labs4 connects student and graduate researcher-entrepreneurs with mentors, applied research teams, and industry collaborators to advance prototypes, validate market opportunities, and launch ventures that serve real-world needs. These programs are nationally standardized but regionally tailored, ensuring that innovation support reflects local economies while supporting consistent quality, inclusivity, and impact.

This coordinated model is not just theoretical — it’s already producing measurable innovation outcomes across Canada. Each regional hub is demonstrating how national consistency, local delivery, and applied research excellence combine to move ideas from discovery to deployment.

For instance, a research team based at the University of Calgary and SAIT is scaling a nanobubble-based cleantech system that enhances wastewater treatment and improves environmental performance. In Saskatchewan, a PhD researcher in entomology is developing an AI-powered mobile app that helps Prairie farmers identify insect pests and beneficial species to improve crop management and reduce pesticide use. In Ontario, a participant is developing a spray-on EEG applicator to expand access to brain health diagnostics. And in Québec, a PhD researcher is developing low-cost, durable electrodes to make green hydrogen production more affordable. These are just a few examples among many.

“What makes Labs4 different is how it blends the strengths of colleges and polytechnics with the ambition of research-based start-ups,” said Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director of Research Partnerships and Innovation at RRC Polytech and Chair, Labs4 Executive Committee.

“This unprecedented network of 38 colleges and universities is mobilizing the transition of intellectual property to markets across Canada through the productization of research, delivered through applied research units that also serve SMEs and strengthen their competitive advantage. By building relationships across disciplines, sectors, and regions, we’re creating a model of innovation that turns collective intelligence into real-world solutions.”

At the summit, participants saw firsthand how this model works. Panels and workshops highlighted Labs4’s progress in developing national data-tracking systems, standardized reporting, and bilingual digital platforms that connect hubs, participants, and partners nationwide — ensuring transparency, accountability, and scalability. Together, these systems make Labs4 a sustainable, measurable engine for Canada’s innovation and productivity growth.

Scaling Innovation: Collaboration, AI, and Inclusion

The Labs4 National Summit wasn’t just a showcase, but a forward look at how Canada can connect research, entrepreneurship, and technology to build a more resilient, productive economy.

Joel Semeniuk, President and CEO of Primal, opened the conversation by challenging participants to rethink how innovation happens. He called for a shift from a “one-brain” model — where ideas advance in isolation — to a “many-brains” model that scales knowledge through collaboration, iteration, and shared infrastructure.

“Canada is historically exceptional at providing the world with practical solutions, but with change accelerating exponentially, our competitiveness will depend on how fast we can mobilize collective intelligence,” Semeniuk said. “Labs4 is proving what that looks like in action — connecting hundreds of innovators and applied researchers into one network that learns and grows together.”

The conversation on transformation continued with Paul Cheek, Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship & AI. Artificial intelligence and data sovereignty are critical to Canada’s future competitiveness. Cheek’s AI-Driven Enterprises (AIDE) workshop reframed entrepreneurship for the AI era, showing participants how artificial intelligence can compress the entire innovation lifecycle — from idea to product — into weeks instead of months. Using real-world examples and the Startup Tactics AI toolkit, Cheek demonstrated how entrepreneurs can now use AI agents to perform tasks that once required full teams: market research, financial modeling, product design, and customer validation.

“We’re not just building AI-driven companies,” Cheek explained. “We’re redefining how business itself operates: using AI to bend the vector of innovation, accelerate clockspeed, and create more solutions than problems. By developing AI-enabled commercialization models that are both ethical and Canadian-governed, Labs4 is helping establish the foundations of sovereign AI infrastructure, and ensuring that the benefits of machine intelligence are captured within our economy.”

For Labs4, the implications are immediate. By embedding AIDE principles into its TRL and MtL programs, Labs4 is equipping Canada’s researcher-entrepreneurs with AI literacy, decision-support tools, and productivity systems that dramatically shorten the path from lab to market. This integration of human creativity with AI-enabled efficiency positions Labs4 as a national engine not only for commercialization, but for the reinvention of how innovation happens. “AI is a powerful tool that will change work, not eliminate work – together, we must quickly mitigate the risks and embrace it to drive the kind of progress that we’re all committed to,” said Raj Deol, Regional Program Manager, Labs4 Southern Alberta Hub at SAIT. “This week’s presentations and relationship-building activities have been invaluable. With a deeper understanding of AI opportunities along with the approaches and capabilities at other hubs, we’re better prepared and more eager than ever to engage our spoke partners in our respective regions.”         

Embedding Inclusion: Indigenous Innovation at the Centre

A recurring theme throughout the summit was that true innovation must also be inclusive. In July, leaders from Labs4’s Indigenous Entrepreneurship Hubs — Mittohnee Pogo’ohtah (RRC Polytech), pawâcikêwikamik (SIIT), and FlintHub (United College) gathered in Winnipeg for an Opening Pipe Ceremony led by Grandmother Helen Settee to ground their innovation journey with culture and shared purpose. Since then, the hubs have welcomed new cohorts of Indigenous researcher-entrepreneurs, recruited the network’s first Indigenous Program Manager, and convened the inaugural Indigenous Advisory Circle, formalizing community-led governance within the Labs4 framework.

These hubs have advanced a truly Indigenous-led approach to commercialization — one that begins with ceremony, guided by Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and extends into mentorship, training, and community-based entrepreneurship.

Indigenous entrepreneur Zachary Flett, attending the summit, said that his experience with Mittohnee inspired him to expand that spirit of collaboration through his own venture. From Sagkeeng First Nation, Flett is the founder of IndigiHub, a Winnipeg-based Indigenous-owned platform that connects entrepreneurs, communities, and investors to accelerate Indigenous innovation and economic growth.

“Being part of Mittohnee has been a powerful experience that reminded me how much impact collaboration can have when we come together as Indigenous entrepreneurs,” he said. “Through IndigiHub, my goal is to make funding and resources more accessible in one place, so others can take their ideas further without feeling lost in the process. Programs like Mittohnee and partnerships like Labs4 show what’s possible when we create spaces that empower Indigenous innovation and real opportunity.”

Darion Ducharme, founder of Teqare and a member of Lac Seul First Nation, also attended the summit. His company delivers digital safety and cybersecurity workshops to more than 70 First Nations communities and 100 schools, developed with guidance from RRC Polytech. By blending technology with cultural understanding, Teqare helps elders and youth navigate the internet safely — proof that inclusive, community-based entrepreneurship can build both social resilience and digital sovereignty.

“Being part of the inaugural Mittohnee cohort has been deeply meaningful. As the owner of a First Nations technology education company, I know how important it is to have support that understands our context. We feel supported not just as entrepreneurs, but as people first. They listen, they adapt, and they make sure we have what we need to keep growing. Mittohnee and Labs4 are helping us build strong Indigenous businesses in a way that feels respectful, empowering, and truly rooted in community.”

According to Nasil Nam, Labs4’s National Director, the organization’s future will be defined by this blend of technological adoption, collaboration, and inclusion.

“Everything we’ve built over the past year has laid the foundation for what comes next,” said Nam. “With national systems and partnerships now in place, Labs4 is entering a phase defined by scale, collaboration, and measurable impact. Today, we’ve moved from that start-up phase into full national delivery. We’re no longer testing the idea — we’re living it. Our goal is simple: to make Canada the best place in the world to turn research into real-world solutions.”

Learn more about Labs4 programs, including the Winter 2026 TRL cohort and MtL pilot, at labs4.ca.

Labs4 acknowledges the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through its Lab-to-Market program funding.