Hamilton to Halton: Where innovation meets impact
Representing almost 10% of Ontario’s GDP, major academic and hospitals institutions, Hamilton-Halton is a collaborative region oriented towards supporting scaling companies to grow and excel. If you’re looking to develop, test, trial, manufacture, or export – we are here to help catalyze your innovation.
Connect, collaborate, and grow with us.
Meet the organizations
McMaster University Entrepreneurship
McMaster University is one of the world’s top universities for global and industry impact. Our founders are deeply embedded in industry, health care and the community which means Made-at-Mac ventures solve real-world problems.
Invest in Hamilton
Invest in Hamilton is the city’s hub for business support, helping startups, relocations, foreign investment, and expansions to drive growth, job creation, and revitalization in Hamilton.
Generator at Sheridan
Generator at Sheridan is where research, innovation, and entrepreneurship happen.
The Forge
The Forge is McMaster’s startup hub, supporting founders from all industries with mentorship, education, and resources through cohort-based programs to help develop, validate, and grow high-impact ventures.
The Research Institute of St Joe's Hamilton
Together, we are leading disruptive innovation to create, test, and spread novel solutions that will transform healthcare.
McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI)
MMRI is a top research hub offering advanced tech, expert teams, and real-world manufacturing solutions to drive innovation and training.
Town of Oakville
Invest Oakville provides businesses with guidance and support through every stage of business development and growth, including site selection and development assistance, funding support and data to make informed investment decisions.
Mohawk College IDEAWORKS
IDEAWORKS serves as Mohawk College’s hub for Applied Research, offering over
1000 industry, community and government partners access to expert faculty,
talented student researchers, world-class labs, and industry-leading technology.
Hamilton Health Sciences
Hamilton Health Sciences is a leading academic health sciences network committed to world-class patient care, groundbreaking research, and innovation that are shaping the future of healthcare in Canada and beyond.
Innovation Factory
Innovation Factory is a not-for-profit business accelerator, helping entrepreneurs turn big ideas into thriving businesses—with expert mentorship, resources, and a community that accelerates success.
Synapse Life Science Consortium
Synapse is a not-for-profit formal regional cluster organization, uniting Hamilton’s health innovation leaders to turn groundbreaking research and innovation into real-world impact, faster.
News from the network
- Leyla Soleymani receives Dorothy Killam Fellowship for research on next-generation wearable health-care devices
- McMaster Engineering startup Harvest Systems ranked among top investible clean tech companies in Canada
- Made at Mac: Compression wear, but make it fashion
- McMaster spin-off Afynia Laboratories secures $5 million to fast-track groundbreaking endometriosis blood test
- Business Incubator: Learn more about our Business Incubator program, a limited-enrollment 12-month incubation program for startups with a prototype or early market traction to support your unique needs and promote growth.
- The Forge Turns 10: Join us as we celebrate 10 years of innovation, impact, and entrepreneurial success at The Forge! This special event will bring together founders, alumni, mentors, partners, and the community to reflect on a decade of bold ideas, groundbreaking startups, and the people who made it all possible.
- Stay up to date with the latest news from The Forge community.
Check out our flyer (PDF) to learn more about Innovation at St. Joe’s Hamilton!
Organization announcements:
- Ontario Welcomes Siemens’ $150 Million Investment to Establish New Technology Centre in Oakville | Ontario Newsroom
- Ford Pro Demand Drives F-Series Super Duty Production Expansion to Canada, with Future Multi-Energy Technology
- First Gulf News – Element Celebrates Grand Opening of New Facility at Bronte Station
- GL Chemtec received $750,000 to support Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-certified production in Oakville and M&G Steel Ltd. received $2.8M to expand its capacity to manufacture structural steel solutions from Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
- ABI Research ranks Geotab #1 Global Commercial Telematics Vendor for Fourth Consecutive Year
Programs, tools and events:
- Mohawk College, City of Hamilton drone-driven project recognized by national water management organization
- Mohawk College Additive Manufacturing Innovation Centre receives $1 million from Canada Foundation for Innovation
- Mohawk College retains top 10 ranking in applied research
- Impact Report 2025
- Ideas to Impact 2025
- Mohawk Health Research
- 3rd annual SPARK Funding Competition
- 2024 Building Bridges Symposium BBS
- 2023-2024 Impact Report
- Research & Innovation Articles from HHS Share
- Top Research Hospital
AI and Genetics:
- HHS is collaborating with cancer genetics expert Dr. Andrea Eisen to integrate genetic information into its AI Learning Health System for Breast Cancer, aiming to improve outcomes for high-risk patients.
- Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) surgeons are testing an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can catch signs of life-threatening complications early in patients recovering from certain colorectal, liver and pancreatic surgeries. :
Breast Cancer Research:
PHRI:
- Innovation Factory awards $120,000 in cash and prizes at 2025 Synapse Life Science Competition
- Founders Unplugged-Advice on Navigating the Early Stages of Entrepreneurship
- New life science products and services launch through support from Innovation Factory
- Innovation Factory welcomes 10 new companies to the Runway Program
