Page 9 - Innovation Factory Impact Report 2025

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A START-UP

Innovation is rarely a solo endeavour. To help entrepreneurs turn bold ideas
into market-ready businesses, it takes the collective effort of funders and
partners who are invested in their growth and success.

At the heart of this support are our provincial and federal funders. The

Ministry of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT) fuels our
core programming and operations across the region, ensuring that Ontario-

based founders have access to the expertise and resources they need. The
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev

Ontario) enables our targeted commercialization programs, including SOPHIE,
CAMEDA, and the i.d.e.a. Fund, helping high-potential companies bring their
solutions to market faster. The National Research Council of Canada

Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) backs our HEALTHI
program and unlocks intellectual property resources, empowering

entrepreneurs to protect and advance their innovations.

Their contributions are magnified by the wider ecosystem that surrounds us.

From hospitals, academic institutions, and contract development and
manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) to law firms and leading industry firms,

all play a vital role in moving innovations forward. Our municipal and
corporate partners also support our programming and provide our clients

with access to expertise—further reinforcing the regional infrastructure
entrepreneurs need to thrive.

This ecosystem of support ensures that innovation in our region doesn’t just
start—it scales, sustains, and thrives.