Grant: Lab to Market grants

Lab2MarketTM (L2M) envisions Canada as a global leader in transforming academic research into innovative solutions that drive social impact and economic growth. As a national beacon for innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship, L2M empowers students, researchers, and highly qualified personnel (HQP) through specialized training that bridges the gap between research and real-world applications. With over 50 participating research institutions and 150 collaborators, including 14 of Canada’s U15 universities, Lab2Market is at the forefront of addressing the challenge of translating Canada’s research prowess into tangible outcomes. L2M operates as a “network of networks,” blending national coordination with regional delivery through six Regional Hubs: BC, Alberta, Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic. Additionally, a National Health Hub focuses on health and life sciences. The seven lead institutions and 17 delivery institutions have been strategically selected for their expertise in research commercialization, entrepreneurial training, and robust networks supporting new ventures. Over the past 4 years, a bootstrapped pilot trained over 1,000 participants created a standardized curriculum, trained a national pool of facilitators, established the network foundation and delivered results proving the model. The NSERC funding will enable L2M to significantly broaden its reach, supporting full-time resources to strengthen infrastructure and foster collaboration across Canada. At the heart of L2M’s program design and delivery lies a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA), ensuring that participants, instructors, and mentors reflect the diversity of our nation. The L2M Network proposes $76 million in direct cash investment, excluding in-kind contributions, with $40 million earmarked for student stipends. It is anticipated that 85% of NSERC funds will be used to expand program delivery across the country. Over the next five years, this initiative will equip more than 7,000 students, researchers, and HQP with the skills to thrive in an evolving innovation landscape. L2M also aims to inject the ecosystem with over 900 early-stage, research-based ventures, each with validated market needs and led by trained entrepreneurial and technical experts.