New partnership connects startups and scale-ups with more than 1,100 postsecondary researchers to help solve technical and R&D challenges
TORONTO, November 2, 2026 – MaRS-supported ventures now have a new way to bring Ontario’s top academic minds onto their toughest technical problems. Through a two-year partnership between MaRS Discovery District and eCampusOntario, MaRS-supported ventures can access research expertise from Ontario’s colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes to help address technical challenges, validate products and advance research and development.
“Some of the answers to a startup’s toughest technical questions are already sitting in Ontario’s labs and classrooms. The challenge is finding the right expert and getting the collaboration started. This partnership makes those connections easier, helping founders apply research to real-world challenges and bring innovations closer to market,” said Grace Lee Reynolds, CEO, MaRS Discovery District.
Through the partnership, MaRS-supported ventures can access:
- Research expertise. Connections to more than 1,100 faculty members and research experts who can support industry needs, from product testing to clinical trial design via the Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform (OCIP.ai), powered by eCampusOntario.
- Funding guidance. Information about funding programs that can help offset the cost of research collaborations.
- Product validation and development. Academic expertise to help ventures test, refine and validate technologies, address technical challenges and make more informed decisions about bringing products to market.
- Talent and skills development. Connections to students through work-integrated learning opportunities as well as upskilling programs for growing teams.
- Commercialization support. MaRS advisory services, investor networks and market connections to help ventures translate research into commercialization opportunities and business growth.
“Strengthening partnerships between higher education and small and medium-sized businesses is essential to advancing Canadian innovation, productivity and competitiveness,” said Robert Luke, CEO, eCampusOntario. “At a time of rapid technological change, evolving global trade relationships and increased focus on national sovereignty, bringing together the expertise of our postsecondary institutions with the agility and ambition of Canadian businesses to turn ideas into solutions is critical. This collaboration will help strengthen Canada’s economy by creating new opportunities for growth.”
MaRS Discovery District is a charitable organization and one of North America’s largest urban innovation hubs, helping Canadian science and technology companies commercialize and scale. Building on a 25-year legacy of supporting founders, MaRS connects ventures with capital, customers, talent and expertise, through venture programming and partnerships, MaRS IAF (one of Canada’s most active seed-stage venture funds), MaRS Connect (a live digital marketplace linking commercially ready ventures with buyers, partners and sources of capital), and more than 1.5 million square feet of world-class lab, office and event space across the MaRS Centre and MaRS Waterfront in downtown Toronto. Since 2010, MaRS-supported ventures have generated $11.5 billion in cumulative revenue, raised $19 billion in funding and created and maintained more than 33,000 jobs.
eCampusOntario is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, that supports innovation, collaboration and digital-by-design education in Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes.
The organization provides the sector with platforms, programs, and services to advance digital participation in postsecondary education, connecting Ontario’s postsecondary institutions and learners to the future of learning and work.
For more information or to schedule and interview:
Wendy Bairos, Communication Director, MaRS Discovery District
wbairos@marsdd.com
Jason Northway-Frank, Senior Manager, Governance and Public Relations, eCampusOntario
jnorthway-frank@ecampusontario.ca
