Mitacs and OBIO® renew partnership to accelerate health science innovation in Ontario

Toronto, ON – Mitacs, a national innovation connector that supports business-academic research collaboration, and OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The renewed agreement establishes a structured framework for ongoing collaboration to drive health technology innovation and ecosystem growth in Ontario and across Canada.

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs, and Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO, OBIO®, signed the MOU at Life Sciences Central in Toronto’s MaRS Centre. Building on a prior successful partnership, the new MOU supports Mitacs’ and OBIO’s mandates to foster economic growth and attract investment to Canada’s life sciences sector:

• Identifying pilot initiatives to help solve real-world challenges with bold solutions
• Strengthening referral networks to connect researchers, start-ups, and industry
• Supporting OBIO® members in accessing Mitacs-funded research opportunities that link academic expertise to industry needs

Between 2018–19 and 2024–25, Mitacs invested Can$203.3 million in research and development within Ontario’s life sciences sector, supporting more than 3,300 innovation projects in collaboration with over 1,600 industry partners.

Quotes

“OBIO® and Mitacs share a commitment to health technology innovation, ecosystem growth, and investment ​across the life sciences. Through our renewed agreement, we will continue working to strengthen academic-industry partnerships — creating networks that connect researchers, start-ups, and industry — and provide access to Mitacs-funded research opportunities and pilot initiatives to help solve real-world challenges.”

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs

“This is an exciting time for the life sciences and health tech sector, as more and more early-stage companies are commercializing their technologies across healthcare systems for the benefit of patients. Our partnership with Mitacs will strengthen collaborations between the next generation of companies and academic experts to build innovation capacity and establish Canada as a global life sciences hub.”

Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO, OBIO®

About Mitacs 

For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. We support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. 

As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. We serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services. 

This is a critical time for Canada to think big and take bold action. Mitacs is ready to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, powered by ideas, talent and innovation. 

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.

About OBIO® 

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to address the needs of the next generation of companies developing innovative human health products. OBIO® supports early-stage and venture-backed life sciences and health tech companies enabling them to raise capital, hire and train industry-ready talent, facilitate the commercialization and market adoption of their technologies in health systems, and access infrastructure. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the healthcare system and government. For more information, please visit obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X. 

For further information, please contact: 

Caroline Dobuzinskis, Manager, Communications & Public Affairs,

Mitacs

Email: [email protected] 

Doriane Rey

Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, OBIO® 

Email: [email protected]