Mitacs and MaRS reaffirm collaboration to strengthen Canada’s innovation ecosystem

Toronto, ON – Mitacs and MaRS have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening Canada’s innovation ecosystem by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 

The MOU was signed in Toronto by Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO of Mitacs, and Grace Lee Reynolds, CEO of MaRS. As a national innovation connector, Mitacs supports business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. MaRS is North America’s largest urban innovation hub that helps start-ups, researchers, investors, and global companies collaborate to solve big challenges in sectors like health, cleantech, fintech, and AI.  

While Mitacs and MaRS previously had a delivery MOU from 2015 to 2020, this new MOU aims to formalize the relationship and strengthen collaboration, leveraging MaRS’ extensive network and ecosystem influence. 

Together, Mitacs and MaRS will work to strengthen and grow the Canadian economy by:  

• Supporting Canadian companies, attracting and retaining top talent and accelerating commercialization through strategic collaboration. 

• Developing and launching collaborative projects using both organizations’ networks and expertise to help advance innovation and market-ready solutions. 

• Sharing knowledge across key sectors (e.g., health and life sciences, cleantech, AI) by co-hosting roundtables and events. 

• Streamlining processes to solve real-world challenges by connecting industry with academia and global partners, creating new opportunities for science and technology ventures. 

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by start-ups, researchers, investors, and global companies, this renewed collaboration between Mitacs and MaRS demonstrates an ongoing commitment to strengthening Canada’s innovation capacity and driving global competitiveness.

Quotes

“Mitacs is proud to strengthen our collaboration with MaRS, building on our shared commitment to grow Canada’s innovation capacity and global competitiveness. Together we will support Canadian companies, attract talent, share knowledge, and drive the innovative, market-ready solutions needed to build a strong and resilient Canadian economy.”

Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs

“This collaboration with Mitacs reflects our shared commitment to accelerating innovation, scaling Canadian ventures and attracting and retaining top talent to fuel long-term economic growth. Together, we’re creating new pathways to connect research, talent, and commercialization for maximum impact”

Grace Lee Reynolds, CEO, MaRS

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 MaRS Discovery District 

MaRS Discovery District is a charitable organization and North America’s largest urban innovation hub, dedicated to helping Canadian technology companies succeed. With a focus on climate, health sciences and other emerging technologies, MaRS supports startups tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues. MaRS spans more than 1.5 million square feet of cutting-edge office, lab, meeting and event space in downtown Toronto across two locations—The MaRS Centre and MaRS Waterfront. Since 2010, MaRS has helped ventures generate $11.5 billion in cumulative revenue, raise $19 billion in funding and create and maintain more than 33,000 jobs. The MaRS platform also includes MaRS IAF, one Canada’s top seed-stage venture funds. Through its world-class facilities, strategic programs and partnerships, MaRS accelerates the adoption of groundbreaking Canadian technology and bolsters a globally competitive innovation ecosystem.

Media contact:

Caroline Dobuzinskis, Manager, Communications & Public Affairs

Mitacs

Email: [email protected]