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Toronto, ON – Toronto, ON – Mitacs, a national innovation connector that supports business-academic research collaboration, and Life Sciences Ontario (LSO), Ontario’s leading industry association representing pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical technology, digital health and research-intensive organizations across the life sciences ecosystem, have announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on strategic initiatives.
Through this agreement, Mitacs and LSO will collaborate to advance shared priorities in research, talent development, policy leadership, and ecosystem development. This collaboration is designed to strengthen Ontario’s life sciences sector by equipping companies with the expertise, connections, and resources to accelerate innovation and drive research-based economic growth.
Key areas of collaboration include:
- Strategic collaboration on joint initiatives: Explore pilot initiatives that leverage new approaches for advancing life sciences R&D, scale innovation, and bring technologies to market.
- Thought leadership and ecosystem development: Engage jointly in thought leadership and events, roundtables, and knowledge sharing and discussions to strengthen Ontario’s innovation ecosystem.
- Network alignment and referrals: Enhance pathways that connect companies with talent, expertise, and partnership opportunities to support growth and competitiveness.
From left to right: Leela D’Cruz, VP, Business Operations, LSO; Joanne Tejeda, Senior Advisor Strategic Partnerships and National Life Sciences & Health Lead, Mitacs; Derek Newton, SVP Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, Mitacs; Jason Field, President & CEO, LSO; Charlini Nicholapillai, Manager of Public and Government Relations, LSO; and Andy Donovan, VP Strategic Partnerships, LSO.
Quotes
“Mitacs and Life Sciences Ontario are committed to advancing Ontario’s life sciences innovation ecosystem. This partnership is an important example of how bridging academia and industry can bolster R&D, build innovation capacity, and strengthen Canada’s global competitiveness.”
— Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs
“Working with Mitacs strengthens the connections between talent, research, and industry that are essential to sustaining Ontario’s global competitiveness in life sciences.”
— Dr. Jason Field, President & CEO, Life Sciences Ontario
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.
For further information, please contact:
Ziona Eyob
Senior Communications & Public Affairs Specialist
Mitacs
[email protected]
About Life Sciences Ontario
Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is a member-funded, not-for-profit organization with a legacy of more than 30 years advancing the success of Ontario’s life sciences sector. LSO collaborates with governments, academia, industry, and other life science organizations in Ontario and across Canada to promote and encourage commercial success throughout the sector. The organization provides a wide range of networking and educational events, operates a scholarship and mentorship program that is helping to develop highly-skilled talent and build new business opportunities for the life sciences sector. LSO is an effective conduit for delivering policy options to governments, and is dedicated to promoting Ontario’s life sciences sector internationally.
