Scaling Ideas: Key Innovations Shaping the Future at Web Summit Vancouver

In May 2025, Mitacs joined thousands of tech innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers at the first-ever Web Summit Vancouver, a global tech event that made its North American debut in British Columbia.

Over 15,000 attendees gathered to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, climate tech, cybersecurity, and more. But beyond the breakout sessions and keynote stages, one theme stood out: innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through connection.

At Mitacs, connection is at the core of what we do. We build partnerships that link academic research with industry, helping organizations solve pressing challenges while launching careers for students and researchers. That’s why innovation is at the heart of what we do.

Turning Research into Real-World Change

Mitacs-funded programs are more than academic exercises, they’re launchpads. Our programs empower the post-secondary community to solve problems for industry partners across all sectors. Sometimes that means improving a piece of manufacturing equipment; other times, it means laying the groundwork for a brand-new business. We’ve seen interns go on to establish start-ups that build on their Mitacs-supported research, developing companies in sectors such as clean tech, AI, digital health that have a direct impact on the industry.

For example, one of our interns used their Mitacs-supported research on PET imaging systems to co-develop next-generation brain imaging tech, work that’s now shaping a promising MedTech company called Cubresa Inc. At Web Summit, that same journey, from research to commercialization, was playing out across hundreds of founders. Another indicator of Mitacs’s mandate to help make that leap possible.

Helping Talent Navigate the Innovation Ecosystem

Those stepping from research into the innovation space for the first time can face barriers. That’s where Mitacs excels, offering structure, funding, and mentorship to guide Canada’s brightest minds through that transition.

We operate at the intersection of academia, industry, and government, and Web Summit echoes that intersection. Start-ups were pitching to policymakers. Governments were meeting researchers. Corporations were scouting for the next big idea. It underscored what we already know: innovation doesn’t often follow a linear path. It follows relationships.

Web Summit Vancouver made it clear: the future belongs to the curious, the collaborative, and the connected. At Mitacs, we’re proud to be the organization that helps bring those groups together, helping Canadian talent take their first steps toward impact.

Let’s Talk About Your Next Project

If your company is navigating change, entering a new market, or facing a technical roadblock, Mitacs can help you find a research-based solution. With streamlined processes and proven impact, Mitacs-supported innovation projects are built to meet business timelines and deliver real value.