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Lab2Market Validate Program (Fall 2025)

Please contact IP Officer if you are interested in applying

2025 Fall Ontario Cohort - Lab2Market Validate Program 

Canada’s leading research commercialization initiative, delivered by York University’s YSpace. Learn more information about the official program announcement.

Application Link

Applicant Information Package 

Description 

Lab2Market Validate is 4-month, immersive program that provides research teams, consisting of a graduate student and their faculty supervisor, with the opportunity to evaluate the commercial potential of their technology through a structured, data-driven market research process. Participants gain valuable entrepreneurial skills, equipping them to successfully translate their innovations from the lab to the market.

York University, through its innovation hub YSpace, is proud to serve as the official academic partner for the 2025 Ontario Cohort of the Lab2Market Validate program—Canada’s leading research commercialization initiative.  

This four-month program supports graduate students and their faculty supervisors in evaluating the commercial potential of their research through a structured, data-driven market validation process. Participants receive $10,000 in funding, access to national networks of innovation leaders, and mentorship from experienced researchers and entrepreneurs.


Program Summary 

Deadlines:

Internal Review Deadline by IP Officer: May 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST 

L2M Application Submission Deadline: May 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST  


Funding: $10,000.00 CAD

Duration: September to December 2025 

How to Apply:

  1. Consult with IP Officer, Peter Shao to discuss all three internal requirements and confirm L2M program eligibility by May 2, 2025.  
  2. The student or postdoc lead must submit the online application to L2M by May 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Contact: Peter Shao (IP Officer), email: Yiming.shao@ontariotechu.ca 

Program information:


Ontario Tech Internal Requirements

All applicants must complete the following three internal requirements before starting their L2M online application. 

  1. Invention Disclosure form – As per the Ontario Tech Intellectual Property Policy, L2M applicants (PI) must disclose to the University the intellectual property they wish to commercialize. You can find a copy of the IP disclosure form at the bottom of the page (see here).
  2. Disclose Conflict of Interest (COI) – To comply with our Conflict of Interest in Research Policy, L2M applications (PI) must disclose to the University any COI.  In the event there is a COI, an approved management plan will be formulated to mitigate the COI.
  3. Enrollment into Brilliant Catalyst – To maximize the benefits of the L2M program, ELs will be required to enroll into the Brilliant Catalyst program to access additional support from the incubator.

L2M Program Eligibility 

  1. Applicants must apply in teams of Entrepreneurial Lead (EL) and Technical Lead (TL).
    1. EL is a full-time graduate (Masters or Ph.D.) student or postdoctoral fellow (service is under 5 years). Recent graduates must be within two years of graduation at the start of their project. The EL is expected to work on the project full-time (a minimum of 25 hours/week) over the duration of the program and must represent the team in all training sessions.
    2. TL is a faculty at Canadian universities must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funds. The TL is expected to participate in select training sessions and assist the EL throughout the program.
  2. The project, which the team applies with, must be based on research conducted by the entrepreneurial lead and funded through the technical lead’s lab.

Program Overview

Benefits for Participants: 

Lab2Market Validate is a 4-month program that supports researchers in exploring the commercial potential of their ideas. The program offers,

  1. Curriculum (lectures, talks and workshops) designed to guide researchers through the validation process. 
  2. An advisor network (founders, industry leaders and service providers) to help researchers through their business venture.  
  3. A community of like-minded entrepreneurs. 
  4. $10,000 in funding to support researchers in getting their idea off the ground. 

Application Process: 

The selection process involves three key stages. 

Stage 1: Online Application Submission - Submit your online Lab2Market Validate application by May 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST

Stage 2: L2M Team Interviews - The selected applicants will participate in team interviews. It is mandatory that both the Entrepreneurial Lead (the student) and Technical Lead (the faculty researcher/PI) attend. The interview will assess the team’s dynamic and overall program fit.

Stage 3: Mitacs BSI Grant Application - Applicants selected from team interviews will work with their respective Mitacs Business Development representatives to complete a Mitacs BSI Grant Application.