Only Canadian university

in Times Higher Education's top 25 universities working with the world's most innovative companies

 

Nearly doubled

Patent applications filed and issued per year since 2010

An Innovation and Startup Powerhouse

Research that feeds innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization is thriving at U of T. In all sectors and across all of our campuses, our faculty and students are turning ideas into products, services, jobs, and companies that are contributing to the Canadian economy and improving lives around the world.

We are a North American leader in the number of new IP-based startups, in the number of new invention disclosures, and in the number of new licenses and options. From 2010 to 2015 the University of Toronto (excluding hospitals) has filed a total of 263 patent applications and has been issued a total of 115 US patents. The number of patent applications filed and issued per year has nearly doubled. We’re on an upward trajectory and we plan to keep on going.

Companies and organizations want to partner with us

The University of Toronto is the only Canadian institution named in Times Higher Education's first-ever listing of top universities working with the world's most innovative companies. U of T ranked 18th in the world and 1st in Canada, one notch ahead of Johns Hopkins University and four above the University of Cambridge. U of T is known for its culture of innovation, research partnerships that span the globe, a diverse array of collaborations with private sector and public sector organizations, and a vibrant entrepreneurship culture supported by a network of campus-linked accelerators and incubators.

200+

Student-led startup teams

University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (formerly the Banting and Best Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and our numerous campus-led accelerator/incubator programs form a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem that draws on the depth and breadth of expertise from across U of T’s diverse faculties, departments and campuses.

Along with the services of the Innovations and Partnerships Office, U of T Entrepreneurship makes it easy and transparent for any kind of entrepreneur — from beginners in business to world-class researchers and social innovators — to take their early-stage ideas through the patent process, identify industry collaborators, and help turn prototypes into market-ready products and services.

With renewed investment from the Ontario Centres of Excellence Campus-Linked Accelerators program, U of T Entrepreneurship is creating opportunities for entrepreneurship education and to support our students in translating new knowledge for social and economic good.

 


New
Premier Kathleen Wynne and federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains were part of the announcement for the US $225 million investment in stem cell therapies for heart and degenerative degenerative brain diseases. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)
U of T PhD student Ali Punjani says the ability to determine the 3D structures of protein is critical in understanding how they work and how they will respond to drug therapies. (Photo by Ken Jones)
Dr. Beverley Orser addressed Parliament Hill on her U.S. patent for a class of drugs that helps patients with memory loss due to anesthesia. (Erin Howe photo)
Benjamin Alarie, professor at the Faculty of Law and CEO of Blue J Legal. Blue J Legal is a virtual tool that allows lawyers to simulate the judgment of a court. (Lisa Sakulensky photo)
Nanoleaf founder and U of T grad Gimmy Chu. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)
The iamsick team trained and mentored 14 undergraduate U of T students through course-based work experience internship programs during summer and fall 2016. (iamsick photo)
Professor Stephen Scherer is partnering with Illumina and other leading health tech innovators. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)
Cheng Lu at the SkySolar Canada plant in Brampton.

 

Current and former U of T students Dikshant Batra (Nova Sentio), Rhea Puri (SoCity), Bin Liu (iMerciv), Christina Cai (Knowtions), and Ryan Doherty (iamsick.ca) with Ontario Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell. (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)