Concordia to co-lead NSERC-funded Lab2Market initiative in Quebec
Concordia is the co-lead institution for Quebec in the expansion of the Lab2Market (L2M) initiative, Canada’s first national-level research commercialization program supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
This initiative aims to improve Canada’s performance in research commercialization and startup creation by transforming academic research into successful technology-based ventures.
L2M Validate will take place during spring 2025, and be administered by V1 Studio, a Concordia-based non-profit that builds programs to support researchers and graduate students at the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
In the fall of 2025, Concordia will deliver the Launch program through District 3, which over the last decade has established Concordia as a startup leader in Quebec. This three-month accelerator is designed to help entrepreneurial students and research teams build and grow their ventures into viable businesses.
Inspired by MIT’s Delta V Accelerator and offered in partnership with the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, Launch provides tailored mentorship, hands-on experience through a simulated board of directors, and significant financial support, including stipends and milestone payments.
Concordia will deliver Launch in English, with Université Laval offering the program in French. This marks the first time the Launch program is being hosted by Quebec universities, reflecting a milestone in the province's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Concordia to play a leadership role in fostering the next wave of innovation training in Quebec and beyond,” says Aaron Johnson, associate vice-president of research, strategic institutional initiatives and innovation. “Lab2Market provides invaluable resources and mentorship to startups ready to scale their operations.”
Lab2Market offers an immersive, experiential approach to entrepreneurship, supporting researchers to develop entrepreneurial skills and create startups as a hands-on learning modality.
The initiative is designed to guide participants through every stage of their entrepreneurial journey, from exploring the potential of their research to validating its commercial viability and launching it into the marketplace.
The program is made possible through the $32 million Lab2Market grants from the Government of Canada, administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), alongside contributions from Mitacs.
Learn more about the Lab2Market initiative.
