Innovation & Impact
TMU aligns innovative research with the needs of industry, institutions and communities, from incubating entrepreneurial projects and startups to publishing groundbreaking findings.
From Idea to Marketplace
Idea to Innovation
Marc Adler (Chemistry and Biology) and master of science alumni David Raveenthrarajan received an Idea to Innovation grant to launch their company VI SIX, which applies their innovative “inverse barreling” method to mature alcoholic spirits faster than with traditional methods.
Alexandre Douplik (Physics) received an Idea to Innovation grant to develop a wearable patch that employs optical technologies to monitor a patient's circulation during resuscitation in real time, aiding EMTs and paramedics in their resuscitation efforts in out-of-hospital settings.
Dae Kun Hwang (Chemical Engineering) received an Idea to Innovation grant to develop a simple fabrication method to create patterns in thin hydrogel films that can be used to tag and authenticate semiconductor parts, helping to mitigate the use of counterfeit components.
New invention disclosures
Patent applications supported
Championing Entrepreneurs
With access to infrastructure and networks like I-INC and Zone Learning – 10 Zones, each with a different industry focus – faculty and students transform their research and ideas into products and services that launch into the domestic and international marketplace, boosting the Canadian economy.
Innovation + Impact Network of Canada (I-INC)
Open to graduate students and faculty researchers from any university in Canada, I-INC provides programming, access to industry leaders and mentors, and partnership networks to help scale up ventures. The Innovation + Impact Network of Canada (I-INC) was established in 2014 by TMU, Simon Fraser University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to drive the Canadian innovation ecosystem of university-created technology.
Programming events delivered
Toronto Metropolitan University Zone Learning
Zone Highlights
Tenzin Dhonyoe, a fourth-year biomedical engineering undergraduate student and special projects assistant in the Innovation Boost Zone, founded GlucoSense, a startup developing a non-invasive blood glucose monitor for diabetes patients.
Angelina Almanza, a master’s student in the digital media program and member of the Transmedia Zone, founded CAT6, a Community Arcade Table allowing for the playtesting of student-made video games, helping game developers collect user data.
Harjeev Singh Kohli, a computer engineering undergraduate student at TMU and a special projects assistant at the Innovation Boost Zone, founded Combat Craft, a student-led design team that builds fighting robots.
Full-time jobs created
New products and services taken to market
Startups in the digital technology and gaming sector
Total revenue generated, as reported by incubator members
Total funds raised, as reported by incubator members
Social Innovation & Social Enterprises
By cultivating social enterprises, building capacity for social entrepreneurs and providing channels for innovative, on-the-ground research, the university strives to address income gaps and social inequality in communities across the globe.
Innovation Circle Discovery Prize
Through the support of business and thought leaders, the Innovation Circle Discovery Prize is awarded annually to faculty researchers and graduate students to pursue innovative ideas that address social, economic and/or health inequities.
The 2023 Innovation Circle Discovery Prize was awarded to a Diversity Institute team led by Wendy Cukier (Business Management) for their project aimed at identifying and addressing existing systemic barriers to accessing financial capital for women entrepreneurs and business owners.
Knowledge Mobilization
Through conferences and symposiums, TMU researchers engage broad audiences to share the impact of their work on their fields and the lives of others.
Elsayed Elbeshbishy (Civil Engineering) led a collaboration between TMU, University of Toronto and York University to host a workshop entitled “Carbon Capture and Climate Change Adaptation for Water Utilities,” bringing together 100 water industry professionals and stakeholders, including the International Water Association (IWA) Board.
Jennifer Martin (Community Services) organized a two-day symposium and knowledge sharing project on the topic of child sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation and the implications of new technologies.
Michael McGregor (Politics and Public Administration) and Faculty of Arts advisor John Beebe organized the Canadian Vote Summit 2024, hosted by The Democratic Engagement Exchange in collaboration with Elections Canada, to address the escalating challenges of disinformation and foreign interference in the Canadian electoral democratic process.
Academic publications*
Citations of TMU researchers by other scholars
*Note: Academic publications include journal articles, conference papers and book reviews. Totals fluctuate as information is made available.
Source: Web of Science, Thompson Reuters as of September 25, 2024.