Championing Entrepreneurs

Ryerson’s strong culture of research and innovation is exemplified by its campus-wide supports, from its ground-up incubation of student initiatives to acceleration programs that provide opportunities for up-and-coming startups from the broader community to launch their products and services into the national and global marketplace. These unique resources pave the way for process improvements, new technologies and boosted economic development through job creation.

Founded in 2014 by Ryerson, Simon Fraser University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, I-INC empowers university-based research teams in the fields of science and technology to translate and mobilize their research and intellectual property through strategic corporate alliances and commercialization. With a growing hub of pan-Canadian and international networks, I-INC works closely with local, regional and national partners to deliver robust lab-to-market programs and facilities that help innovators ideate, validate, launch and scale up their ventures. 

Working together with the Ontario Campus-Linked Accelerator program, I-INC also supports Ryerson’s Zone Learning ecosystem. Ryerson is home to 10 zones, each with its own distinct focus, such as the DMZ, which has been ranked the world’s number one university-based incubator by UBI Global, tying in first with the UK’s SETsquared as of 2017–18.

A man-made material with unique properties of superior strength, malleability and insulation, aerogel was first developed by NASA to line rockets and space suits. Aerogel is also, gram for gram, almost three times more expensive than gold. Entropy Labs, fostered through the Science Discovery Zone, has synthesized a method of harvesting aerogel that has no carbon footprint and at a significantly reduced cost, making the broader use of aerogel possible in applications such as building materials and winter clothing.Wearable technology company HelpWear developed its HealthWatch through Ryerson’s Biomedical Zone and clinical partner, St. Michael’s Hospital. An at-home, non-invasive, clinical-grade ECG monitoring system, HealthWatch not only detects cardiac events such as heart attacks, it also alerts emergency services with the patient’s GPS location. House of Anesi has engineered a bra that adapts to the fluctuations in a woman’s breast shape and size during monthly hormonal changes, pregnancy or weight loss/gain. Developed with support from the Fashion Zone, the company’s use of performance technology and smart materials has led to innovation of an essential clothing item.
A business accelerated through the Fashion Zone, InkBox creates temporary tattoos that are skin-based and more authentic in appearance than the commonly available peel-and-stick variety. The company now employs five dozen people, ships 60,000 tattoos monthly and has received investment funding of US $10 million.