Biomakerspace

WHAT TO EXPECT

The SDZ's Biomakerspace program provides undergraduate students with a hands-on and practical learning experience that is at the intersection of entrepreneurship and scientific innovation.

The cohort has a focus on health-tech and food science; students can work either independently or within a team to investigate real-world challenges and prototype potential solutions within these subject areas. Students will have access to entrepreneurial frameworks, experimentation space, and mentors to support their work.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

The Biomakerspace program empowers students to take leadership over their learning and scientific exploration while providing them the opportunity to be innovative and strengthen essential work-ready skills such as project management, criticial thinking, communication, and problem solving.

Eligible students who successfully complete the program will receive a stipend of $1000.

Build an entrepreneurial mindset and tackle real-world problems

Access prototyping tools to conceptualize your innovative ideas

Connect with industry experts and mentors for support on your journey

Receive a $1000 stipend for completing the program (conditions apply)*

This program welcomes those who are motivated, keen to try new things, and have a passion for tackling big challenges in the world. Consider applying to the Biomakerspace program if you:

are curious and want to exercise your out-of-the-box thinking
want to apply your skills to solve real-world challenges
have an idea or project and need technical/scientific support to prototype it (but you don't need an idea or project to be part of the program!)
want to gain entrepreneurial thinking skills and meet inspiring people

The application closes on September 3rd at 11:59 pm EST

PREVIOUS COHORTS

"Learning about the research process when developing an entrepreneurial endeavour has really had an impact in the way [I] now approach issues [...] whether that be in my academics or in my career."

Fourth year Occupational Health and Safety Major

students in the sdz working, sitting around a large u-shaped table

A group of people holding Brazil Flags standing in a group

"Collaborating with a team to consistently explore and challenge new problems were extremely beneficial for me as I did not get the opportunity to do so in any of my university classes. With weekly meetings to ensure we were on the right track and having access to supports offered by Biomakerspace program, our team was able to successfully build a startup."

Second year Computer Science Major

In May 2023, three students from our Fall and Winter cohorts were selected to travel to Fortaleza, Brazil to apply their learnings and facilitate an evidence-based social innovation bootcamp for students and researchers at a local university.

Apply to the Biomakerspace Program

*Eligibility Criteria

Stipends may be available to eligible students. While the following criteria are not required to participate in the program, students that these points hold true for, may receive a stipend for their participation if they are available.

• Registered in PSE institutions, full-time or part-time (no age limit); and,

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and,

• Are legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

*NOTE: International students with student visas or work visas are not eligible to receive funding. If you identify as this, but want to participate please get in touch with us via email at discovery.zone@torontomu.ca. Only students who meet the eligibility criteria and who successfully complete the program may recieve the $1000 stipend