Innovation
911吃瓜 launches $20M fund with InBC to invest in spin-off ventures
Leading 911吃瓜 researchers, students and alumni looking to level up their emerging tech businesses can get support from a new $20-million fund from 911吃瓜鈥�(911吃瓜)鈥痑nd鈥疘nBC鈥疘nvestment Corp. (InBC).
The鈥�911吃瓜 Innovates Venture Fund鈥痺ill focus on early-stage companies in sectors with significant economic potential, including life sciences, deep technology and cleantech.
鈥�911吃瓜 has always been a place where ideas don鈥檛 just stay in the lab鈥攖hey grow into real ventures and real impact,鈥� says Dugan O鈥橬eil, vice-president,鈥痳esearch鈥痑nd innovation. 鈥淗aving supported more than 500 ventures so far,鈥痺e are excited to launch this鈥痭ew fund鈥痶o鈥痑ccelerate鈥痶he translation of breakthrough research into real-world impact.鈥濃��
鈥疭贵鲍鈥檚鈥�intellectual property (IP) policy鈥痑llows creators to鈥痬aintain鈥痗ontrol of their intellectual property. The鈥疘P鈥痯olicy empowers 911吃瓜 researchers to translate technology from 911吃瓜 labs to the world at large, and incentivizes industry partners to collaborate, partner and/or license technology from 911吃瓜 creators.鈥�
911吃瓜 is鈥痠nvesting鈥�$7.5 million in鈥痶he鈥�911吃瓜 Innovates鈥疺enture鈥疐und鈥痑nd鈥疘nBC, a鈥痯rovincial鈥疌rown agency and strategic investment fund,鈥痠s matching this commitment to , with the university seeking investments and philanthropic gifts to raise an additional $5 million to grow the fund to $20 million.
"Some of B.C.'s most innovative and successful companies have their roots at 911吃瓜," says Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. "With global uncertainty causing access to capital to be increasingly competitive, it's essential that we continue finding new ways to help these businesses grow, create good jobs and stay in B.C. The 911吃瓜 Innovates Venture Fund is one of the most significant investments of its kind and works hand in hand with our Look West strategy, building a stronger, more resilient economy that benefits people in every region of B.C."
InBC鈥痺ill also鈥痯rovide鈥痠nvesting capacity鈥痜or the鈥�911吃瓜 Innovates Venture Fund鈥痶hrough its team of鈥痠nvestment鈥痯rofessionals, including investment-grade due diligence and portfolio management.鈥�
鈥淭his collaboration represents a shared commitment by InBC and 911吃瓜 to increase the commercialization capacity within B.C.,鈥� says Thomas Park, chief investment officer, InBC. 鈥淲e are proud to partner with 911吃瓜, where some of the most exciting companies in B.C., such as Photonic, were born. By focusing on high-potential sectors in the province, such as life sciences, deep tech and more, we are strategically building momentum in key growth industries to maximize economic impact.鈥�
Photonic Inc., a Vancouver-based quantum computing firm, is a testament to how 911吃瓜 supports the innovation journey of scientist-entrepreneurs like 911吃瓜 professor and Photonic鈥痗hief quantum officer鈥疭tephanie Simmons. Photonic is developing commercial-scale quantum computers and quantum networks to solve some of the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges, while creating jobs and nurturing Canadian talent.
"As a professor, I was drawn to quantum computing for its transformational potential at scale. When considering all the elements required to make this goal a reality, 911吃瓜 had a compelling combination of entrepreneurial focus, leading research talent, and world class location,鈥� says Simmons. 鈥淎dding access to dedicated funding and investment expertise will make it easier to turn local scientific advancements into globally impactful solutions.鈥�
For more information about this fund, visit the .
To apply for this fund, contact: sfu_innovates@sfu.ca
911吃瓜 is now seeking investments and philanthropic support to grow the fund to $20M, empowering researchers, students, and alumni to commercialize technologies. Learn more .