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| UVic Innovates | |
|---|---|
| Name | UVic Innovates |
| Type | University innovation hub |
| Formation | 2000s |
| Location | Victoria, British Columbia |
| Parent organization | University of Victoria |
UVic Innovates
UVic Innovates is the innovation and entrepreneurship hub affiliated with the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, providing incubation, mentorship, and commercialization support. It connects academic research from faculties such as Faculty of Science (University of Victoria), Gustavson School of Business, and Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Victoria) with regional industry, policymakers and international partners. The organization fosters technology transfer, startup acceleration, and public outreach through partnerships with institutions including Genome BC, Natural Resources Canada, Mitacs, and National Research Council Canada.
UVic Innovates operates as a nexus between research units like the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions and entrepreneurial ecosystems such as Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship (VIATEC). It provides resources similar to accelerators like MaRS Discovery District, incubators like Communitech, and university programs such as Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Berkeley SkyDeck, and MIT Innovation Initiative. Facilities and services mirror offerings at MaRS Centre, CSIRO, and Fraunhofer Society labs, supporting commercialization pathways toward markets served by organizations such as BC Tech Association and funding streams from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The initiative emerged amid trends in Canadian university commercialization seen at University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, and University of Waterloo during the early 21st century. It evolved alongside national policy developments like the Canada Foundation for Innovation and programs administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Early collaborations involved regional players such as the Government of British Columbia, Victoria Regional Transit Commission, and local economic development agencies, and paralleled international efforts at institutions including Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, and Tsinghua University.
Core offerings include entrepreneurship training comparable to Startup Chile and Y Combinator, mentorship programs drawing on networks like AngelList and Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and commercialization support akin to Techstars. Research translation initiatives align with the objectives of Sage Bionetworks, CIFAR, and OpenAI collaborations, while sector-specific efforts target fields represented by Ocean Networks Canada, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, and Watershed Sentinel projects. Student-facing curricula coordinate with Co-operative Education (University of Victoria), internships managed through Mitacs Accelerate, and prototyping support akin to Fab Lab networks and BC Centre for Innovation & Clean Energy.
By facilitating patent filings, licensing deals, and startup spin-offs, the hub contributes to commercialization outcomes comparable to those reported by Yale University, Columbia University, and University of Cambridge. Impact metrics reference collaborations with agencies like Genome Canada, National Research Council of Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada, and align with global benchmarks set by Times Higher Education, QS World University Rankings, and reports from OECD. Research areas supported include marine science with partners such as Institute of Ocean Sciences, climate research associated with Canadian Climate Institute, and health innovation reflected in projects with BC Cancer Agency and Island Health.
Strategic partners encompass government and corporate actors including BC Hydro, Teck Resources, BC Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, and international firms similar to Siemens, IBM, and Microsoft. Collaboration networks extend to research centres like Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Light Source, and consortia such as CENGN and Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. Investment relationships involve entities such as BDC, Export Development Canada, and local angel groups paralleling Keiretsu Forum chapters, while global corporate partners echo those engaged with Google, Apple Inc., and Amazon (company).
Activities involve students from colleges and departments including School of Public Administration (University of Victoria), Department of Computer Science (University of Victoria), and Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE), and link to community organizations like Victoria Foundation, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and Royal Roads University. Events include pitch competitions modeled on Lion's Lair, hackathons akin to Hack the North, and public lectures comparable to programs at TEDx and Science World British Columbia. Outreach initiatives work with Indigenous governance bodies such as Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation, and charitable partners like United Way.
The hub and affiliated startups have been featured in provincial and national awards programs including BC Export Awards, Governor General's Innovation Awards, and lists curated by Canadian Business and Maclean's. Individual entrepreneurs and research teams have received honors similar to those from Royal Society of Canada, Order of Canada, and sector prizes from organizations like Canadian Medical Association and Clean50. Media coverage compares outcomes to success stories from MaRS, Communitech, and university innovation offices at Stanford University and Harvard University.