Medventions and Mitacs have launched a new national partnership to support 39 internships and expand hands-on medtech entrepreneurship training across Canada, helping develop the next generation of healthcare innovators and medical technology leaders.

Canada’s healthcare innovation ecosystem is improving as Medventions and Mitacs expand their partnership to train and support future medical technology entrepreneurs.  The initiative will support Medventions fellowship programs across Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador over the next two years. The agreement aims to strengthen Canada's medtech talent pipeline by giving aspiring innovators more opportunities to gain practical experience and turn healthcare ideas into real-world solutions.

A Bigger Step Toward Healthcare Innovation

According to Dr. Nasef, the new agreement marks an important milestone in creating a nationwide network of healthcare innovators. Since 2021, Sunnybrook Research Institute and Mitacs have worked together to support interns in Medventions programs. The new Umbrella agreement formalizes that relationship and makes it easier to expand opportunities across the country.

As part of the initiative, 39 internships will be supported through the Medventions program, helping students and recent graduates develop the skills needed to succeed in the rapidly growing medtech industry.

Why Does Hands-On Training Matter?

Many breakthrough healthcare technologies begin with a simple idea, but turning that idea into a successful product requires much more than technical knowledge. The Medventions Fellowship Program gives participants direct exposure to the full innovation process, including:

  • Identifying real clinical challenges

  • Designing and testing healthcare solutions

  • Building prototypes

  • Understanding intellectual property protection

  • Learning regulatory and reimbursement processes

  • Developing business and commercialization strategies

Over four months, multidisciplinary teams work alongside academic and industry experts to transform healthcare challenges into viable technology solutions.

Bridging Research and Real-World Impact

Mitacs President and CEO Dr. Stephen Lucas highlighted the importance of connecting researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders. He noted that many of the most significant healthcare advances emerge when research meets practical clinical experience. By removing barriers between these groups, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of Canadian-made medical technologies that can improve patient care both nationally and globally.

Creating Future Medtech Leaders

The physician-led fellowship program serves as a launchpad for clinicians, engineers, researchers, and business graduates who are interested in medical technology entrepreneurship. Participants gain valuable experience that can help them start their own ventures, lead innovation projects, or become experts in the medtech sector.

Supported by INOVAIT, Sunnybrook Research Institute, and the Strategic Response Fund through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the program continues to expand opportunities for emerging innovators.

As Business Fortune observes, healthcare systems increasingly rely on technology-driven solutions, hence programs like Medventions are helping prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs to tackle complex medical challenges.

 

FAQs

What is Medventions?

Medventions is a healthcare-focused medtech innovation fellowship program founded at Sunnybrook Research Institute that trains future healthcare entrepreneurs through hands-on projects and innovation experiences.

What is the purpose of the Medventions-Mitacs Umbrella agreement?

The agreement expands and streamlines collaboration between Medventions and Mitacs, allowing more internships and innovation training opportunities across Canada.

How many internships will the new initiative support?

The program will support 39 internships over the next two years.

Who can participate in the Medventions Fellowship Program?

The fellowship is designed for students, recent graduates, clinicians, engineers, researchers, and business graduates interested in healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship.

What skills do fellows gain through the program?

Participants learn clinical need identification, product development, intellectual property management, regulatory processes, commercialization strategies, funding models, and business planning.