AI in Healthcare Research Internships

The University of Toronto’s Master of Science in Applied Computing Program (MScAC) is inviting industry partners and hospitals to participate in a unique opportunity to host computer science graduate students for 8-month applied research internships. 

MScAC students are trained in AI in healthcare and life sciences, and possess strong technical skills in machine learning, data science, computational biology/informatics, and software engineering, and are seeking real-world challenges in healthcare. Utilize MScAC expertise to solve complex technological challenges, pilot innovative ideas through rapid prototyping and proof of concept development, and build, test, and evaluate models using state-of-the-art tools, frameworks, and methods. The MScAC program has a partnership with Mitacs that can be leveraged to help subsidize internships for eligible partners. 

 Timeline:

Internships take place from May 2026 – December 2026. Project submission opens October 14th, 2025.

 Application Process:

If you are interested in participating and/or learning more, please email Daniele Chirico or the team.

Canadian Life Sciences Mission to Mexico

The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) at the Embassy of Canada to Mexico, in collaboration with Health Emergency Readiness Canada (HERC) will support a Canadian business delegation to Mexico City, focused on the pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceutical sub-sectors.

Canada is well-positioned to collaborate with Mexico in areas where it has strong global expertise and capabilities in AI-enabled drug discovery, advanced therapeutics, and enabling technologies, biomanufacturing, and data-driven health innovation. 

Through a coordinated Team Canada presence, the delegation program will support participating Canadian companies in raising their profile in Mexico, building strategic partnerships, and exploring commercial, investment, and R&D collaboration opportunities with leading Mexican stakeholders.  

Who should apply:

Innovative Canadian life sciences companies in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology that are looking to explore business partnerships with Mexican companies and organizations.

The Embassy of Canada and HERC will host a dedicated program for the business delegation including: 

• a webinar on Mexico’s life sciences ecosystem and business environment  

• pre-arranged business-to-business (B2B) meetings with Mexican companies, investors, and institutions  

• curated networking opportunities, including a Canada-hosted networking reception 

• site visits to leading pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical facilities and research institutions

• ongoing support from the Trade Commissioner Service throughout and after the mission  

Benefits of participating

• Gain insights and market intelligence

• Develop a first-hand understanding of the opportunities and challenges of doing business in foreign markets

• Meet key commercial entities, industry players, and potential buyers, investors and/or partners

• Meet academic or research entities

• Participate in networking events

• Participate in pre-organized business-to-business meetings

• Increase visibility of your product or service

• Receive on-the-ground assistance from the Trade Commissioner Service

Registration deadline is September 1, 2026.

Build your best team yet: Become an I.D.E.A.L. Bioscience Employer in 2026

In today’s job market, people want more than pay. They want flexible work arrangements, a culture of belonging, strong leadership and opportunities for growth and learning. These are some of the everyday practices recognized by BioTalent Canada’s I.D.E.A.L. Bioscience Employer Recognition Program.This program lets you confidently and credibly brand your workplace as more than just a job. It shows employees you provide careers where they want to grow and belong.

The deadline to apply is November 28, 2025.

Apply to the Merck Digital Sciences Studio

Applications are now open for our 2026 cohort!

The Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS) is a nine-month accelerator that invests in and supports early-stage startups developing digitally enabled technologies for drug discovery, pre-clinical, and clinical development.

Selected startups gain direct access to Merck experts, personalized mentoring from Centech advisors, and a SAFE investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund (GHI), in collaboration with regional partners The Venture Collective (United States) and CQDM (Canada). Through this collaborative approach, MDSS connects innovators, researchers, and industry leaders to accelerate breakthroughs in health technology.

Apply before November 28.

Industry-Based Internships in the Regenerative Medicine Sector

The SCN-Mitacs industry-based internship partnership aims to pair the brightest graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with RM-focused biotech companies that are moving innovative therapies and technologies into the marketplace. This internship partnership is offered through the Mitacs Accelerate program and will match candidates with Canadian companies to complete an eight-month internship. Successful candidates will gain exposure to and work experience in industry and develop fundamental technical and business skills by undertaking a stem cell and regenerative medicine-related project.

Fill this expression of interest by December 5.

StartUps in the 6ix 2025

StartUps in the 6ix is back for its 3rd rendition! Come out and join the digital health emerging leader and startup community for an exciting night of learning and connecting. We’ll have a fireside chat featuring Tomi Poutanen, CEO, Signal 1, moderated by Joshua Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of SeamlessMD, followed by a startup expo to feature digital health startups in the Ontario ecosystem!

AI-driven Medicines (AIM)

The AI-driven Medicines (AIM) program aims to drive transformative research that leverages computational or digital-based methods and tools to address critical, real-world challenges in the discovery and development of accessible and affordable medicines. This initiative focuses on supporting the development of innovative methodologies and tools to accelerate the drug discovery and development pipeline, bridging the gap between advanced computational theory and practical therapeutic applications.

Application deadline is December 31, 2026.

IPON Explained 2026

IPON Explained is designed to help innovators and ecosystem partners better understand the importance of intellectual property (IP) and how IPON can help Ontario innovators protect and grow what’s made-in-Ontario.

Funding Opportunity for Innovation by Québec Biopharma Companies

SynergiQc is a biopharmaceutical R&D funding program designed to support innovation among Québec companies through collaborative research projects with Québec public research centres.

Deadline: November 4, 2026
Please contact sfournier@cqdm.org for more information.

Funding for your Biopharmaceutical Projects

CQDM’s Quantum Leap program connects Canada’s leading academic researchers and innovative biotech companies with global pharmaceutical partners to advance high-impact drug discovery technologies.

Open to Canadian SMEs and public research institutions, the program focuses on identifying promising innovations and facilitating strategic collaborations aligned with the R&D priorities of CQDM’s pharmaceutical members.

Pharmaceutical partners contribute a portion of the funding required to advance selected projects. Candidates are responsible for securing the remaining counterpart funding; where possible, CQDM can support this process. Through its network of national and international partners, CQDM may help identify additional co-funding opportunities. Early engagement with CQDM can help maximize contributions from multiple stakeholders and strengthen the overall funding structure of a project.

CQDM plays a central role in curating opportunities, aligning partners, and enabling projects with strong industry relevance and potential for downstream adoption.

Researchers and companies are encouraged to contact Simon Fournier to discuss the fit of their project within the Quantum Leap program .

Next selection round: November 12, 2026.

Apply to the Synapse Life Science Competition

Designed to help move your innovative life science products and services out of the lab and into the market, the Synapse Life Science Competition pairs innovators with business and entrepreneurship students and provides the training, mentorship, and resources to be successful.

Whether you are an innovator, scientist, or researcher, learn more about Ontario’s premier life science pitch competition.

Applications close on November 8, 2026.

Expand your Business into the United States 

Join the NEBS-NETSUS and DO’S and DON’TS webinar series on September 29, October 28 and November 4, respectively. These sessions offer invaluable information crucial for any company seeking to expand its export operations to the U.S.

Please don't hesitate to pass on this information to your colleagues or any companies you believe would benefit from it.The registration deadlines are Sept 28th, October 12th, and October 26th. Below are the registration links.

The three-hour NEBS (New Exporters to the Border States) and NETSUS (New Exporters of Technologies and Services to the U.S.) webinars are a practical, hands-on introduction to the basics of exporting to the United States. Presentations from industry experts will provide Ontario manufacturers and service firms with up-to-date information on topics such as:

• U.S. immigration and business visa requirements.

• federal and state tax liability issues.

• corporate and legal considerations; and U.S. Customs clearance documentation requirements.

Registration links are as follows:

• September 29 I New Exporters to Border States (NEBS) - Register here.

• October 28 I New Exporters of Technologies and Services to the U.S. (NETSUS) - Register here.

• November 4 I Do's and Don'ts when crossing the U.S. border - Register here.

envisAGE National Tour

MEDTEQ+ and AGE-WELL are pleased to launch the envisAGE National Tour, a Pan-Canadian series of events designed to connect and engage the AgeTech and health innovation ecosystem. 

The envisAGE National Tour consists of a series of in-person events held across Canada, each bringing together regional stakeholders from the AgeTech and health innovation ecosystem. 

Each stop features opportunities to: 

• Learn about the envisAGE initiative and its programs. 

• Connect with innovators, startups, SMEs, researchers, healthcare organizations, investors, and ecosystem partners. 

• Explore regional innovation strengths and opportunities for collaboration. 

• Build new partnerships that can support the development, validation, adoption, and commercialization of AgeTech solutions across Canada. 

2026 AGE-WELL Annual Conference

AGE-WELL is excited to host the 2026 AGE-WELL Annual Conference from November 2-4, 2026 at the Westin Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario. The theme of this year’s conference is “From Innovation to Impact: Powering Canada’s AgeTech Ecosystem”, featuring the latest research along with inspiring discussions on current issues by global and Canadian thought leaders.

The event showcases a multidisciplinary program of cutting-edge research and innovation from across the country, bringing together industry leaders, startups, researchers, trainees, older adults, caregivers, government representatives, and community partners to shape the future of aging. Featuring inspiring presentations, dynamic panel discussions, workshops, networking opportunities, and the latest AgeTech innovations, the AGE-WELL Annual Conference serves as a vital forum for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and real-world impact.

As part of the conference, AGE-WELL will also host the “National Impact Challenge: Solutions That Change Lives” pitch competition on the afternoon of November 4. One of the most dynamic pitch competitions in Canada, this event recognizes top innovators in Canada’s AgeTech sector.

2026 Till & McCulloch Meetings

The Till & McCulloch Meetings (TMM), hosted by the Stem Cell Network, is Canada’s premier stem cell, gene therapies, and regenerative medicine research conference. TMM brings together scientists, clinicians, bioengineers, and ethicists, as well as representatives from industry, government, health, and non-profit sectors from Canada and abroad. The event showcases Canada’s place in the global stem cell, gene therapies, and regenerative medicine ecosystem, and provides a tremendous opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange.

Trade Mission to BIO-Europe 2026

The Ontario Government in partnership with the Ontario Trade and Investment Office in Munich Germany, the Canadian Consulate in Dusseldorf, Germany, invites you to join the Ontario Export Business Mission to BIO-Europe.

The objective of this mission is to assist Ontario life sciences/biotechnology companies identify and meet with potential partners, customers, and investors, individuals companies would not normally have the opportunity to meet. BIO-Europe is an international forum designed to promote business development between pharmaceutical, financial and biotechnology companies. The event is Europe's largest partnering conference serving the global biotech industry. It offers networking opportunities, workshop and panel participation, high-profile exhibitions and prearranged one-on-one meetings. The event draws more than 4,000 delegates from over 60 companies.

Invest Ontario will have a 400 square-foot pavilion co-located with Global Affairs Canada, British Columbia and Quebec. This will serve as a convenient meeting place for the Ontario companies.

Apply before July 3.

Texas Life Science Forum

Call for life science ventures to present at the forum are due by midnight on Friday, October 2.

The Texas Life Science Forum (TLSF) is one of the leading life sciences and health tech conferences in Texas, bringing together biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health companies, investors, academic institutions and industry leaders focused on commercializing healthcare innovations. The event is co-hosted by BioHouston and the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. TLSF is particularly well suited for Canadian biotech, medtech and digital health companies that are actively fundraising, seeking U.S. partnerships, validating market interest, or planning entry into the Texas healthcare ecosystem. The investor-focused format and structured networking opportunities make it a strong platform for companies with near-term commercialization and expansion objectives.

Dates & Location

• Forum: November 10, 2026

• Investor Office Hours: November 11, 2026

Who Should Attend

• Life sciences companies seeking capital, customers or strategic partners

• Biotech, medtech, diagnostics and digital health startups

• Venture capital, angel and corporate investors

• Universities, research institutions and technology transfer offices

• Pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare industry stakeholders

• Economic development and innovation ecosystem organizations

Why Attend

• Company pitch sessions featuring emerging life science ventures

• One-on-one meetings with investors through the Office Hours program

• Networking with U.S. investors, corporate partners and healthcare innovators

• Insights on commercialization, financing and scaling health technologies

• Exposure to the Texas and broader U.S. life sciences ecosystem

Hlth USA 2026

Together with our partners Bounce Health Innovation, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), District 3 Innovation, Health Technology Catalyst (CTS), and MaRS Discovery District, we will be supporting a delegation of Canadian companies looking to build visibility, make strategic connections, and advance their U.S. market ambitions.

Interested in joining our delegation? Fill out the form below, and we'll reach out with more info and a discount code.

MEDICA/Compamed trade fair

MEDICA/Compamed trade fair is one of the world’s largest medical trade fairs and a leading platform for showcasing innovations in healthcare technologies, medical devices, and digital health solutions.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) will support Canadian companies attending MEDICA/Compamed through the following activities: 

• Canada Pavilion: A central hub on the exhibit floor for Canadian participants to connect with European industry leaders. 

• Networking Reception: At the Canada Pavilion, celebrating Canada-Germany milestones. 

• B2B Matchmaking: together with German partners (associations, clusters) DDORF will offer a matchmaking activity. 

• Export Café: meet Trade Commissioner from Europe and learn about their markets 

To express your interest in joining the Canadian delegation, contact our Trade Commissioner in Germany, Silke Ditgen.

Registration deadline is September 15.