Funding for innovative technologies in RNA therapies
Funding for innovative technologies in RNA therapies
As part of AReNA, Quebec's RNA Hub, check out the call for projects to foster the development of innovative technologies for the RNA therapy sector. This program, funded by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) and managed by the CQDM, has a budget of $3 million. Its goal is to accelerate the commercialization of Quebec biopharmaceutical innovations and strengthen the competitiveness of our companies both locally and internationally.
Important dates:
Letter of intent to be submitted before March 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Complete application to be submitted before March 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM
CanExport SMEs is now accepting applications
CanExport SMEs is now accepting applications
The CanExport SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) program offers competitive funding to help eligible Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises expand into new international markets.
The program supports businesses by sharing the costs of export-related activities, helping reduce risk and support export diversification. It is intended for companies with meaningful economic ties to Canada, the capacity to grow internationally, and a clear plan to export Canadian goods and services.
Successful projects may receive up to $50,000 in funding for international business development activities. Funding is limited, and applications are assessed on a rolling competitive basis.
Application deadline: May 29, 2026.
National Health-Tech Innovation Conference
National Health-Tech Innovation Conference
The third annual National Health-Tech Innovation Conference is happening in Kitchener-Waterloo this April.
Join influential decision-makers, funders, clinicians, and innovators to break through bottlenecks and design practical, scalable solutions in health care. Expect two days of networking, hands-on problem-solving, facilitated high-value discussions, and strategy-building sessions that lead to real impact in Canadian health care.
Bibaswan Ghoshal, Senior Director, Technology Adoption at OBIO® will be speaking at the conference.
MaRS Impact Health
MaRS Impact Health
MaRS is hosting its annual health tech summit Impact Health on April 23. The Summit brings together innovators across digital health, medical devices, and biotech to commercialize new breakthroughs, empower our healthcare workers, and improve patient outcomes.
OBIO® is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2026 MaRS Impact Health.
Starfish Medical Device Playbook
Scaling & Selling in MedTech’s New Regulatory Reality
By Invitation Only – November 5, 2025 – Toronto
Medical Device Playbook returns to Toronto, reimagined as an exclusive, invitation-only event that brings together some of the most visionary minds in MedTech—founders, investors, and executives who are actively shaping the industry’s future. This curated experience fosters candid discussions, real-world lessons, and practical strategies for overcoming challenges in today’s evolving regulatory and market landscape.
Medical Device Playbook is designed for leaders who want to move beyond theory and into action. This is not a traditional conference—this is where real conversations happen.
Come meet members of the OBIO® Team!
CTO 2025 Clinical Trials Conference
The annual CTO Clinical Trials Conference is coming up on November 5 & 6 in Toronto. This is Canada’s “can’t miss” clinical trials forum, connecting colleagues from across our diverse community to collaborate, exchange knowledge and advance clinical trials.
This year, hear how Canada compares globally, and how we can seize big clinical trials opportunities including AI, trials processes, biotech, health data, cell and gene therapy, workforce enhancement, patient engagement and more. Plus explore the exhibitor hall and network with delegates from across Canada.
This conference sells out, so grab your spot today! Register and explore the agenda at www.ctoconference.ca.
TMM 2025
TMM 2025
Join TMM 2025 in person for the 2025 Till & McCulloch Meetings (TMM2025) in Ottawa, November 3–5, 2025, at the Westin Ottawa Hotel. TMM is Canada’s premier stem cell and regenerative medicine research conference, hosted by the Stem Cell Network.
OBIO® is a sponsor of the Special Session: Intellectual Property Fundamentals, Strategies, and Supports on November 3. Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO® will share her expert insights at this session.
This session will introduce researchers to the key concepts and strategies behind intellectual property (IP) generation and management in the context of academic research and commercialization. Participants will learn how IP is defined and how to align IP strategy with research, publication, and commercialization plans. The session will also cover Canadian programs that support IP generation.
Learning Objectives
• Learn what defines intellectual property (IP) relevant to academic research and understand the criteria for protecting IP assets.
• Develop strategies to align IP planning with research, publication, and commercialization goals to maximize academic and commercial impact.
• Identify Canadian programs and financial supports that can help researchers generate, protect, and manage IP throughout the research lifecycle.
• Apply lessons from real-world case studies to better integrate IP considerations into research funding, partnerships, and long-term commercialization plans.
Learn more about the session here.
We are excited to be a sponsor of the TMM2025 Headshot Studio with CATTI on November 3. Check out more info here.
OBIO® Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and BioHubNet 2025 Annual Symposium
OBIO® Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and BioHubNet 2025 Annual Symposium
The OBIO® Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, funded by BioHubNet as part of its Annual Symposium Training Week (October 27-30), helps trainee-entrepreneurs accelerate their life sciences ventures toward market readiness. Over 3 days of intensive in-person training (complemented by ~8 hours of virtual coursework), participants sharpen their strategies in commercialization, IP and licensing, regulatory pathways, and financing, while working closely with industry mentors. Participants gain hands-on experience refining business plans and developing investment-ready pitches, culminating in the opportunity to compete in the Pitch Competition at the BioHubNet Annual Symposium on October 30.
envisAGE Forum 2025
envisAGE Forum 2025
Jointly hosted by AGE-WELL and MEDTEQ+, the envisAGE Forum on October 22, will focus on bringing AgeTech innovations to the market, making everyday life better for older adults and caregivers.
The envisAGE Forum is one of Canada’s premier events dedicated to the commercialization and integration of AgeTech solutions. This year’s theme, VISIONaires: Advancing AgeTech, Together, centres around the people inspiring and leading innovation—researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, health care leaders, community service providers, older adults and caregivers united by a common vision and dedication to improving the quality of life for aging Canadians.
We are pleased to be a bronze sponsor of the envisAGE Forum 2025!
ProCURE 2025
ProCURE 2025
ProCURE is a three-day national summit coming to St. John’s, Newfoundland this fall. Their mission is to break down interprovincial barriers to HealthTech procurement in Canada through practical knowledge sharing, hands-on workshops, and open peer-to-peer learning.
Bibaswan Ghoshal, Senior Director of Technology Adoption at OBIO®, will be a keynote speaker at the conference. Get ready to hear Bibaswan’s valuable perspectives on the challenges faced by HealthTech innovators and the importance of evolving procurement practices to strengthen our healthcare system.
We are pleased to be a key sponsor of ProCURE 2025!
Next Great Big Ideas Summit
Next Great Big Ideas Summit
The NextGreatBigideas Summit is an annual, national networking event for Canada’s Life Sciences community and an independently organized, not-for-profit fundraising event proudly supporting MacKids. MacKids is the fundraising arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to raising funds for McMaster Children’s Hospital located in Hamilton, Ontario.
We are excited to participate in the #NGBi25 Summit. Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®, will be sharing her leadership insights on the ‘Provincial Leadership’ panel.
Hlth USA 2025
Hlth USA 2025
OBIO®, in collaboration with Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), District3 (D3), Health Technology Catalyst (CTS), MaRS, and the Trade Commissioner Services (TCS), is thrilled to take a delegation of digital health and medtech ventures to HLTH USA 2025 from October 19 to 22. We will be at booth 3261, drop by and say hi!
Interested in attending? If you are an OBIO® member, login to our member portal and check out the discount code. You can also write to us at membership@obio.ca for more info.
MedTech Leadership Night
MedTech Leadership Night
Building Anchor Companies: From First Sales to Scale-Up
This month’s session tackles a critical gap in Canada’s innovation ecosystem: how to grow promising start-ups into anchor companies within the MedTech and healthtech sectors. While Canada excels at generating early-stage innovation, many start-ups struggle to move from initial traction to long-term growth and impact.
Highlights
Join the webinar where guest speaker, Bibaswan Ghoshal, Senior Director, Technology Adoption at OBIO®, will talk about strategies to help MedTech entrepreneurs better position themselves to sell to the Canadian market and what strategies can drive successful scale-up. Attendees will gain practical insights into building sustainable businesses that not only survive but thrive in a competitive and highly regulated industry.
Topics will include:
Commercialization pathways
Market access
Procurement dynamics
Infrastructure and partnerships necessary for long-term success
ACT Cape Breton Conference
ACT Cape Breton Conference
The Accelerating Clinical Trials Consortium will be meeting September 25-26, 2025 in Sydney, Nova Scotia to explore international developments and collaboration opportunities in clinical trials.
Highlights from the agenda include:
Exploring alternative patient consent, and permission to contact models
Discussions around improving access to trials for people who have been
historically excludedUpdates on ACT-supported high-impact, high-quality clinical trials
Planning the future of the Canadian clinical trials landscape
Life Sciences Week
Life Sciences Week
Recognized by Alberta Health and held annually on the last week of September, Life Sciences Week is a free, community-led event that connects industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and students to ignite collaboration and spotlight cutting-edge breakthroughs.
We are excited to be part of the Life Sciences Week in Edmonton! It’s a valuable opportunity to engage with Alberta’s dynamic life sciences community, celebrate innovation, and foster meaningful collaborations.
Eric Thibaudeau and Parnian Tajbakhsh of OBIO® will be at:
🧬 Edmonton Life Sciences Spotlight by Edmonton Global and Edmonton UnLimited on September 24
🧬 Health and Life Sciences Showcase hosted by BioAlberta on September 25