1. There’s no expectation on L2M applicants that they will pursue commercialization of their IP, or found a startup. We expect our L2L applicants to commit to pursuing a venture and we screen applicants based on this commitment.
2. L2M involves a single applicant/participant, a grad student inventor, whereas L2L requires a committed founding team.
3. The “customer discovery” in L2M is focused on establishing if there is evidence for market potential. The point of L2M is to shift the scientific focus from the technology to the users and their needs. L2L goes far beyond evaluating a market opportunity to get the founding team thinking about their ecosystem in its entirety and to consider how they are going to build a viable business.

No - the programs are open to eligible researchers across BC for the Regional Cohort, and across the country for the Health Cohort

You must be a current graduate or postdoc researcher, or recent graduate program alumni (within 2 years) eligible for Mitacs funding with any university in BC (regional cohort) or across Canada (Health cohort).

No, please select the best fit for your innovation/technology.

In the context of this program, Industry Agnostic refers to any industry not related to Health Sciences. Health Science applicants must apply to the Health Sciences stream.

• Week of November 1: Recruitment campaigns begin
• November 19: Application deadline
• Week of November 20: Applicant interviews commence. Note: the interview includes both the researcher and their affiliated faculty member)
• Week of Nov 27th: Applicant decisions announced
• Mid February : Bootcamp prep session and pre-program activities
• Week of March 4: Sessions begin
• Week of April 29: Sessions end
• May: Post program and wrap up activities

• We anticipate the initial application review process to be completed by Nov 17, with invitations sent for interviews for the week of Nov 20th.
• Decisions will be communicated the week of Nov 27th.
• Successful applicants will then be connected with Mitacs to work on the BSI Application.
• Only completed applications will be reviewed

• The program kicks off with three days of training in mid February (week Feb 19th)  that will take place in Vancouver in February. Please connect with program contacts if you would like to participate but may be unable to attend in person.
• Core programming sessions (March and April) will take place online
• Participants will be able to coordinate directly with facilitators and mentors for 1:1 Office Hours

No, this program is free for accepted teams. However, in person participation for the pre-training sessions in Vancouver is strongly encouraged. Travel expenditures may be required for the Entrepreneurial Lead to participate.

Funding for the program is provided by the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship and Pacifican. The graduate student or postdoc participant will be required to complete a successful funding application to participate in the program.