(Toronto, ON) April 30, 2026 – Kicking off day 2 of the Ontario Centre of Innovation’s DiscoveryX Conference, Ontario’s flagship innovation event, the Government of Ontario highlighted the impact of two cornerstone programs accelerating the commercialization of made-in-Ontario technologies: Ready 4 Market (R4M) and Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C), delivered by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI).

Over the past three years (2023–2026), these programs have supported 214 Ontario companies, helping innovators de-risk technologies, attract private capital, strengthen industry-academic partnerships, and bring intellectual property to market, driving significant economic growth across the province.

“As global competition for innovation intensifies, our government is proud to support initiatives that are accelerating the commercialization of Ontario-made solutions and maintaining our province’s leadership in the development of cutting-edge industrial solutions,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Through the Ready 4 Market and Collaborate 2 Commercialize programs, we are ensuring Ontario companies are positioned to research, build and scale innovative technologies that fuel economic growth and unlock new investment opportunities across our leading sectors.”

Together, R4M and C2C have deployed $26.7 million in provincial funding and unlocked $42.3 million in private-sector co-investment, for a total of $69 million flowing into Ontario’s innovation ecosystem. This investment has resulted in 4,674 jobs created and retained, $354 million in incremental sales, and $534.2 million in follow-on investment, demonstrating the tangible impact of Ontario’s innovation strategy.

“Ontario’s strength lies not just in discovery, but in our ability to translate that discovery into real-world impact,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation. “Through R4M and C2C, we are helping innovators and companies move from lab to market, connecting them with the capital, partners, and expertise they need to scale and succeed. These outcomes reflect the power of collaboration across Ontario’s innovation ecosystem.”

Ready 4 Market is Ontario’s leading pre-seed investment fund, co-investing with angel and venture capital partners to support early-stage companies with strong intellectual property as they scale. From 2023 to 2026, R4M invested $9 million alongside $23.1 million in private co-investment, achieving a leverage ratio of $2.60 for every $1 invested. The program supported 37 companies, generating $32.1 million in total financing rounds, creating and retaining 3,878 jobs, and driving $337.6 million in incremental sales and $461.5 million in follow-on investment across sectors including digital, cleantech, and advanced manufacturing.

Collaborate 2 Commercialize connects Ontario businesses with post-secondary institutions to solve industry challenges and accelerate the commercialization of research. Over the same period, C2C invested $17.7 million alongside $19.2 million in industry contributions, supporting 177 companies and generating approximately $36.9 million in total project value. The program contributed to 796 jobs created and retained, $16.4 million in incremental sales, and $72.7 million in follow-on investment, with projects spanning health technologies, manufacturing, digital innovation, and clean technologies.

“These programs are designed to close the gap between innovation and commercialization,” said Raed Kadri, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Business Development and Head of OVIN at OCI. “By supporting early-stage companies through R4M and enabling industry-academic collaboration through C2C, we are helping Ontario companies scale faster, compete globally, and deliver technologies that will define the future.”

As showcased at DiscoveryX, Ontario continues to support programs that turn research and innovation into commercial success and economic impact. Through initiatives like Ready 4 Market and Collaborate 2 Commercialize, the Ontario Centre of Innovation is strengthening its innovation ecosystem, supporting high-growth companies, and ensuring that made-in-Ontario technologies are built, scaled, and brought to market here at home and around the world.

About the Ontario Centre of Innovation
The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative R&D, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians.
As an ecosystem connector, OCI initiates unparalleled partnership opportunities, develops and manages successful industry-academic collaborations, supports high-potential SMEs in commercializing ground-breaking research, and provides hands-on training and skills development opportunities for the next generation of highly-skilled talent.OCI drives economic growth and job creation through investments in the development, commercialization, and adoption of advanced technologies.

For more information: https://www.oc-innovation.ca