How do McMaster researchers turn their discoveries into impactful — and successful — business ventures?

At Innovation Showcase 2024, members of McMaster’s dynamic innovation ecosystem gathered to exchange insights, ideas and advice with established and aspiring entrepreneurs at various points in their commercialization journeys.

The event also celebrated the McMaster innovators whose inventions have had a resounding impact in Hamilton and in the lives of communities across Canada and the world.

Here are some highlights:

Held at McMaster Innovation Park as part of McMaster Entrepreneurship Week, the 13th Innovation Showcase honoured a historic year of commercialization successes led by McMaster staff, students and faculty.

“Innovation Showcase is the perfect opportunity to hear from experts whose unique and inspirational journeys provide a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs,” McMaster President David Farrar said in his opening remarks.

“McMaster has a remarkable history of translating research into impact for the world — impact that advances our economy, creates jobs and most importantly, improves lives.”

McMaster innovators showcased their Made-at-Mac technologies and startups, sharing advice on how to build industry partnerships, navigate the patent and copyright process, and overcome challenges on the path from research to commercial success.

Attendees also watched the Postdoc Entrepreneur Fellowship Pitch competition. Finalists had ten minutes to tell the judges how the Fellowship could help them translate their research into an investable venture.

Stevie Foglia took home the fellowship, which provides one year of salary support and access to entrepreneurship programming and mentorship. Foglia will use the support to develop and commercialize his augmented reality sensorimotor training (ARST) technology that offers a non-invasive, engaging neurorehabilitation solution for chronic neck pain.

James Cotton won the Innovator of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding success in research innovation.

Cotton is a leading expert in the emerging field of energy harvesting and energy storage, and the CEO and co-founder of Harvest Systems. The company’s groundbreaking technology harvests and recycles waste heat to reduce operating costs for businesses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective and scalable fashion.

The Lifetime Innovator award, which recognizes career-spanning achievements in research innovation, went to Mehran Anvari, tenured professor of surgery.

Anvari is renowned for his work in the field of telerobotic surgery, having performed one of the world’s first remote-controlled robotic surgeries. He is the co-founder of medical devices company Insight Medbotics, which harnesses space-age technology to revolutionize cancer detection.

The latest recipients of McMaster Seed Fund investment were announced. BiCova Therapeutics and PROVA Innovations received a total of $750,000 to advance their groundbreaking health technologies.

This year, 33 posters were created by McMaster faculty and students to showcase their inventions.

Voted on by Showcase attendees, the People’s Choice Poster award recognizes a McMaster project that has promising potential to be developed into a marketable product and generate significant socio-economic impact.

The award went to two students in McMaster’s Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) program, Rooaa Shanshal and Deena Al-Sammak, for their venture Power of Play. The students’ innovative toy-like medical device makes health care more accessible for children by accurately measuring their hand grip strength.

“Congratulations to all of our award winners,” said Leyla Soleymani, Associate Vice-President, Research (Commercialization & Entrepreneurship).

“From innovations in health and biotech to clean energy, advanced manufacturing, AI and digital technologies, McMaster’s entrepreneurial leaders are advancing technologies for a cleaner, healthier world.”