McMaster is getting ready to welcome the research and innovation community to the Innovation Showcase 2024 , being held Nov.19 at McMaster Innovation Park.

The event highlights McMaster’s pioneering entrepreneurs, cutting-edge technologies and startup companies, and will provide valuable networking opportunities for members of Hamilton’s innovation ecosystem.

Celebrating an outstanding year of innovation

The Innovation Showcase will honour a historic year of commercialization successes led by McMaster staff, students and faculty.

In 2023-24, the McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO) secured a total of 62 issued patents — the the most ever recorded in a single year.

Of these, 19 patents have already been licensed to companies based around the world, where they are fuelling advancements in the fields of clean energy, materials and advanced manufacturing, health and medicine.

Six new McMaster startup companies were incorporated in 2024, and many more continue to take their ventures to new heights — including biotech company Fusion Pharmaceuticals, founded by chemistry and chemical biology professor John Valliant, and acquired for $2B (US) by AstraZeneca this year.

Co-founded by McMaster professor emeritus Lauren Foster and former postdoctoral fellow Jocelyn Wessels, Afynia Laboratories recently received $2M in pre-seed funding to advance its patented microRNA-based molecular screening test, EndomiR, which is being used in several Canadian fertility clinics as part of its pilot market launch. The test is a fast, accurate and less invasive diagnostic tool that can help improve the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.

A chance to connect

McMaster is home to dozens of innovators who have transformed their research into impactful business ventures.

The Innovation Showcase will bring together established and emerging entrepreneurs to exchange insights, ideas and advice that can help them along their commercialization journeys.

Christian Weedbrook, CEO and founder of Xanadu Quantum Technologies, will deliver the keynote address. Over the past 15 years, Weedbrook has been at the forefront of bringing quantum technology to the world through his research and leadership in academia, government and industry.

Attendees will hear first-hand from McMaster researchers and startup leaders, who will share how they transformed their research into thriving businesses. They’ll also get to watch the Postdoc Entrepreneur Fellowship pitch competition in action.

The event will conclude with an award ceremony to celebrate the Innovator of the Year and Lifetime Innovator award recipients, as well as the audience-voted winners of the poster competition.

The newest round of McMaster Seed Fund recipients will also be announced.

Hosted by MILO and the Office of the Vice-President, Research, the Innovation Showase has become a flagship event for the university and the region, says Leyla Soleymani, associate vice-president, research (commercialization & entrepreneurship).

“We’re excited to welcome everyone to Innovation Showcase 2024,” she says.

“McMaster innovators truly reached new heights this year – transforming their cutting-edge research discoveries into real-world impact. We look forward to celebrating their successes and providing a forum for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from and network with fellow members of our innovation ecosystem.

The Innovation Showcase takes place during McMaster Entrepreneurship Week, a celebration of the university’s entrepreneurs and their Made at Mac innovations.

Click here to register for the Innovation Showcase.