Global Incubator Programme: Canada - AI for Health
Delivered by Innovate UK, in partnership with MaRS, this Global Incubator Programme (GIP) provides an opportunity for UK-based companies to expand into the North American market and collaborate with one of the world’s largest innovation hubs for AI and healthcare.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
14/04/2025
Registration Closes
01/06/2025
Award
Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, in-market travel, and any additional fees for successful applicants. Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative. Only one representative from each company will be funded.
Driving breakthrough discoveries in AI and Health
Note: This opportunity is fully funded support and not monetary funding.
This Global Incubator Programme, organised by Innovate UK, will be delivered virtually on a weekly basis from September 2025 to March 2026, with two visits to Toronto built into the programme. Each business is supported by an Innovate UK Business Growth Innovation & Growth Specialist to help maximise the potential of being part of the programme and beyond.
We are currently accepting applications to take up to eight innovative companies, developing Artificial Intelligence, and machine learning applications for improved healthcare decision-making and diagnostics, as well as safer, more effective treatments, to join our programme with MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Canada.
We are looking for the application of novel AI technology to best solve an unmet need in clinical healthcare. Areas of interest include clinical decision making and treatment, predictive medicine, patient data and diagnostics.
In partnership with MaRS
MaRS is the largest urban innovation hub in North America, supporting high-growth start-ups and scale-ups and has unique. MaRS helps entrepreneurs build successful companies and navigate the complex regulatory path to market, while collaborating with key stakeholders including hospitals, governments, and corporations. In addition, MaRS convenes all members of the tech ecosystem to drive breakthrough discoveries, grow the economy, and make an impact by ensuring that innovative solutions are delivered to those that need them most.
We are committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of this programme.
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To apply, you must:
- Be a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
- Be a company with fewer than 500 employees
- Have a focus on AI for Health
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Canada is ranked among the top five countries for commercial AI-focused ventures and has the most patents per million people among the G7 nations and China. Toronto’s start-up ecosystem also hosts the largest concentration of AI-startups, with 273 firms, thanks to Canada’s support of foreign-owned multinational corporations.
In 2017, Canada released a national AI strategy to attract and retain world-class AI researchers, foster a collaborative AI ecosystem, advance national AI initiatives, and understand societal implications of AI. From this, $93 million was invested in research institutions and AI talent, which has helped make Canada one of the world’s leading players in the sector and has led to investments and job creation.
For nearly 20 years, MaRS has empowered innovation in the healthcare ecosystem by offering a range of services that help tech founders grow their companies and create meaningful innovation. MaRS works with 1,400 companies across Canada, turning breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. In 2020 alone, MaRS supported ventures raised $2.4 billion collectively, while generating $1.5 billion in revenue.
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- Programme briefing: 6th May 2025
- Applications close: 1st June 2025
- Shortlist interviews: 17th – 19th June 2025
- First market visit: 4th – 10th October 2025
- Second market visit: March 2026
Innovate UK Business Growth
Innovate UK Business Growth is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth.
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For more information, assistance with your application or to discuss accessibility needs, please contact the global team at global1@iukbg.ukri.org.
Related Events and Recordings
Tue
6
May
2025
Global Incubator Programme: AI for Health, Canada - Briefing Event
15.00 - 16.00 | Online
Register for this event
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