Your research could change the world.
The IBZ Innovation Fellowship: Powered by IPON pays you to find out how, this summer.
Composed of 4 distinct programming streams, the Fellowship is designed to meet you where you are. Whether you're discovering your invention's potential, unsure about going the startup route or licensing, building your product, or ready to go to market, there is a place for you. Whatever stream you participate in, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of your research's real-world impact and the path to get there. Become a Fellow this summer.
The Fellowship will run June through August, 2026. You will receive a $10,000 stipend, expert mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, structured programming from subject matter experts, and connections with venture capitalists, to help you move your innovation forward. No business experience required — just the drive to find out what's possible and the commitment to go all in.
The Innovation Fellowship is open to any Ontario university or college student, recent graduate (within three years of completion), or researcher working on a novel, research-driven innovation, process, or invention. The ideal fellow is committed to the work, to learning, and to advancing their innovation for real-world impact. The ideal fellow is also coachable, welcoming challenge, discomfort, and able to turn hard feedback into forward momentum. Every fellow receives a $10,000 stipend for the duration of the program. Fellows should expect to commit an average of 25 hours per week, inclusive of lab work, with hours varying week to week depending on stage and program activities.
The fellowship runs across four streams, each designed to meet you exactly where you are in your commercialization journey. You will select your stream based on your technology maturity and commercialization stage. In each stream, you will learn and be challenged through weekly lectures delivered by subject matter experts, mentor sessions with experienced entrepreneurs and will participate in regular peer-to-peer scrum sessions. Fellows in Streams 3 and 4 will participate in mock board meetings, a panel of experts who will challenge your thinking and hold you to the same standard as the real thing.
All programming will be delivered virtually. Fellows will have access to full incubation and in-person hotdesks at the IBZ, plus (plus access to cheaper lab space…access to IBZ but Zones are paid for… ) potential access to life sciences, chemistry, microelectronics, and fabrication support via the TMU Zone Learning Network(supported on a case by case basis). The Fellowship closes with a Demo Day, August 26, 2026, a mandatory, in-person pitch competition, to showcase what you have learned and built over 13 weeks and compete for a total of $18,000 in prizes.
The Fellowship runs across four streams — designed to support you exactly where you are. Find your stream:
*Disclaimer about IP: You do not need a patent or formal IP protection in place to apply. You are, however, required to follow your respective institution's IP policies, which may require you to disclose any existing inventions to your tech transfer office before joining the program, and to continue disclosing as new inventions arise throughoutA note on IP: You do not need a patent or formal IP protection in place to apply. You are, however, required to disclose any existing inventions to your respective institution before joining the program, and to continue disclosing as new inventions arise during it. This protects you, your institution, and your work.
The Fellowship runs a two-stage application process.
Stage 1 — Application Form
Pick your stream and complete the application form by May 13th to tell us about your innovation, your current stage, and what you are looking to achieve this summer.
If you are working with a principal investigator/faculty supervisor, you must submit a letter of support written by them, confirming their awareness of your application, support of your fulltime commitment to the fellowship (on average 25 hours per week), and whether your innovation is related to your lab research or independent of it. This protects everyone — and ensures alignment on IP ownership and time commitment from the start.
Stage 2 — Interview
Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual interview with a panel of experts during the week of May 18th. For fellows applying to Streams 3 and 4, all team members must be present, including your Principal Investigator (if applicable).
Successful applicants will be notified of their fellowship status by May 22, 2026.
Every application is assessed on the following:
Apr 8: Applications Open
April 22: Info Session
Apr 29: Info Session
May 13: Applications Close
Week of May 18: Interviews
May 22: Decisions Sent
June 1: Program Starts
August 26: Demo Day and end of Fellowship
The $10,000 stipend is yours — use it however makes the most sense for you: paying yourself for your time, covering research expenses, or investing it back into your venture.
No. The Innovation Fellowship welcomes both prospective innovations and protectable innovations already ready for IP consideration. You do not need a patent or formal IP protection in place to apply. You are, however, required to disclose any existing inventions to your respective institution before joining the program, and to continue disclosing as new inventions arise during it. This protects you, your institution, and your work.
Yes. Faculty members are eligible to apply. However, the same commitment expectations apply to all fellows — this is a rigorous, full-time program requiring 25–40 hours per week over 13 weeks.
Join us at one of our info sessions on April 22nd or April 29nd to learn more about the streams.
Torrey Sirdevan
Deep Tech Specialist, Innovation Boost Zone
tsirdevan@torontomu.ca
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