MaRS and Innovate UK launch first cohort for startups leveraging the power of artificial intelligence

Eight UK ventures in fields such as drug development, AI regulation and the semiconductor industry look to scale in North America

TORONTO, July 13, 2023 – MaRS Discovery District today announced that it is collaborating with Innovate UK’s (IUK) Global Incubator Programme to support the expansion of some of the UK’s most promising companies harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI). This is MaRS’ third cohort partnership with IUK and the first focussed on AI.

Eight startups will participate in the program at our innovation hub in Toronto to find new international partners and customers, and to scale into the North American market.

“We are thrilled to bridge borders with Innovate UK, joining forces to collaborate with a group of exceptionally ambitious founders placing their trust in MaRS as a guiding force in their international expansion plans to Canada,” said Morgan Lorimer, Senior Manager, Cohort Programs in Innovation Ecosystems. “This visionary group acknowledges the immense potential within Canada’s thriving AI landscape, embracing its transformative growth potential as a catalyst for their businesses.”

Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, is creating a blueprint for future programs with MaRS and collaborations among accelerators, incubators and private ventures around the world.

This group is using AI in various ways to service a range of industries from AI governance and regulation, drug discovery and development to shipping and supply chain optimization. It includes an extended reality simulations developer, a mobile intelligence provider, software for complex and dynamic pricing environments and a conversational media platform.

The members of this AI cohort are:

The five-month artificial intelligence program includes targeted workshops, advisory support and networking opportunities to help the participants sharpen their value proposition and pitches. By integrating the UK ventures into the MaRS ecosystem, the cohort will get a comprehensive understanding of the shape and needs of North America’s AI community.

“It is a pleasure to expand on the existing collaboration with MaRS and launch this new Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme focused on Artificial Intelligence, providing opportunity for UK business to gain exposure to Canada’s AI ecosystem and support their plans to innovate and grow internationally,” said Jon Hazell, Partnership Manager – North America and Global Incubator at Innovate UK.

The first two programs within this strategic partnership between MaRS and IUK focussed on advanced manufacturing. Participating in the MaRS program was a transformative experience for multiple companies. CAE gained a deeper understanding of the Canadian market and established valuable connections with customers in Vancouver and Montreal. Synbiosis realigned their strategy with the Canadian mining market and formed connections with industry experts. And Raplas successfully realigned their strategies, set up distribution services, secured new sales, and benefited from valuable feedback and media exposure. The MaRS program had a significant impact on these companies, allowing them to thrive in the Canadian market.

Learn more about the MaRS Innovate UK AI program and this cohort.

About MaRS

MaRS is North America’s largest urban innovation hub. A registered non-profit, MaRS supports high-growth startups and scale-ups tackling key issues in health, cleantech, fintech and other sectors. In addition, MaRS convenes all members of the tech ecosystem to drive breakthrough discoveries, grow the economy and make an impact by solving real problems for real people — in Canada and around the world.

About Innovate UK

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is the UK’s national innovation agency. We support business-led innovation in all sectors, technologies and UK regions. We help businesses grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes, and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive, and easy to navigate.

Media Contact
media@marsdd.com