Growing innovation in Atlantic Canada

The Springboard Network moves knowledge and technologies from universities and colleges to the economy. We connect industry with researchers to solve real-world problems and help entrepreneurs protect their IP.

Our Network
360 series
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Springboard by the numbers

957

Startups spun out of institutions

5925

Technology & knowledge transfers

$6.8B

Research generated

19

Universities & Colleges

40+

Industry engagement professionals

10,000+

Researchers

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Who are we?

Springboard Network

Industry Engagement Professionals from 14 universities and 5 colleges in Atlantic Canada

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IP Advantage

Providing support and information on protecting your start-up or SME with intellectual property

IP proGRAMS

Central Office

Meet our logistics and programming team in Springboard’s headquarters

Springboard team

To celebrate our 20th anniversary, Springboard has compiled this collection of our most impactful stories of research commercialization and industry collaborations over the past two decades

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Our Stories

  • Five ways to attract investors

    Five ways to attract investors

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    📢 Attention all early-stage entrepreneurs! Join Springboard Atlantic Inc. and Volta for a deep dive into the strategies you need to secure investment from savvy investors in Canada and the U.S. 12:00 pm AST, Wednesday, March 26, 2025

  • ACOA announces $2.5M for PEI bioscience sector

    ACOA announces $2.5M for PEI bioscience sector

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    The Government of Canada is investing $2.56 million to expand the Emergence Bioscience Incubator, a key initiative led by the PEI BioAlliance that provides mentorship, investment support, and commercialization guidance to bioscience startups. Since 2022, Emergence supported over 165 companies, helping them raise over $150M in capital and invest more than $100M in R&D. With this funding, even more bioscience firms will benefit from expert mentorship, regulatory guidance, and access to investment networks, ensuring they can scale, compete globally, and create high-quality jobs in Atlantic Canada.

  • Giant ice bulldozers: how ancient glaciers helped life evolve

    Giant ice bulldozers: how ancient glaciers helped life evolve

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    Two StFX researchers, Dr. Donnelly Archibald and Dr. Brendan Murphy, are part of a new study published in the journal Geology that has revealed how massive ancient glaciers acted like giant bulldozers, reshaping Earth’s surface and paving the way for complex life to flourish. The full study, titled ‘The Neoproterozoic Glacial Broom,’ is a collaboration between Curtin University, St. Francis Xavier University, and the University of Portsmouth.

  • Saint Mary’s Research Expo highlights research and industry collaboration

    Saint Mary’s Research Expo highlights research and industry collaboration

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    From the Springboard Content Lab Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Saint Mary’s University Research Expo to learn about cutting-edge work addressing today’s challenges and shaping tomorrow’s […]

  • Springboard celebrates International Women’s Day

    Springboard celebrates International Women’s Day

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    Women researchers, scientists and startup entrepreneurs joined Life Sciences Nova Scotia and Springboard Atlantic Inc. at Life Sciences Research Institute to celebrate International Women’s Day. We salute these women for their hard work in research and innovation in the bioscience sector in Atlantic Canada!

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Testimonials

  • The value proposition of Springboard is in learning, and encouragement, and developing new awarenesses and capabilities. It’s ACOA’s best work.

    Dr. David RiskSt. F.X. researcher and entrepreneur

  • Springboard is “backbone” of Atlantic Canada tech ecosystem. Springboard is a trusted source of expertise and support in region. 

    Jeff LarsenAssistant Vice-President, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dalhousie University

  • Springboard was the only organization that combined proof of concept funding with patent and legal. That is what we needed at that time: Industry engagement funding to license the tech. It’s like they considered the whole lifecycle from ideation to commercialization. They don’t just provide funding, they guide the research through the whole process.   

    Dr. James RobarCo-founder Adaptiiv

  • Springboard provides a single point of contact for industry to tap the research capabilities of an entire region, and amplifies the R&D capacity of Atlantic Canada. At a time when Canadian business needs to improve productivity, Springboard is a working model that should be replicated in many other markets. 

    Peter MorieraFounder, Entrevestor

  • The world-class research taking place at Atlantic Canada’s post-secondary institutions is fueling innovation in every sector of the economy and giving our businesses a real leg up against the competition. And Springboard is right at the heart of it – bringing together the right partners to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing industry today and helping lay the groundwork for the success stories of tomorrow.

    The Honourable Gudie HutchingsMinister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

  • Having the support of a Springboard ILO at Holland College was key to helping us to navigate the many different funding channels and to identify the correct path forward to support a collaborative R&D project.

    Chef Allan WilliamsCanada’s Smartest Kitchen

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