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.

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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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To celebrate our 20th anniversary, Springboard compiled this collection of our most impactful stories of research commercialization and industry collaborations

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Our Stories

  • Canada’s Smartest Kitchen receives $185K grant for food innovation

    Canada’s Smartest Kitchen receives $185K grant for food innovation

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    Canada’s Smartest Kitchen (CSK), the research arm of Holland College’s Culinary Institute of Canada, has been awarded more than $185,000 through a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grant. The grant will be used to purchase a multi-use set of remote data loggers, a food-ready autoclave system, allowing the CSK team to work in the R&D kitchen and at a client’s facility. The equipment will expand CSK’s offerings in food innovation, thermal processing and product monitoring support.

  • Dalhousie on cutting edge of 3D printing for marine defence sector

    Dalhousie on cutting edge of 3D printing for marine defence sector

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    Dalhousie’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub is supporting the Canadian defence sector in a research collaboration that is using 3D-printing technology to keep Canada’s aging fleet of submarines operational for several more years. The Dalhousie Faculty of Engineering was awarded $3.7 million grant by NSERC, the CFI, Defense Research and Development Canada, and other industry partners. This support advances additive manufacturing technologies (3D-printing) for copper alloys, materials used to strengthen operational readiness for the country’s navy.

  • UNB researchers awarded more than $6 million in federal grants

    UNB researchers awarded more than $6 million in federal grants

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    Researchers at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) have been awarded $6,179,894 in federal funding to explore changing marine climates, new air pollutants, online disinformation, underwater internet-of-things and much more. The support comes from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) CREATE program and Discovery Grants portfolio. There is also funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) funding programs, including Insight Grants and Insight Development Grants.

  • CBU research grants support inclusive arts, music education & international students

    CBU research grants support inclusive arts, music education & international students

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    Springboard Network member Cape Breton University (CBU) has secured more than $65,000 in federal research funding to support community projects that improve accessibility in the performing arts, strengthen music education and understand the experience of international students. The funding comes from Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) through its Partnership Engage Grant program, which supports short-term research collaborations between academic institutions and community organizations.

  • Université de Moncton and Dassault Systèmes Partner to Solve Urban Development Challenges in Canada with Virtual Twins

    Université de Moncton and Dassault Systèmes Partner to Solve Urban Development Challenges in Canada with Virtual Twins

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    VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France – Dassault Systèmes and Springboard Network member Université de Moncton, Canada’s largest French-language university outside Québec, announced the launch of a new project aimed at solving housing, urban densification and ecological conservation challenges in the southeastern region of New Brunswick, Canada. The partnership was signed at VivaTech 2025 in Paris. The six-month project will develop collaborative virtual environments to model, analyze and plan sustainable urban development in the cities of Dieppe and Moncton – two of Canada’s fastest growing metropolitan areas in the last 20 years – all while establishing a protected wildlife corridor in the southeastern part…

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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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