Message from the MILO Team
Through initiatives and support from McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO), we turn research into real-world impact — driving a culture of innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship at McMaster. From helping researchers launch startups to forging industry partnerships, we move ideas from the lab to the marketplace.
Working alongside McMaster’s research community, we build strategic collaborations, secure funding, negotiate agreements and guide the journey from entrepreneurship to commercialization — all aligned with the provincial Commercialization Mandate Framework and McMaster’s Strategic Research Plan.
This year has marked exceptional progress: more startups, stronger industry partnerships, and bold, innovation-driven collaborations. These achievements reflect the commitment and expertise of the entire MILO and Entrepreneurship Teams, whose work in designing, initiating, and delivering programs has empowered researchers and accelerated impact across our community.
Among these contributors, Leyla Soleymani has played a pivotal role in shaping these initiatives. As she steps back from her leadership role to focus on advancing her own research, she does so with the Dorothy Killam Fellowship, one of Canada’s most prestigious honours. Congratulations to Leyla on this outstanding achievement, and sincere thanks to all MILO, McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy, and Forge staff for their dedication to driving innovation and excellence.
Partnerships & Collaboration
At McMaster, we proudly partner with industry, non-profit organizations and government bodies to find solutions to our most pressing global concerns. We work across disciplines and borders to address complex challenges, improve products and processes, and develop new policies and guidelines that promote a cleaner and healthier future for all.
MILO plays a pivotal role in fostering impactful partnerships between McMaster researchers and their collaborators. We support researchers in securing industry funding by identifying strategic opportunities through matching grant programs, guiding proposal development, and providing constructive feedback on applications. We help navigate key programs such as NSERC’s partnership programs, the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)’s collaborative initiatives, and Mitacs funding streams.
In addition, we assist researchers in accessing commercialization-focused funding, including NSERC’s Idea-to-Innovation program, CIHR’s Commercialization grants, and OCI’s Market Readiness Co-Investment Fund.
$59M
Research Funding Administered
400+
Partnerships Supported
800+
Agreements Negotiated
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New campus biomanufacturing lab launched in collaboration with Sartorius Learn more
A new bioprocessing automation lab opened on campus in early 2025, supporting the development of innovative manufacturing technologies and processes to enhance the efficiency, quality, and accessibility of biotherapeutics for life-saving treatments and chronic disease management.
The state-of-the-art research facility complements a substantial contribution of advanced biomanufacturing equipment from Sartorius, a leading international partner in life sciences research from the biopharmaceutical industry. The Sartorius Bioprocess Automation Lab is the first facility funded by the Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) to open in Canada.
The Lab will serve as a training and development hub, where McMaster students and Sartorius employees can work with other industry partners to accelerate developments in bioprocess modelling, simulation and advanced control.
MILO worked with chemical engineering professor David Latulippe, co-director of the Biointerfaces Institute, and the Sartorius team to facilitate agreements covering everything from equipment contributions and intellectual property management to student exchanges and funding.
McMaster Engineering and NRC researchers pioneer a new frontier in satellite communications Learn more
McMaster researchers Steve Hranilovic and Rafael Kleiman, in collaboration with National Research Council of Canada (NRC) researchers, are spearheading an innovative project to develop a mobile facility that employs optical transmissions from lasers in space, rather than traditional radio waves. The project aims to enhance data transfer rates from satellites, even amidst atmospheric distortion.
The team was awarded $1.5 million in support from the NRC’s High-throughput and Secure Networks Challenge program. The Optical Ground Receiver Enhanced (OGRE) technology is a mobile facility designed to detect optical transmissions from satellites in low Earth orbit. It will measure the impact of atmospheric turbulence on laser communications, and the research team will build a comprehensive database to characterize these effects in the Canadian context. The goal of OGRE is to bring high-speed internet to remote communities, sparking economic growth and enabling services such as telemedicine for all Canadians.
MILO played a pivotal role in the establishment of this research collaboration, ensuring alignment between McMaster faculty and the University’s key industry and public sector partners. We continue to provide ongoing institutional support as the results of the study are shared with stakeholders.
$4M federal investment boosts McMaster drug discovery initiatives Learn more
McMaster received $4M in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to upgrade and significantly expand its drug discovery infrastructure.
The funding will support the establishment of the Centre for Collaborative Chemistry (C3), a new research centre that will be part of McMaster’s Global Nexus, a health innovation accelerator led by researcher Matthew Miller.
Global Nexus will leverage C3 to not only fast-track university drug discovery and development, but also to support similar research at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The investment will also support the purchase of new equipment to expand research into a range of diseases. It will fund hiring additional staff, creating new industry partnerships, and developing experiential learning opportunities for students and trainees.
Kapoose Creek Bio advances drug discovery using AI and bioinformatics Learn more
Together with McMaster scientists, BC-based biotech company Kapoose Creek Bio – headed by McMaster professor Eric Brown – is exploring the natural chemistry of diverse fungi on Vancouver Island for possible medicinal activity.
The collaboration, part of Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program, is supported by more than $2 million in research funding committed collectively by Genome Canada, Kapoose Creek, and McMaster.
Through the new partnership launched in 2024, Kapoose Creek will leverage McMaster’s expertise and infrastructure to develop a new synthetic biology platform that will fast-track the discovery and development of new fungi-derived medicines.
Kapoose Creek also announced an exclusive licensing and asset acquisition agreement with Adapsyn Bioscience, a McMaster spinout company based in Hamilton.
With its acquisition of Adapsyn’s state-of-the-art lab at McMaster Innovation Park, Kapoose Creek is expanding its B.C.-based operations into Ontario and joining a top-tier innovation hub.
As part of the agreement, Kapoose Creek will gain access to Adapsyn’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology and natural products database to advance its drug discovery and development activities.
Turning Research Into Impact
McMaster researchers awarded prestigious CMZ grants for innovative health research
Two McMaster University researchers have received funding through the Commercialization (CMZ) panel of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant Program to advance innovations targeting age-related degenerative diseases and metastatic brain cancer. The CMZ program supports health-related discoveries with strong commercial potential, requiring both rigorous scientific plans and well-developed commercialization strategies. MILO supports applicants by helping shape these strategies, including plans for intellectual property management, market viability assessment, and licensing or business development.
Todd Hoare, Canada Research Chair in Engineered Smart Materials, and his research team are looking to improve outcomes for the one in six Canadians affected by osteoarthritis (OA). The project aims to validate the team’s injectable hydrogel, with the goal of translating this technology to clinical use for OA patients in partnership with the start-up company Trillium Meditec.
Jakob Magolan and Sheila Singh, co-founders of McMaster startup Block Biosciences, and team are working on a first-in-class precision medicine that would be taken proactively by patients after a diagnosis of lung, breast or skin cancer, to prevent secondary metastatic brain cancer. With proof-of-principle studies complete, the company is now advancing its most promising drug candidates toward pre-clinical studies.
Investing in our Innovators
Established 2021
McMaster Seed Fund (MSF) applications are managed by MILO and vetted by an Investment Committee comprised of successful entrepreneurs, early-stage investors and top executives – all external to the University. MILO supports applicants by facilitating pitch practices, conducting due diligence assessments, and making connections to advisors or potential partners.
MSF helps McMaster researchers transfer their innovative ideas from the lab to the market. Since inception, MSF has invested in startups that are driving economic and social impact in the Hamilton region and beyond.
$3.5M
Invested in 10 startups
90
New jobs created
$14.4M
Raised in revenues
or follow-on financing
McMaster Seed Fund invests $750,000 in two innovative health startup companies
BiCova Therapeutics and PROVA Innovations received a combined $750,000 investment from the McMaster Seed Fund to accelerate the development and commercialization of their groundbreaking health technologies.
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BiCova Therapeutics: Advancing immunological and oncological treatments Visit BiCova Therapeutics
Co-founded by Anthony Rullo, associate professor of medicine, and life sciences executive Robert Verhagen, BiCova received $500,000 to advance its novel therapeutic platform targeting diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. The company aims to deliver more effective and accessible treatments for immunological and oncological conditions, and recently launched a 12-month OICR collaboration to develop three leading drug candidates.
PROVA Innovations: Smart insoles for in-home gait rehabilitation Visit PROVA Innovations
Founded by Matthew Rosato, McMaster engineering and MBA graduate, PROVA Innovations received $250,000 to enhance its WithinStride™ smart insoles. These non-invasive devices support in-home gait training and rehabilitation for individuals with arthritis and other mobility challenges. Clinical trials are currently underway and PROVA is expanding its team to bring this on-the-go therapy to more patients. PROVA has also received funding through the National Research Council (NRC) Aging in Place Challenge grant, in support of Canada’s Aging in Place Strategy.
13th Innovation Showcase honours a historic year of commercialization success led by McMaster innovators
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Held at McMaster Innovation Park, Innovation Showcase 2024 gathered members of McMaster’s dynamic innovation ecosystem to exchange insights, ideas and advice to support one another on their commercialization journeys.
The event celebrated McMaster innovators whose inventions are transforming lives locally and globally.
Attendees watched the inaugural Postdoc Entrepreneur Fellowship Pitch competition, where Stevie Foglia was awarded a $75,000 fellowship to support the development of his augmented reality sensorimotor training (ARST) technology. This non-invasive, engaging neurorehabilitation solution is designed to treat chronic neck pain. The fellowship provides $75,000 in salary support, allowing Foglia more time to focus on turning his research into a commercial venture.
CEO and co-founder of Harvest Systems, James Cotton, took home the Innovator of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding success in research innovation. Cotton is a leading expert in energy harvesting and storage, and the award recognizes his recent contributions to sustainable energy and thermal management systems.
The Lifetime Innovator Award, which recognizes career-spanning achievements in research innovation, was awarded to Dr. Mehran Anvari, a tenured professor and surgeon at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton specializing in minimally invasive techniques and robotic surgery. Dr. Anvari is a global leader in medical robotics and notably performed the world’s first remote telerobotic surgery. At St. Joe’s, he founded the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) and is the founding director of the Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation (CSii). He is also the co-founder of Insight Medbotics, a medical device startup and one of our MSF recipients from the first funding round.
The People’s Choice Poster award went to two students in McMaster’s Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) program, Rooaa Shanshal and Deena Al-Sammak, for their venture Power of Play. The students’ innovative toy-like medical device makes health care more accessible for children by accurately measuring their hand grip strength.
We look forward to welcoming community members to the next Innovation Showcase – date to be announced!
Startups making strides
McMaster has been instrumental in the establishment of over 75 startup companies founded by our talented students, faculty, staff and alumni. With guidance and support from MILO, these ventures are not only driving innovation and economic growth but are also shaping the future of health, science and technology in ways that will have a lasting impact on society.
Here’s a look at a few Made-at-Mac ventures that are solving real-world problems
Esphera SynBio: Synthetic biology platform for infectious disease and cancer Visit Esphera SynBio
Co-founded by associate professor of medicine, Brian Lichty, Esphera is a pre-clinical synthetic biology company developing treatments for infectious diseases and cancer. The company received $256,000 through the McMaster Seed Fund in 2023 to advance their novel platform technology, which generates exosomes that deliver defined payloads, including enzymes and RNAs, to targeted cells in the body, including tumor cells and immune cells. The technology is designed to enhance existing immunotherapy and vaccine technologies and aid in gene therapy, enzyme replacement therapy and cancer immunotherapy. In 2025, Esphera announced a new innovative project aimed at advancing next-generation mRNA vaccines, supported by the CQDM Quantum Leap program.
Harvest Systems: Clean tech startup reducing restaurant energy costs Visit Harvest Systems
Harvest Systems, co-founded by engineers Jim Cotton and Jeff Girard, is a leader in sustainable energy solutions. Its user-friendly waste heat harvesting device reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps restaurants lower energy costs, improving environmental impact without compromising service efficiency. The company has recently made significant progress, securing new investments, advancing toward additional funding opportunities, and completing key technical milestones, including successful factory testing and supplier commitments for its heat reclaimer system. Harvest Systems has also secured the financing needed to begin product certification and fulfill its first sales agreement with Pizza Pizza. In 2024, it was named one of Canada’s top 50 most investible clean tech companies by Foresight Canada.
Stoked Bio: AI-driven drug discovery for infections and cancer Visit Stoked Bio
Stoked Bio leverages leading-edge AI to create novel therapeutics that fight infections and cancer. Co-founded by Jon Stokes, assistant professor in the department of biochemistry and biomedical sciences, Stoked Bio’s AI platform is designed to generate molecules that can be developed into compounds with real potential to become new treatments for patients. The company aims to produce drug candidates rapidly and cost-effectively, addressing the economic challenges typically associated with antibiotic R&D and oncology drug development. Its approach is intended to accelerate progress against aggressive and hard-to-treat cancers, including glioblastoma. In 2024, Stokes’ research on using AI to tackle superbugs was named one of the year’s top discoveries by The New York Times.
NodeAI Diagnostics: AI-powered lung cancer diagnostics Visit NodeAI Diagnostics
NodeAI Diagnostics is harnessing artificial intelligence to revolutionize lung cancer diagnostics and care, enhancing both speed and accuracy in patient assessments. Founded in 2023 by Dr. Waël Hanna, division head of thoracic surgery at McMaster and thoracic surgeon at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, NodeAI Diagnostics was established with the support of top AI specialists to address longstanding challenges in lung cancer staging. By integrating AI-driven procedural support, the company streamlines the diagnostic process, ensures consistency, and ultimately improves patient care.
The company’s cloud-based platform integrates seamlessly into existing clinical workflows, offering real-time AI analysis of ultrasound images and automated report generation. In 2024, NodeAI Diagnostics was awarded $75,000 through McMaster’s Innovation Matchmaking program, and in 2025, it won the $100,000 Ernsting Entrepreneurship Award at FACIT’s Falcons’ Fortunes pitch competition.
Entrepreneurship
(Clockwise from top left) Representatives from GERAS Dance, a research centre focused on helping people age with dignity and independence; Longan Vision CEO Enzo Jia ‘15, ‘18 and McMaster researcher Leyla Soleymani with McMaster professor entrepreneurs Maryam Aramesh, Wael El-Dakhakhni and Jim Cotton, along with Andy Knights, vice-president, Research (acting) (All photos by Georgia Kirkos/McMaster University)
Celebrating and supporting innovation at McMaster
McMaster is dedicated to ensuring our entrepreneurs are well-supported throughout their commercialization journeys – from idea to impact. Through initiatives led by groups across campus, including the McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy, The Forge, The Clinic and Heersink School of Biomedical Innovation, and MILO, McMaster helps innovators navigate the complex commercialization pathway. MILO’s expertise in intellectual property, licensing, and industry collaboration ensures that Made-at-Mac ventures are positioned for success.
Over the past year, McMaster has supported students, faculty, and alumni with resources to help them launch and grow their entrepreneurial careers, taking their Made-at-Mac ventures to the next level.
New student-focused programs, including the McMaster Startup Internships and the McMaster Student Seed Fund, are preparing the next generation of innovators for careers in the startup space. Now in its second year, the McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy’s Professor Entrepreneur Fellowship was awarded to three professors in 2025, providing dedicated time and resources to advance their ventures. Also in 2025, the Academy’s Innovation Matchmaking competition awarded $75,000 to three multidisciplinary research teams to help bring their health-tech solutions to market.
The second annual Made-at-Mac event, held in March 2025, brought together McMaster’s vibrant entrepreneurship community. More than 150 startup founders, students, graduates, researchers, and investors gathered to celebrate successes and share insights to support aspiring entrepreneurs on their commercialization journeys.
Made-at-Mac has become a powerful symbol of the social and economic impact McMaster entrepreneurs are making locally and globally. In 2024–25, McMaster honoured the team behind Made-at-Mac. Twenty-three staff members from across the University received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service. The award recognized the team’s “One University” approach to entrepreneurship, which included building new support programs, raising awareness, and helping elevate the profile of McMaster’s one-of-a-kind innovation ecosystem.
Lab2Market: Fostering innovation and commercial success in Canada
McMaster serves as a delivery site for Lab2Market, Canada’s national research commercialization program supported by Mitacs and NSERC. As a host for both the Ontario Hub and the Health Hub, McMaster is helping equip students and researchers with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to transform academic research into real-world impact. Over the next five years, McMaster will support more than 300 students and researchers through Lab2Market programs.
Among those benefiting from Lab2Market is Stevie Foglia, a postdoctoral fellow in biomedical engineering. Foglia is the CEO and founder of Neuro-Mod Inc., a startup supported through McMaster’s Postdoc Entrepreneur Fellowship and Lab2Market programs. Neuro-Mod is advancing an augmented reality solution for neurorehabilitation inspired by Foglia’s personal connection to chronic pain. He received McMaster’s inaugural Postdoc Entrepreneur Fellowship in 2024. Through Lab2Market Validate, Foglia had the opportunity to test and evaluate his technology with patients and clinicians. He later participated in Lab2Market Launch, a 16-week program designed to help entrepreneurs successfully bring their ventures to market.
Neuro-Mod is preparing for a pilot launch in physiotherapy clinics and aiming for a full launch in 2026. Foglia says he’s grateful for the wraparound support provided by McMaster’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“Coming from a STEM background, you don’t really have training or expertise in how to build and launch a product. Lab2Market gives you guidance and knowledge on that pathway. It helps give you confidence in your product and in yourself as an entrepreneur.”
– Stevie Foglia, CEO and Founder of Neuro-Mod Inc.
Meet entrepreneur-in-residence, Daryl Sherman
Daryl Sherman
Entrepreneur in Residence
Daryl Sherman is a seasoned leader in revenue and product strategy, bringing over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience across MedTech, consumer packaged goods and technology. With a deep understanding of the full product development lifecycle, Daryl has successfully led ventures through strategic planning, operational alignment and growth toward acquisition. He has held executive roles including CEO of Kapsul Tech and Chief Revenue Officer at SnapClarity.
Daryl specializes in helping startups make data-driven decisions that power sustainable growth. As a McMaster entrepreneur-in-residence, Daryl lends his expertise and mentorship to members of the University’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. He participates as an advisor in the McMaster Seed Fund and Student Seed Fund, Lab2Market Launch and The Forge Business Incubator.
“Daryl’s superpower is turning confusion into clarity and we’re grateful to have him as our mentor.”
– Ali Hamdy, CEO of LivSens and McMaster Student Seed Fund recipient
Whelen Fellowship connects students and startups to drive innovation
The John Whelen Family Innovation Advancement Fellowship is shaping the next generation of innovators at McMaster.
Now in its second year, the Fellowship continues to empower entrepreneurial-minded students, awarding them a four- to twelve-month placement with companies backed by the McMaster Seed Fund (MSF) or startups commercializing McMaster research.
This year’s Fellow is Thomas Szasz, a master’s student in kinesiology working with PROVA Innovations, a McMaster startup and recent MSF recipient founded by engineering and MBA graduate Matthew Rosato.
“In a competitive job market, this fellowship provides a head start as I work towards a career that blends science, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” says Szasz.
New student-focused programs support the next generation of innovators
In 2025, McMaster launched three new student-focused entrepreneurship programs designed to foster hands-on learning in both entrepreneurship and investment and give student-led startups the early support they need to fast-track their company growth.
The McMaster Startup Internships (MSI) program connects undergraduate and graduate students with real-world entrepreneurial experiences to help kick-start their careers. Through full-time 4-month internships with startups, students develop hands-on professional skills and build career connections while contributing to McMaster’s innovation ecosystem.
13 students completed startup immersion internships in 2025, gaining real-world experience working with startups in fields such as clean energy, AI, digital technologies, health and medicine. 20 students completed the Investor Analyst Fellowship, learning venture capital (VC) fundamentals from experienced mentors.
MSI was established by the McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy with support from the Office of the President and the Marnix E. Heersink School of Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The program operates in collaboration with The Forge Business Incubator and The Clinic Innovation Hub.
Another new initiative launched by the McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy and the Forge is the new McMaster Student Seed Fund (MSSF) to help students and recent alumni take their startups to the next level. Six McMaster student and alumni-led startups each received $15,000 in seed funding and access to hands-on mentorship through the MSSF in 2025. Winners were selected by their peers in the Investor Analyst Fellowship, who applied their new skills to vet real funding applications.
McMaster Innovation in the Marketplace
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Q-Portfolio: Transforming patient-centered care Visit Q-Portfolio
Spearheaded by Anne Klassen, a clinician-scientist and professor of pediatrics at McMaster, the Q-Portfolio is advancing patient-centred care globally. This groundbreaking collection of scientifically validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are designed to assess quality of life, satisfaction and health outcomes from the patient’s perspective.
The Q-Portfolio spans a wide range of clinical areas from plastic surgery and dermatology to pediatrics and cleft care. The tools empower clinicians, researchers and industry partners to meaningfully integrate the patient voice into healthcare decision-making.
Two of its flagship tools, SKIN-Q and CLEFT-Q, are already recognized internationally: SKIN-Q for capturing outcomes of aesthetic and dermatological procedures, and CLEFT-Q for its transformative role in cleft lip and palate care.
The global distribution of these outcome measures has been supported by MILO, whose guidance on intellectual property, commercialization strategies, and partnership development has contributed to their widespread use. To date, approximately 1,200 licenses for the Q-Portfolio have been granted to hospitals, research institutions, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide, helping to advance the growing shift toward patient-centred care.
CARD: Collecting and sharing valuable data on antibiotic resistance Visit CARD
The Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) is a world-leading bioinformatics resource that captures the global knowledge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Developed at McMaster by Andrew McArthur and Gerry Wright, professors in the department of biochemistry and biomedical sciences and members of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, CARD combines advanced computational tools with expert human curation to ensure the highest standards of accuracy and relevance.
Today, CARD catalogs over 7,000 resistance genes and mutations linked to treatment failure in both humans and animals. It also provides drug resistance predictions for more than 400 key pathogens, supporting a wide range of research applications including machine learning, disease surveillance, and pharmaceutical development.
Since its inception, 131 licensing agreements have been executed with organizations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, reflecting CARD’s global reach and impact. Licensees include pharmaceutical companies focused on drug discovery and development for treating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infectious diseases, bioinformatics organizations that use CARD to analyze microbial threats in support of government policies and programs, and biotech companies developing commercial products for the veterinary and agricultural sectors.
MILO has led the marketing and licensing of CARD and its associated tools, generating revenue from corporate customers that supports the ongoing development and maintenance of CARD. This approach also enables continued free access for non-commercial research use by individuals at academic, government, and non-profit institutions, reinforcing McMaster’s commitment to open science and global health.
PVI Tool: Improving the diagnostic process for blood disorders Learn more
A team of McMaster researchers led by professor of medicine, Donald Arnold, have developed a tool to improve the diagnostic process for patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
ITP is a blood disorder that leads to low blood platelets and bleeding. While there is no known cause of ITP, it develops due to an immune system error, sometimes triggered by viral infections, pregnancy or immune disorders. There is no reliable biomarker that can distinguish ITP from other causes of low blood platelets. As a result, patients in the clinic are often misdiagnosed. However, examining fluctuations in the platelet count level over time can help diagnose ITP.
The platelet variability index (PVI) measures platelet fluctuations over time. It helps medical specialists arrive at an accurate diagnosis for patients with thrombocytopenia by distinguishing ITP from other thrombocytopenic disorders. It can also help ensure that participants in ITP clinical trials meet eligibility requirements and prevent misdiagnosis of patients with low blood platelets.
MILO has supported the inventors of the PVI tool by securing intellectual property protection and facilitating its commercialization, ensuring the tool reaches clinicians who can apply it effectively in practice. The PVI tool is currently licensed for validation purposes and is anticipated to officially launch in 2026.
Operational Excellence
MILO’s new Inventor Portal streamlines the disclosure process
As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing research support services, MILO proudly launched the Inventor Portal, a major step forward in streamlining the disclosure process. This fully online platform provides researchers and innovators with a centralized, user-friendly system to submit invention disclosures quickly and efficiently. By digitizing and simplifying this critical step in the innovation pipeline, we’ve improved accessibility, reduced administrative burden, and accelerated the path from discovery to impact.
Streamlined Submissions
Submit, sign, and track invention disclosures entirely online with no paperwork and no delays.
Simplified Forms
Focus on what matters most with a clean, easy-to-navigate format that captures key details efficiently.
Collaboration Made Easy
Invite co-inventors, monitor progress, and collect signatures automatically, all within the platform.
Full Portfolio Access
Stay informed with real-time access to your patents, agreements, and historical disclosures in one place.
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Discover Technologies with MILO’s Upgraded Catalogue Explore Technologies Available for Licensing
MILO has refreshed our “Technologies Available for Licensing” catalogue designed to make it easier than ever to explore innovative research ready for commercialization. The updated web page features enhanced search and discovery tools, a more intuitive navigation system, and a modernized interface that highlights the potential of McMaster’s groundbreaking technologies. Whether you are an entrepreneur, industry partner, or investor, the new catalogue streamlines the process of finding cutting-edge solutions available for licensing.
Metrics – Fiscal Year 2024-25
Commercialization Revenue
Including royalties, licensing fees, equity
Total Disclosures
| Year | Total number of disclosures |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 88 |
| 2022 | 87 |
| 2023 | 87 |
| 2024 | 103 |
| 2025 | 124 |
Disclosures by Faculty
| Year | Faculty of Science | Faculty of Engineering | Faculty of Health Sciences | Other Faculties/Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 (9.73%) | 45 (39.82%) | 43 (38.05%) | 14 (12.39%) |
| 2022 | 20 (17.86%) | 39 (34.82%) | 39 (34.82%) | 14 (12.50%) |
| 2023 | 8 (7.34%) | 48 (44.04%) | 38 (34.86%) | 15 (13.76%) |
| 2024 | 11 (8.73%) | 53 (42.06%) | 38 (30.16%) | 24 (19.05%) |
| 2025 | 13 (7.98%) | 67 (41.10%) | 56 (34.36%) | 27 (16.56%) |
Breakdown of Inventors
| Category | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty | 54% | 188 |
| PostDoc | 10% | 34 |
| Undergraduate Student | 3% | 9 |
| Graduate Student | 21% | 74 |
| Research Staff | 12% | 42 |
124
Disclosures
18
Patents Issued
62
New Patent Applications Filed
623
Total Licenses Executed
$7.5M
Commercialization Revenue
$384K
Knowledge Mobilization Revenue
Issued Patents
Expandable List
Inventor: Jonathan Lorne Bramson, Christopher W. Helsen, Joanne Alicia Hammill, Kenneth Anthony Mwawasi
US11976117B2 (United States)
Inventor: Sumanth Shankar, Xiaochun Zeng
CA3045163A1 (Canada), MX2019006204A (Mexico), IN545237B (India)
Inventors: Christine Gabardo, Leyla Soleymani, Robert Chris Adams-McGavin
MX2018013263A (Mexico)
Inventor: Ryan Wylie, Vincent Huynh
CA2969564A1 (Canada)
Inventor: Steven Phillips, Michael Stacey, Jillian Marlene Swaine
AU2018285981B2 (Australia)
Inventor: Andrew Mcarthur, Gerard Wright, Hendrik Poinar, Michael G. Surette, Allison Guitor
EP4017996B1 (European Patent Office – validated in France, Germany, United Kingdom)
Inventor: Leyla Soleymani, Roderick Maclachlan, Sara Moetakef Imani, Yuting Chan, Tohid Didar
US12109586B2 (United States), JP7570358B2 (Japan)
Inventor: Leyla Soleymani, Igor Zhitomirsky, Amanda Victorious, Amanda Clifford
US12030043B2 (United States)
Inventor: Qiyin Fang, Jessica Kun, Marek Smieja
US12125216B2 (United States)
Inventor: Jonathan Bramson, Phillip Marvyn
CN114651068A (China)
Inventor: James Scott Cotton, Kelton Friedrich, Vickram Lakhian, Saber Mohamed, Mohamed Yasser Abdelsalam, Jorge Chebeir, Jeff Girard
US12078370B2 (United States)
Inventor: Eric Brown, Omar M Elhalfawy, Nick Jentsch, Xiong Zhang, Jakob Magolan
US12011422B2 (United States)
Inventor: Arif Ui Alam, Mohamed Jamal Deen
US12044669B2 (United States)
Inventor: Baik Hoh, Seyhan Ucar, Kentaro Oguchi, Hao Yang
US12258023B2 (United States)
Inventor: Suleiman Igdoura, Fiona Weaver, Richard Austin, Colin Nurse
US12042476B2 (United States)
