How do you help academic entrepreneurs get their ideas from the lab bench to the market?

MaRS Innovation (MI) is the official commercialization agent for 15 of Toronto's leading research institutions. Technologies disclosed to us span therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostic imaging, information and communications technologies, and advanced manufacturing and clean technologies.

MI taps into $1 billion of annual research and development in Toronto’s largest research hub. Located within the MaRS Discovery District building, we are a separate, not-for-profit organization and have an independent mandate, board of directors and staff.

MaRS Innovation is supported by the Networks of Centres of Excellence (federal funding body), the Ontario Government and by our members as part of a collective strategy to close the nation’s productivity gap and improve Canada’s economic security. In 2008, the Networks of Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) awarded us $14.95 million over five years; we extended this funding by another $14.95 million in 2013. Combined with support from our members, industry partners and other in-kind contributions, MaRS Innovation and its companies have secured approximately $75 million in our six years of operations.

Creating an organization like MaRS Innovation is completely unprecedented. It demonstrates the readiness of Toronto’s academic, health care and research communities to unleash the benefits of clustering. Their willingness to experiment enables MI to see technologies emerging across our portfolio, combining both like minds and research assets, as we build the strongest possible start-up companies and license opportunities. 

MaRS Innovation

Parimal Nathwani has a decade of experience in various aspects of the biotechnology industry, including finance, intellectual property management, business development and operations; he has been actively involved in preparing business plans, forming start-up companies, raising early-stage capital, managing intellectual-property portfolios and out-licensing initiatives.

Most recently, Parimal was a healthcare analyst with a boutique investment bank, where he conducted due diligence on publicly-traded biotechnology companies in Canada and the U.S. for an institutional investor client base and advised companies on financing strategies. He has also held the position of technology transfer manager in the life sciences at one of Canada’s leading technology transfer offices.

Forming Start-Up Companies

Raising Early-Stage Capital

Managing Intellectual Property

Vice President, Life Sciences

MaRS Innovation backs big thinkers with bold ideas. We support translational research emerging from our 15 academic member institutions by helping to bring their ideas to market. 

Together, we're discovering new ways our partners can launch and grow Canadian companies while changing lives.

Visit us at: http://bit.ly/1w5KGmx

Parimal Nathwani

MaRS Innovation

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Biography

Industry Expertise

Areas of Expertise

Education

The University of British Columbia

Simon Fraser University