New GIP in Canada - AI for Health
- Tuesday, April 15, 2025
- Posted By The Growth Company
Delivered by Innovate UK, in partnership with MaRS, this Global Incubator Programme (GIP) provides an opportunity for UK-based companies to expand into the North American market and collaborate with one of the world’s largest innovation hubs for AI and healthcare.
This Global Incubator Programme, organised by Innovate UK, will be delivered virtually on a weekly basis from September 2025 to March 2026, with two visits to Toronto built into the programme. Each business is supported by an Innovate UK Business Growth Innovation & Growth Specialist to help maximise the potential of being part of the programme and beyond.
They are currently accepting applications to take up to eight innovative companies, developing Artificial Intelligence, and machine learning applications for improved healthcare decision-making and diagnostics, as well as safer, more effective treatments, to join the programme with MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Canada.
They are looking for the application of novel AI technology to best solve an unmet need in clinical healthcare. Areas of interest include clinical decision making and treatment, predictive medicine, patient data and diagnostics.
Why Canada?
Canada is ranked among the top five countries for commercial AI-focused ventures and has the most patents per million people among the G7 nations and China. Toronto’s start-up ecosystem also hosts the largest concentration of AI-startups, with 273 firms, thanks to Canada’s support of foreign-owned multinational corporations.
In 2017, Canada released a national AI strategy to attract and retain world-class AI researchers, foster a collaborative AI ecosystem, advance national AI initiatives, and understand societal implications of AI. From this, $93 million was invested in research institutions and AI talent, which has helped make Canada one of the world’s leading players in the sector and has led to investments and job creation.
For nearly 20 years, MaRS has empowered innovation in the healthcare ecosystem by offering a range of services that help tech founders grow their companies and create meaningful innovation. MaRS works with 1,400 companies across Canada, turning breakthrough ideas into products and services with global impact. In 2020 alone, MaRS supported ventures raised $2.4 billion collectively, while generating $1.5 billion in revenue.
Key dates
Programme briefing: 6th May 2025
Applications close: 1st June 2025
Shortlist interviews: 17th – 19th June 2025
First market visit: 4th – 10th October 2025
Second market visit: March 2026