Innovation Factory and CAN Health Network Collaborate to Speed Up Adoption of Canadian Health Tech Innovations

On August 6, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario, the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network and Innovation Factory announced a strategic collaboration through the HEALTHI program. This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of Canadian health technology within the healthcare and life sciences sectors, combining CAN Health Network's extensive marketplace and Innovation Factory's robust support for commercialization-ready health tech startups.

The partnership aims to create a streamlined pathway for Canadian companies to validate, scale, and integrate their technologies into healthcare environments across the country. The HEALTHI program offers high-potential ventures access to commercialization programming, knowledge mobilization activities, and partnerships with clinical validation entities. Participants will benefit from CAN Health Network’s national network of healthcare organizations, known as Edges, to co-develop and implement solutions effectively in real-world settings.

David Carter, CEO of Innovation Factory, highlighted that integrating their program with CAN Health's national reach creates opportunities for Canadian health tech companies to validate and scale their solutions nationwide. This collaboration not only endorses critical commercialization milestones but also promises improvements in patient care and economic growth.

Dr. Dante Morra, Founder and Chair of CAN Health Network, emphasized the commitment to dismantling barriers that inhibit the success of Canadian technology in the health system. The partnership signifies a significant step toward creating an integrated marketplace, allowing Canadian companies to flourish while enabling healthcare providers to access optimal homegrown solutions for delivering high-quality care.

Backed by national partners and funded in part by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), the HEALTHI program has supported 67 companies since its launch in 2021. These initiatives have led to 17 companies securing approximately $6.9 million in follow-on funding for product development and clinical trials, with another 14 companies projected to generate around $1.1 million in collaborative projects with hospitals and research entities.

The CAN Health Network, a federally funded organization supported by Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada, aims to foster an integrated marketplace that minimizes procurement barriers and de-risks technology adoption. Since its inception in 2019, the Network has connected 50 leading healthcare operators, supported 100 companies, facilitated over 127 commercialization projects, and generated $698 million in revenue.

This partnership is set to not only expedite the adoption of Canadian health technology but also enhance economic growth, improve patient care, and fortify Canada's domestic health innovation landscape.

Applications for the HEALTHI program will remain open until March 2026. Interested health technology companies are encouraged to apply online or reach out to Innovation Factory for further information.

The CAN Health Network seeks to integrate more Canadian innovation into the healthcare system by collaborating with healthcare providers or Edges to scale technology companies effectively. Innovation Factory has been a catalyst for technology innovation in the greater Hamilton area since 2010, providing business services, training, and strategic connections aimed at increasing market adoption and economic growth. The HEALTHI program connects life science entrepreneurs with research groups to establish necessary protocols for commercialization and clinical trials, delivered in conjunction with the Synapse Life Science Consortium.