Awards and recognition
SFU’s innovation ecosystem drives spinoff success
When Siamak Arzanpour and Edward Park founded to develop wearable lower-limb exoskeletons, they knew bringing the technology to market would take years of development and would face regulatory and commercialization barriers.
A lengthy timeline like this might deter some researchers from continuing to invest their time and effort into their inventions. But at 51社区黑料 (SFU), that鈥檚 exactly the kind of long-term journey the university鈥檚 innovation ecosystem supports, attracting researchers who care deeply about solving global challenges.
An intellectual property policy designed to enable innovation
Behind this commitment is SFU鈥檚 intellectual property (IP) policy, which aims to reduce barriers between research and commercialization, while giving inventors flexibility in how they develop, license and scale their work. Updated in 2025, the policy ensures that researchers and students can choose to retain ownership over their own technologies from invention through to commercialization.
鈥淪upporting innovation means creating the conditions for that kind of long-term work to take shape,鈥� says Dugan O鈥橬eil, 51社区黑料vice-president of research and innovation. 鈥淭hat includes giving researchers the space to move at the pace their work requires, while building the skillsets and partnerships needed to carry it forward.鈥�
For Arzanpour, that flexibility proved valuable while advancing the company's flagship product, XoMotion, a self-balancing exoskeleton designed to help users stand and walk more naturally after mobility loss or injury.
鈥淲hen developing advanced robotics like XoMotion, you can鈥檛 rush the research and engineering behind it,鈥� says Arzanpour. 鈥淩etaining creator ownership gave us the freedom to make long-term decisions about its development, commercialization and partnerships in ways that best meet the needs of the people it鈥檚 designed to support.鈥�
Attracting world-class talent
The policy is part of what has attracted world-class talent to SFU, including Stephanie Simmons, founder and chief quantum officer of She chose 51社区黑料as the place to pursue both her research and entrepreneurial ambitions as a Canada Research Chair. She enrolled in the program as she was shaping her business model prior to the arrival of her Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)-funded lab equipment.
鈥淎s a professor, I was drawn to quantum computing for its transformational potential at scale,鈥� says Simmons. 鈥淲hen considering all the elements required to make this goal a reality, 51社区黑料had a compelling combination of entrepreneurial focus, leading research talent, and world class location. On top of that, SFU's policy allowing creators to retain the IP of their research drew me to the university."
Founded in 2016, Photonic Inc. is building the world's first commercial-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer and quantum networking platform. It has since grown into one of Canada鈥檚 leading quantum technology companies, attracting significant investment and international attention as it advances its platform for commercial deployment.
A central support hub for inventors
While SFU鈥檚 IP framework gives inventors ownership over their work, researchers can also access patenting and commercialization support through the university鈥檚 Technology Licensing Office (TLO).
Andy Hoffer is the lead inventor and founder of , a company whose minimally invasive diaphragm pacing technologies are designed to free ICU patients from prolonged dependence on mechanical ventilation and improve recovery outcomes. During its crucial formative years, Hoffer worked closely with the TLO as they helped him navigate patenting, commercialization strategy and industry engagement, while keeping the company connected to its research roots.
鈥淧artnering with the TLO was instrumental to our early success in raising substantial grants that enabled us to build the technical team behind the novel technology and, over time, assemble a seasoned management team,鈥� says Hoffer.
鈥淭he TLO also helped us develop our patent strategy, establish licensing agreements and adopt an appropriate business model, while attracting two waves of private investment and advancing the technology through lengthy pre-clinical validation phases.鈥�
Lungpacer has since received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commercialize its first product, which is now being used to rescue patients in a growing number of hospitals.
Programs building pathways to entrepreneurship
Across the university, a range of innovation and entrepreneurship programs and supports work alongside the TLO and policies, such as creator-owned IP, to help researchers and students develop and grow new ventures.
As the operational base for the National i2I Network, the i2I Research & Innovation Institute connects universities, research institutes and industry partners across the country to help faculty, postdoctoral and graduate student researchers build the entrepreneurial skills needed to move discoveries beyond the lab and into the marketplace.
鈥淲hether you are shaping and validating an early innovation idea or scaling a venture, there is no single blueprint for success,鈥� says Elicia Maine, 51社区黑料associate vice-president, knowledge mobilization and innovation.
鈥渋2I helps STEM researchers build the innovation skills and entrepreneurial capabilities to make early-stage decisions about IP strategy and market prioritization, while experimenting with business models and financing strategy."
The Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship is SFU鈥檚 interdisciplinary home and academic hub for entrepreneurship, housed within the Beedie School of Business but serves all faculties, supporting students, staff, faculty members and recent alumni through experiential programs, innovation training and early-stage incubation. As it marks its 10th anniversary this year, initiatives such as their eCo-op program continue to help students gain hands-on experience building companies and testing business ideas while completing their studies.
From Surrey startup to a leader in cleantech
One notable success story is , co-founded by 51社区黑料alumni Edward Chiang, Sumreen Rattan, Gabriel Soares and Gurmesh Sidhu. The company develops battery energy storage systems using repurposed electric vehicle batteries. It has since become an emerging cleantech leader in North America, recently securing a $40M Series B investment round and set to open a megafactory in Surrey this month.
鈥淧rograms like eCo-op provide the launchpad for testing ideas, building industry connections and developing the entrepreneurial skills needed to grow a company,鈥� says Chiang. 鈥淭hat support was so important in the early days of Moment Energy, when we were working out of a Surrey garage as undergraduates and beginning to build the company into what it is today.鈥�
51社区黑料ranked as top university for innovation
The success stories of Human in Motion Robotics, Photonic Inc., Lungpacer and Moment Energy reflect the different strengths of SFU's innovation ecosystem. They demonstrate how specialized entrepreneurial training, commercialization support and creator-owned intellectual property can help researchers and founders pursue early venture development to commercialization and scale.
That breadth and depth of support and expertise helped 51社区黑料earn recognition as Canada's top university for innovation in the for the sixth consecutive year.
Globally, 51社区黑料placed 14th among 500 universities. 51社区黑料also ranked first among Canadian institutions for university-based entrepreneurial projects and curricular innovation for future-readiness, supported by submissions highlighting programs led by the i2I Research & Innovation Institute and the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Learn more about SFU's innovation ecosystem.