QUBIC

Last week, we hosted the 2026 QUBIC Pitch Competition! This event brought together students, researchers, investors and ecosystem partners for a full day focused on research commercialization and venture creation out of Queen's University. The event marked the culmination for our first cohort of our 10-week venture incubation program, where six interdisciplinary teams worked directly with Queen’s-owned intellectual property to develop commercialization strategies. This program was built around a simple idea: empowering students to think about research not just as a scientific pursuit, but as a pathway to real-world venture creation and entrepreneurship through commercialization. A huge congratulations to our venture teams: GridEdge, PrognoCrine, Liberi Exergames, SteadiMed, HumminGuard, and NexWave. Each team approached their technology with a different lens, from early-stage validation to more developed go-to-market strategies. We’re especially excited to recognize: 🏆 SteadiMed (1st place), developing a biodegradable injectable polymer for extended CNS drug delivery 🌟 Liberi Exergames (People’s Choice Award), building a combined video game + exercise bike platform to support rehabilitation and social play for children with cerebral palsy Beyond the pitch competition, the day brought together key players across the ecosystem, from investors and operators on our judging panel to speakers in our “Bench to Boardroom” sessions focused on building and scaling ventures. Thank you to everyone who attended and have supported us over the past year!

Behind every strong event is a team putting in the work long before it begins. Today, we’re finalizing preparations for QUBIC’s Pitch Competition, setting up the space, organizing materials, and ensuring everything is in place for tomorrow. What isn’t always visible are the hours spent coordinating, refining, and building the environment that allows ideas to be clearly communicated and meaningfully challenged. This event goes beyond the pitches themselves, it’s creating momentum for ideas to move forward, while fostering a community where commercialization and innovation can take shape. Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow for our first annual pitch competition! #QUBIC #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #QueensUniversity #StartupEcosystem #Biotech

  Sponsor Highlight: Providence Care   We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Providence Care as a sponsor of the 2026 QUBIC IP Pitch Competition.   Providence Care is a leading provider of specialized care in aging, mental health, rehabilitation, and palliative care across Southeastern Ontario. Through their commitment to advancing education and inspiring creativity, Providence Care supports student-driven innovation and helps shape the next generation of healthcare professionals.   Providence Care is supporting and nurturing innovation in a variety of ways, including offering access to their new BSL-2 wet lab space for start-ups and innovators, set to open in May 2026. At our Pitch Competition next week, Providence Care will be hosting a booth, providing an opportunity for attendees to connect and learn more about their work.   Thank you to Providence Care for supporting student innovation and helping shape the future of care.

Sponsor Highlight: Molecular Devices   QUBIC is proud to recognize Molecular Devices as a Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 QUBIC IP Pitch Competition.   Molecular Devices is a global leader in innovative bioanalytical solutions supporting protein and cell biology research. By empowering scientists across life sciences, pharmaceutical, and biotherapeutic development, Molecular Devices plays a key role in enabling breakthrough discoveries and advancing scientific innovation.   Partnering with scientists at all stages of their careers is central to their mission, and this commitment to supporting growth and discovery strongly aligns with QUBIC’s focus on empowering student innovators.   Their support of this year’s Top Pitch Prize helps recognize, celebrate, and encourage the hard work and innovation of student founders.   Thank you to Molecular Devices for supporting student-led innovation and helping drive science forward. 

ESBE Scientific is a Canadian-owned, female-owned company supporting research, clinical, and academic labs across the country, and we are excited to highlight them as a sponsor of the 2026 QUBIC IP Pitch Competition!   With a focus on reliable local support, fast turnaround, and long-term partnerships, ESBE plays an important role in advancing research and innovation across Canada. ESBE Scientific is proud to support the next generation of innovators, helping equip the labs where tomorrow’s discoveries will happen.   Neil Moodie from ESBE Scientific will be hosting a booth at our Pitch Competition next week, giving attendees the opportunity to connect and learn more about their work and offerings.   Their support helps create opportunities for students to explore, build, and innovate—shaping the future of research and discovery in Canada. Thank you, ESBE Scientific, for supporting student innovation and helping drive meaningful impact!

Sponsor Highlight: HAS-Motion   We’re excited to highlight HAS-Motion, a Kingston-based company advancing biomechanical analysis through innovative software and motion capture technology, as a sponsor of the 2026 QUBIC IP Pitch Competition!   With a global reach and a mission to better understand and optimize human movement, HAS-Motion is helping push the boundaries of health, performance, and data-driven insight.   We’re also excited to welcome Amy Coyle from HAS-Motion as a speaker at our Pitch Competition next week, where she will share her expertise with our participants.   Their support helps strengthen the local biotech ecosystem and empowers the next generation of student innovators. We’re grateful to have HAS-Motion as part of the QUBIC community and appreciate their commitment to building innovation both locally and globally.

Sponsor Highlight: Lumira Ventures   We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Lumira Ventures as a Sponsor of the 2026 QUBIC IP Pitch Competition!   As a leader in healthcare and life sciences venture capital, Lumira Ventures has a long-standing commitment to partnering with mission-driven entrepreneurs to build transformative biotech and medtech companies. Their support plays a key role in empowering student founders and helping bring innovative ideas to life.   We’re excited to welcome Danielle Karakas, PhD from Lumira Ventures as a judge and speaker at our Pitch Competition next week. Her experience will bring invaluable insight to our participants.   Thank you, Lumira Ventures, for investing in the next generation of biotech leaders and helping turn research into reality.