Simon Fraser University has joined forces with the British Columbia provincial government’s InBC Investment Corp to establish a C$20 million investment vehicle called the SFU Innovates Venture Fund.
The university is injecting C$7.5 million into the fund, with InBC Investment Corp matching the amount. The remainder is being sought both through investments and philanthropic gifts.
The SFU Innovates Venture Fund will back early-stage companies in sectors “with significant economic potential”, such as life sciences, deep tech, and cleantech.
In addition to capital, InBC will provide access to its team of investment professionals to facilitate due diligence and portfolio management.
Simon Fraser University’s intellectual property policy enables researchers to maintain full control over their inventions, a principle known as professor’s privilege.
“SFU has always been a place where ideas don’t just stay in the lab—they grow into real ventures and real impact. Having supported more than 500 ventures so far, we are excited to launch this new fund to accelerate the translation of breakthrough research into real-world impact.”
Dugan O’Neil, vice-president, research and innovation
SFU is the second university in as many months to partner with InBC to launch a venture fund, after the University of British Columbia established the C$40 million UBC Catalyst Ventures Fund in March.
