Imagine this, you’re a life sciences company that has spent five years in research and development. You have lived through the sleepless nights of clinical trials, secured your Health Canada approval, and successfully run a pilot program at a leading regional hospital. The clinicians love it. The patient outcomes are undeniable.
But then, you hit a wall.
You try to move into the next hospital, or the next region, and you’re met with a familiar barrier: “It’s great tech, but how do we fund it? How do we change our workflow to fit it? Who is the decision-maker for a provincial rollout?”
This is the gap between a successful local innovation and a provincial standard of care. In an effort to bridge this gap, Ontario’s Ministry of Health launched a brand new program – the Health Innovation Pathway (HIP).
The HIP program was designed to remove barriers to adoption, bringing critical healthcare solutions to those who need them the most. We had the opportunity to have a conversation with Victor Castellino, Manager in the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Health Innovation Policy Branch, who shared details about the program and what this means for the life sciences innovation ecosystem.
Designed to strengthen Ontario’s health system
Castellino describes the HIP as more than just a program; it is a key component of Ontario’s health system that will strengthen the role of innovation over time. For years, Ontario has excelled at research and “pockets of innovation”—with Hamilton being one of the leaders. However, we have historically struggled with building the infrastructure to take those local successes and pursue new standards of care at the system level.
By bringing the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, Supply Ontario, the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement to the same table, the pathway aims to turn “one-off” successes into system-wide adoptions. The goal of the pathway is to think about each innovation opportunity from a health system lens, understanding where the technology fits and removing barriers to help it get there.
The “single window”: A unified front for founders
One of the greatest hurdles for life sciences start-ups is system noise—the confusion of not knowing which door to knock on. The HIP addresses this by offering one single point of contact through Ontario Health.
This isn’t just a landing page; it’s a coordinated entry point that consolidates how innovators, researchers, and clinicians engage with the province. Within this window is the ‘Innovation Concierge.’ This team acts as your navigational partner, helping to:
- Curate Solutions: Ensure that the most promising, high-impact technologies are flagged for provincial leaders.
- Remove Barriers: Identify specific regulatory or policy hurdles that are stopping your tech from being adopted.
- Streamline Technology Review: Coordinate across government and agencies to review your technology and plan for implementation, reducing duplication and saving time.
Closing the final mile with the Health Technology Accelerator Fund (HTAF)
Even the best storytelling needs data to back it up. Often, the system needs that last 10% of evidence to justify a major shift. This is where the HTAF comes in. The HTAF is designed to address evidence gaps and explore models for the adoption of new technologies.
Castellino explained that the fund is split into two strategic streams, addressing the two biggest reasons innovation fails to scale:
Stream 1: Evidence Generation (The “should we do this?” phase)
This stream focuses on closing evidence gaps. It asks: Does this technology add value and deliver as promised in an Ontario context? Does it improve patient outcomes compared to our current standard of care?
Stream 2: Scale and Spread (The “how do we do this?” phase)
This is where many start-ups stumble. Stream 2 focuses on boosting adoption of technologies backed by robust evidence, redesigning models of care and drawing roadmaps for your tech to actually be used day-to-day in Ontario.
The pathway is about determining “who needs to do what”—whether that’s a policy change at the ministry or a training protocol change at the bedside.
Are you ready for the next stage?
The HIP is focused on technologies that are at TRL 8. Before you approach the concierge, ensure you meet the bar for provincial entry:
- TRL 8 Maturity: Your product is no longer a prototype; it is commercially ready and available for sale.
- Regulatory Approval: You have achieved Health Canada approval (or are in the final stages with a clear path).
- Evidence of Value: You have enough data to prove not just that the tech “works,” but that it provides tangible value to the Ontario patient and the provincial budget.
Hamilton: The province’s testbed
With our integrated network of hospitals and research institutions, including Hamilton Health Sciences, The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton, McMaster University, Mohawk College, and more, and the support system through Innovation Factory, we are uniquely positioned to answer the call to test and support promising innovations. We aren’t just a “pocket of excellence” anymore; we are the launchpad for the next generation of provincial healthcare standards.
How Innovation Factory can help in your commercialization journey
If you aren’t quite at TRL 8 yet, that’s where we come in. Innovation Factory acts as your pathway partner. We help with:
- Refining your value proposition and commercialization plan
- Connecting with local health partners for initial pilot data
- Provide the “warm handoff” to the provincial concierge when your technology is mature enough to scale
The Health Innovation Pathway is a great tool for Ontario’s start-ups, turning the “wall” of procurement into a door of opportunity.
Interested in learning more about the program and how Innovation Factory can help you through the process? Connect with us today!
Ready to apply? Get connected with an Innovation Concierge at [email protected] to learn more about the application process.