Innovation Challenges applications open twice a year. 

Sign up for updates about our next round of challenges here: Sign up for Challenge Notifications

Please apply by completing the application form linked on the respective Challenge page(s)

Applicants must ensure that documentation included in the application process is their own work.

Any application that is received by the Organizers that is illegible or has not been received through the website outlined above is automatically void.

The Organizers assume no responsibility for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network, telephone lines, computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, or the failure of any application to be received by the Organizers on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website, or any combination thereof.

International applicants are eligible to apply to the Challenge Program. However, only Ontario-based applicants are eligible to receive business and technical support from CITM during the Challenge Program. If you are willing and able to incorporate your business in Ontario as an international applicant, please indicate this in your submission and a member of our Team can connect with you directly.

No, but the experience will look a little different for pre-revenue companies. Early-stage companies with products that are not quite ready for customers, that are invited to participate, will be connected with coaching, programming, resources, and educational content to support their continued development.

There is no cost to apply to participate in an innovation challenge or to become a member of CITM.

You do not have to be a client/member with Innovation Factory or CITM to submit your solution when there is a call for solutions.  If selected to participate and participate in the challenge, you may be asked to complete an intake form which will provide you with access to support, services, resources and strategic connections from both Innovation Factory and CITM.

A Challenge Partner is the ultimate end customer who determines the problem or use case that forms the basis of the “challenge” that requires a technology, product, service or other solution from the SME Innovation Partner. The Industry Partner hosts and sponsors a pilot or test implementation of the winning challenge entrant, either in a lab / constrained environment or operating environment.

A Technology Partner is typically a technology solutions provider to the Challenge Partner, whose products or solutions form a core component or foundation for the required innovation to solve for the challenge. In some cases, the Technology Partner is the one seeking the Challenge Partner’s solution, typically as a solution or partner within their solution ecosystem, to address an end customer needs or problem. On occasion, the Technology Partner can also be the Challenge Partner, if the problem or challenge is one of a product design and development nature.

Subscribe to our email list for notification of future Innovation Challenge opportunities.

Disclosure and Ownership of Technologies and Materials

All participants will retain ownership of all intellectual property rights in the subject matter of their applications. Participants are cautioned that intellectual property rights, including patentable inventions and industrial designs, may be compromised by public disclosure.

Submission of an application to the Forum should be considered a public disclosure. Participants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged, or presented in their business plan or the Panel Review. Organizers and sponsors of the Forum, staff, evaluation panel, audience members, etc. will not be asked to sign any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements. The evaluation/presentation will be conducted in a meeting with attendance open to the general public.

Participants acknowledge that it is their responsibility to take steps prior to submitting entries to preserve their intellectual property rights in any subject matter contained therein.

Publishing and Promotion

Once materials are submitted, the organizers reserve the right to publish information respecting the participants’ work in publications and to release information to the media, which may include radio, television, print media, and the Internet.

Miscellaneous

Applications and extra inclusions will not be returned after submission.

The Organizers accept no liability whatsoever arising in respect of the participation in the Challenge by any individual or either of the Innovation, Technology or Industry partner involved.

By submitting an application, each participant releases and holds harmless the Organizers, their affiliates and subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies, any panelists appointed by them, and in each case their respective directors, officers, owners, employees, agents, representatives, successors and assigns, from any and all liability in connection with the Forum or resulting from acceptance, possession or use of any grant including, without limitation, personal injury, death, and property damage, and claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy.

By accepting your invitation to participate in the Innovation Challenge, the successful participant authorizes the Organizers the right to use his/her name, address, likeness, photograph, application, and/or statements in advertising and for other promotional or publicity purposes without compensation.

The Organizers reserve the right, without advance notice, to suspend, delay or cancel the Challenge or to modify these guidelines for any reason or as required by applicable law. Organizers will make best efforts to notify all participants of any changes.

By submitting your application, you represent and warrant to the Organizers that your submission is your own original work and that you have the sole right to submit it to the Organizers.