The Government of Canada is investing in innovation in French and bilingual digital health
FedDev Ontario invests to help companies validate and commercialize their technologies
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting innovation and strengthening regional economies. By investing in organizations that help businesses bring new ideas to market, the Government of Canada supports job creation, stimulates growth, and delivers better outcomes for Canadians.
Today, on behalf of the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario ( FedDev Ontario ), the Honourable Mona Fortier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier–Gloucester, announced an investment of just over $815,000 for the Montfort Knowledge Institute (MKI), to increase the capacity of the innovation lab at Montfort.
Up to 20 digital health companies will have access to the lab to accelerate the development and commercialization of their innovative technologies. This will be achieved through access to strategic advice and connections with frontline clinicians, applied research expertise, and clinical environments across the healthcare ecosystem. This hands-on approach will demonstrate the value of digital health innovations and provide concrete solutions for Francophones within the healthcare system.
The investment will also strengthen collaboration across the regional innovation ecosystem by working with regional and clinical partners, including Invest Ottawa, Capital Bioventure, Hawkesbury General Hospital, Bruyère Health, CHEO, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, University of Ottawa and La Cité College, to accelerate access to resources and support entrepreneurship in a Francophone and bilingual innovation environment.
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is investing in innovation that strengthens regional economies and supports official language minority communities (OLMCs). Through projects like this one, entrepreneurs will receive support navigating the healthcare ecosystem and will have access to specialized expertise and rapid services. These initiatives support the development of health technologies, stimulate innovation, and contribute to sustainable economic growth across Southern Ontario.”
The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“By supporting organizations like the Institut du Savoir Montfort, we strengthen collaboration between entrepreneurs, clinicians, and researchers, while ensuring that our Francophone communities participate in the innovation economy and influence the development of health technologies that will offer better outcomes and opportunities for patients.”
The Honourable Mona Fortier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier–Gloucester
“Thanks to this investment, the Montfort Knowledge Institute is strengthening the capabilities of its innovation lab to support more businesses in the development, validation, and implementation of solutions in real-world contexts. This is an important step in accelerating high-impact innovations that benefit not only Francophone and bilingual communities, but all Canadians. When we innovate and provide care in the language of our choice, everyone wins.”
Estelle Ethier, CEO of the Montfort Knowledge Institute and Vice-President, Education and Research, Montfort Hospital
“We want to establish partnerships with businesses to stimulate innovation and meet the needs of our communities, and this investment is a concrete demonstration of that. By strengthening the innovation lab at the Institut du Savoir Montfort, we are creating the conditions for digital health solutions to be developed, tested, and implemented in real-world contexts, with a measurable impact on the ground. This is how Montfort actively contributes to transforming the healthcare system, while innovating in French, for healthier communities.”
Dominic Giroux, President and CEO, Montfort Hospital
Facts in brief
- Montfort is Ontario’s Francophone university hospital, offering exemplary patient-centered and community-centered care. Montfort is one of only six hospitals in Canada that are university hospitals; serve a general population; have intensive care, obstetrics, mental health, rehabilitation, and other acute care beds; are among the top 50 hospitals and the top 40 research hospitals; and have more above-average than below-average indicators according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
- The Montfort Knowledge Institute (ISM) is the academic and scientific pillar of Montfort, dedicated to teaching, research, and innovation in healthcare. Its mission is to be a unique French-language environment combining teaching, research, and innovation in healthcare. Through its initiatives, the ISM contributes to training the next generation and disseminating new knowledge to improve healthcare.
- This project is funded by the Economic Development Initiative, which is part of Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028, which supports the economic development of official language minority communities.
- Since 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested over $215 million in more than 280 projects in official language minority communities, contributing to the creation or maintenance of approximately 9,000 jobs.
Related links
FedDev Ontario
Montfort Hospital
Montfort Institute of Knowledge
Source: The Government of Canada
