Each month we shine a spotlight on the bold ideas shaping Canada’s innovation landscape through Labs4 – a nationwide network powered by RRC Polytech’s Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) enterprise.

Here are the latest success stories fueling Canada’s next wave of economic growth:

Labs4: leveraging the know-how of Canada’s colleges to drive innovation and productivity:     

A cross-Canada set of applied research impact examples showing how college and polytechnic expertise helps move research toward commercialization across multiple sectors. It includes Manitoba examples (including RRC Polytech) alongside other hub-led stories.

From start-up to national impact: Labs4’s inaugural summit signals Canada’s next era of innovation: 

Recap of the inaugural Labs4 National Summit hosted by RRC Polytech in Winnipeg, positioning Labs4 as a nationally coordinated, regionally delivered commercialization engine. It highlights Labs4’s programs (TRL and MtL), national systems work (tracking/reporting/platform), and the broader “research-to-market” narrative. 

Innovators in Motion: 

A TRL-focused feature introducing the purpose and structure of the Technology Readiness Level-Up program and the kinds of real-world problems participants are working on. It outlines the four-month model (stipend, mentorship, placements, weekly sprints) designed to move concepts toward prototypes. 

Indigenous Entrepreneurs Lifting Each Other Up: 

A story about Mittohnee Pogo’ohtah at RRC Polytech as an Indigenous-led business incubator/accelerator and part of Labs4’s Indigenous Entrepreneurship Hubs. It emphasizes culturally grounded, community-centred support and “success” framed around Indigenous leadership, self-determination and reciprocal impact. )

Labs4 is an RRC Polytech-led, Canada-wide network of 38 colleges, universities, and polytechnics working in partnership to empower researcher-entrepreneurs to turn academic breakthroughs into real-world ventures, products, and solutions.

Delivered through 11 Regional and Indigenous Entrepreneurship Hubs, Labs4 is inclusive by design, nationally coordinated, and regionally grounded. Our mission is to close Canada’s research-to-commercialization gap by equipping researcher-entrepreneurs with the experience, tools, and networks to turn ideas into impact.

We build on research excellence by prioritizing productization and real-world outcomes. Through Labs4, innovations gain traction, ventures gain momentum, and Canada gains economic and social value.