Important Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 13, 2026, 11:59PM ET |
Idea to Impact: Environment & Materials application. Idea to Impact: DeepTech will run during Winter27 Semester |
|
September 18, 2026 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised |
| September 23, 2026 - December 16, 2026 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). There will be no class on October 14th for reading week. |
Program Overview
The Idea to Impact (I-to-I) Training Program aims to help current McGill STEMM graduate students gain insight into:
- technology commercialization
- entrepreneurship
- industry requirements and challenges
You do not need to have a project idea or research results to apply. You may either join a project, or you develop a project early on in the program. All you need is an interest in the area of Environment & Materials for this fall cohort, and a minimum of 3 hours per week commitment to the program and deliverables (this includes the 1.5 hour weekly in-person workshops on Wednesdays 3:30-5pm).
I-to-I provides tools and training to support STEMM researchers to explore the potential of their research, their ideas, their passions, their curiosities by developing an entrepreneurial mindset and skills to make informed decisions about commercializing (or not) their research or their novel technologically-based ideas. The program imparts the evidence-based lean startup methodology that researchers can use for the rest of their careers.
The program runs once per semester with a different industry focus per term: Environment & Materials (Fall 2026), DeepTech (Winter 2027), Health (Spring 2027). Industry experts will be brought in to offer insights into industry requirements and challenges and take part in the final presentations.
You will learn about:
- Problem/Opportunity/Unmet Need Identification
- Identifying Stakeholders and Customer Segments
- Finding Your Unique Value
- Validating Your Assumptions
Scholarship award opportunities are available for students that qualify after successful completion of the program. For the Faculty of Engineering students through the Douglas Van Graduate Impact Award, and other McGill Faculties through the new McGill Engine Impact Award.
Areas of Focus
Environment & Materials
Research projects submitted to I-to-I: Environment & Materials should be related to environment, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, chemical, energy, mining and materials, climate, and/or sustainability.
Important Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 13, 2026, 11:59PM ET | Application deadline. Apply here. |
|
September 16, 2026 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised |
| September 23, 2026 - December 9, 2026 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). There will be no class on October 14th for reading week. |
DeepTech
Research projects submitted to I-to-I: DeepTech should be related to robotics, cyber security, cloud computing/infrastructure, data science, AI development, nanotechnology, Web 4.0/5.0, software, and/or computer vision.
Important Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| November 18, 2026 |
Call for Idea to Impact: DeepTech applications open. |
| January 4, 2027, 11:59PM ET | Application deadline. |
|
January 13, 2027 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised |
| January 27, 2027 - April 14, 2027 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). There will be no class on March 3rd for reading week. |
Health
Research projects submitted to I-to-I: Health should be related to health care, biotech, medtech, pharmaceuticals, life tech, education innovation, holistic healthcare, and/or life sciences.
Important Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| March 7, 2027 |
Call for Idea to Impact: Health applications open. |
| April 11, 2027, 11:59PM ET | Application deadline. |
|
April 26, 2027 |
Decisions made by Engine team and applicants advised |
| May 5, 2027 - July 21, 2027 | Program duration: in-person workshops will be held at McGill Engine Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, room 5) every Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm (ET). |
Curriculum
I-to-I provides tools and training to support STEMM researchers to explore the potential of their research, their ideas, their passions, their curiosities by developing an entrepreneurial mindset and skills to make informed decisions about commercializing (or not) their research or their novel technologically-based ideas. The program imparts the evidence-based lean startup methodology that researchers can use for the rest of their careers.
The program runs once per semester with a different industry focus per term: Environment & Materials (Fall 2026), DeepTech (Winter 2027), Health (Spring 2027). Industry experts will be brought in to offer insights into industry requirements and challenges and take part in the final presentations.
You will learn about:
- Problem/Opportunity/Unmet Need Identification
- Identifying Stakeholders and Customer Segments
- Finding Your Unique Value
- Validating Your Assumptions
Each accepted team will be assigned a mentor based on the technology and industry sector of application.
Eligibility
- Current McGill graduate students, the lead applicant must be a current McGill post-doc or McGill graduate student.
- Each team will be comprised of: 1 or more McGill students, the lead applicant must be a current McGill post-doc or McGill graduate student, 1 industry/entrepreneurial expert (assigned Engine mentor). Teams submit details, in particular the feasibility and viability of the research they want to commercialize, through an online application form.
- A commitment towards attending and participating in all the workshops and executing the project work is required (estimate minimum 3 hours/week, this includes the 1.5 hour class).
Benefits
I-to-I addresses the skill and knowledge gaps associated with transforming basic research into deep technology commercial ventures, and supports the commercialization of deep technologies resulting from discoveries in STEMM and life sciences. We expect that this program will have a positive effect on the students’ educational success by giving them the tools and training they need in order to apply their academic and lab knowledge to real-world contexts.
You will learn about:
- Problem/Opportunity/Unmet Need Identification
- Identifying Stakeholders and Customer Segments
- Finding Your Unique Value
- Validating Your Assumptions
Each accepted team will be assigned a mentor based on the technology and industry sector of application.
