The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) hosted DiscoveryX 2025 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto on April 16-17, 2025 . The event brought together hundreds of startups, cutting-edge technology demos, and insightful keynote sessions, making it a hub for innovation in Ontario. DiscoveryX 2025 highlighted the province’s leadership in driving breakthrough solutions in life sciences, cleantech, advanced manufacturing, AI, quantum computing, clean energy, and talent development.
DiscoveryX 2025 Ontario’s Innovation Ecosystem Takes Center Stage
“DiscoveryX is more than just an event—it’s a launchpad for companies, a collaboration hub, and a demonstration of the power of Ontario’s innovation ecosystem,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of OCI. The event celebrated the transformative work of Ontario’s startups while fostering new partnerships between innovators, investors, and industry leaders.
DiscoveryX 2025 Day 1 Highlights: The Future of Technology
Day 1 kicked off with a powerful fireside chat featuring Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI,” and Jordan Jacobs, discussing the next frontiers of artificial intelligence. The day also featured a keynote by Aaron Erickson from NVIDIA, along with exciting demos from startups in health innovation, automotive, cleantech, and AI.
Key highlights included:
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The Explore NeXt Innovation area showcasing over 11 innovative companies.
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A roundtable discussion on Agri-tech, with industry leaders sharing insights on agricultural innovation.
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Panels with thought leaders from government, academia, and industry.
Celebrating Ontario’s Regional Innovation Centres
Ontario’s Regional Innovation Centres (RICs) were recognized for their critical role in supporting early-stage businesses across the province. These centres are key to fueling growth and helping Ontario entrepreneurs reach new heights.
DiscoveryX 2025 Day 2 Highlights: The Future of Tech and Innovation
Day 2 wrapped up with an inspiring keynote from futurist Amy Webb, who explored the future of technology using her pioneering, data-driven foresight methodology. Attendees also heard from Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel and COO Matt McMullen on the innovative intersection of robotics and AI, creating robots designed for emotional support and conversational AI.
Major announcements included:
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Over $40,000 in prize money awarded to the winners of the Ignite Innovation Pitch Competition and the Where’s Next Pitch Competition, recognizing top innovators in health technology.
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More than 15 expert-led panels covering global market entry, inclusive innovation, and the future of entrepreneurship.
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Over 300 one-on-one Ask-An-Investor meetings, helping startups connect with investors, researchers, and potential partners.
Networking & Career Development: Connecting People with Opportunities
DiscoveryX 2025 provided ample networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, job seekers, students, and startups. Attendees had the chance to meet one-on-one with investors, career coaches, and industry experts through Meet an Investor sessions. The B2B and B2G Zones facilitated productive meetings between startups, large corporations, and government representatives, driving new business opportunities and collaborations.
The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI): Fostering Growth and Collaboration
OCI plays a vital role in Ontario’s innovation landscape by connecting industry, academic, and government partners. The organization focuses on advancing collaborative R&D, technology commercialization, and training the next generation of highly skilled talent. Through its efforts, OCI supports the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and drives economic growth through investment in advanced technologies.
Will Ontario’s Innovation Agenda Succeed?
The success of Ontario’s innovation agenda remains a topic of discussion. Will the government’s investment in startups help them scale, or will they be sold off to U.S. companies? Some believe that creating a technology corridor in the Toronto-Kitchener area could help retain successful startups within Ontario, while others argue that intellectual property law reform is needed to support Canadian companies’ growth.
Save the Date: DiscoveryX 2026
DiscoveryX 2025 was a major success, celebrating the incredible potential of Ontario’s innovation ecosystem. Be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s DiscoveryX 2026, where Ontario’s brightest minds will continue to shape the future of technology and innovation. Stay tuned for updates!
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Keywords: DiscoveryX 2025, Ontario Centre of Innovation, AI, technology innovation, cleantech, health innovation, startups, networking, pitch competitions, futurist Amy Webb, Ontario startups, advanced manufacturing, collaboration, economic growth, entrepreneurship.
