What Springboard Atlantic does

Springboard Atlantic Inc. is a Halifax-based non-profit network organization that connects industry with academic researchers across Atlantic Canada to commercialize research, protect intellectual property, and grow the regional innovation economy. Founded around 2006 and supported primarily by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Springboard operates a federation of 19 post-secondary member institutions (14 universities and 5 colleges) and employs a small central office of roughly 10-15 staff in Halifax alongside 40+ Industry Engagement Professionals (IEPs) embedded across member campuses. Through this network Springboard has facilitated 957 startups spun out of institutions, 5,925 technology and knowledge transfers, and research activity valued at $6.8 billion.

The organization's core offerings are programs and connector services rather than proprietary technology products. Flagship programs include the Atlantic IP Advantage and IP Assist initiatives (delivered in partnership with NBIF, Invest Nova Scotia, Emergence BioIncubator, Genesis Centre, and NRC IRAP, providing IP strategy training and grants of up to $50,000 plus $25,000 implementation funding); the Innovation Mobilization Fund for early-stage commercialization; and the Springboard 360° Series with dedicated Cleantech and Agrifood streams. Programs are distributed through IEPs at member institutions and through partner accelerators and incubators.

Springboard's revenue model is government- and member-funded rather than commercial: in 2024 ACOA committed $9.8 million over three years and member institutions contributed an additional $5.2 million, building on a prior $9.6 million ACOA grant in 2019. Services to researchers, startups, and businesses are provided at no direct cost, with specific IP and commercialization grants flowing to eligible recipients through partner programs. Operating geographies are limited to Atlantic Canada, and the organization has no parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity disclosed.

Name

Springboard Atlantic

Legal name

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Website

https://springboardatlantic.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Springboard Atlantic is a Halifax-based non-profit network that connects industry with academic researchers across 19 Atlantic Canadian universities and colleges to commercialize research, deliver IP support, and fund early-stage startups through government and member-backed programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding - ACOA: Springboard Atlantic receives operating funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). In 2024, the organization received $9.8 million from ACOA over three years, with additional funds from member organizations totaling $15 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Springboard Atlantic is a member-based network organization that connects industry with researchers across 19 Atlantic Canadian universities and colleges to commercialize research and solve real-world problems. It delivers commercialization funding (Innovation Mobilization Fund), intellectual property education and grants (Atlantic IP Advantage, IP Assist), and sector programs (Springboard 360° Series in Cleantech and Agrifood) through 40+ Industry Engagement Professionals embedded at member institutions and regional accelerator partners.

Product overview

Springboard Atlantic operates as a network organization offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include the Atlantic IP Advantage and IP Assist programs (providing intellectual property support, education, and funding for startups), the Innovation Mobilization Fund (early-stage commercialization funding), and the Springboard 360° Series programs (Cleantech and Agrifood streams connecting research, industry, and government). The organization also provides access to a network of 40+ Industry Engagement Professionals across 19 member institutions who link researchers with industry partners. These programs work together to support research commercialization, protect intellectual property, and drive innovation across Atlantic Canada's post-secondary institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Atlantic IP Advantage: A program providing intellectual property support, training, education, and funding to startups and SMEs in Atlantic Canada, delivered in partnership with business accelerators and incubators.
• Springboard 360° Series
• IP Assist

Products and services

• Atlantic IP Advantage A flagship intellectual property support program that provides IP education, awareness, and funding to startups and SMEs linked to business accelerators and incubators in Atlantic Canada. Funded through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Elevate IP program.
• IP Assist Delivers IP supports for start-ups and SMEs in Atlantic Canada, connecting them with IP expertise and funding. Includes NRC IRAP IP Assist for developing IP strategy, with Level 1 IP Awareness and Level 2 IP Strategy services (valued at approximately $18,000 with $500 copayment).
• Innovation Mobilization Fund Early-stage commercialization support for researchers working in colleges and universities within the Springboard Network, helping transform research into market-ready solutions through proof-of-concept funding disbursements administered via the Central Office.
• Springboard 360° Series A series of programs connecting research, industry, and governments to solve real-world problems in Atlantic Canada, with sector streams including Cleantech and Agrifood focused on sustainability and economic transition.
• Springboard Network A network of 19 universities and colleges in Atlantic Canada with 40+ Industry Engagement Professionals connecting industry with researchers to solve real-world problems and support research commercialization, providing access to 10,000+ researchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 957 startups spun out of member institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New Brunswick Innovation FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIP Advantage program partner delivering IP supports to startups in New Brunswick through the Atlantic IP Advantage initiative.
• Invest Nova ScotiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIP Advantage program partner delivering IP supports to startups in Nova Scotia through the Atlantic IP Advantage initiative.
• Emergence BioIncubatorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIP Advantage program partner delivering IP supports to life sciences startups in Atlantic Canada.
• Genesis CentrecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIP Advantage program partner delivering IP supports to startups, particularly in technology sectors.
• National Research Council - IRAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpringboard delivers the NRC IRAP IP Assist program which provides IP strategy support to IRAP clients including Level 1 IP Awareness and Level 2 IP Strategy services (valued at approximately $18,000 with $500 copayment).
• 14 Universities and 5 Colleges in Atlantic CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember institutions including Dalhousie, Memorial, UNB, UPEI, Acadia, St. FX, Mount Allison, and others that comprise the Springboard Network, providing research expertise and commercialization opportunities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MaRS Discovery District: MaRS is a large Canadian innovation hub in Toronto supporting startups across multiple sectors. It is comparable to Springboard Atlantic as an innovation ecosystem intermediary, though it operates at a much larger scale and is geographically concentrated in Ontario.
• Creative Destruction Lab: Creative Destruction Lab is a Canada-wide accelerator for science-based ventures affiliated with the Rotman School of Management. It is comparable to Springboard as an academic-affiliated commercialization program, but operates at a national scale and focuses on higher-stage ventures.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): BDC is a Canadian federal Crown corporation providing financing and advisory services to entrepreneurs. It is comparable to Springboard as a federally supported innovation intermediary for Canadian SMEs, though BDC focuses on capital deployment rather than research commercialization per se.

Direct peers

• Mitacs: Mitacs is a Canadian not-for-profit that funds research internships and innovation partnerships between academia and industry. It is directly comparable to Springboard Atlantic as a national research commercialization intermediary with similar federal-provincial funding model and industry-academic connector role.
• New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF): NBIF is a New Brunswick-based innovation fund supporting startups and research commercialization. It is comparable to Springboard Atlantic as a regional innovation funder and active GTM partner on the IP Advantage program.
• Invest Nova Scotia (formerly Innovacorp): Invest Nova Scotia is a Nova Scotia provincial innovation agency providing startup support, incubation, and IP assistance. It is directly comparable as a regional commercialization intermediary; former Springboard staff like Shelley Hessian worked there and the two organizations partner on Atlantic IP Advantage delivery.
• NRC IRAP (National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program): NRC IRAP is a federal program that provides advisory services, funding, and innovation support to Canadian SMEs. It is comparable to Springboard Atlantic as a federal innovation intermediary serving startups and SMEs, and the two organizations actively partner on the IP Assist program.

Emerging players

• DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University): DMZ is a university-affiliated startup incubator in Toronto. It is comparable to Springboard Atlantic as a post-secondary-affiliated innovation intermediary, though DMZ focuses more on tech startup acceleration and operates outside Atlantic Canada.

Regional players

• Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE): COVE is an Atlantic Canadian ocean technology incubator and startup hub. It is comparable to Springboard as a regional commercialization intermediary focused on a specific sector, and a former Springboard staff member previously managed the Start-Up Yard program there.
• Genome Canada: Genome Canada is a federally funded not-for-profit supporting genomics and bioscience research commercialization. It is comparable to Springboard Atlantic as a federally backed research-to-market intermediary, though it is sector-specific and national in scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SBAtlantic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCy8_R4YFRTKvoHM6y9oEKiA
• Facebookfacebook.com/springboardatlantic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2702523
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbatlantic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Springboard Atlantic