CHEO Research Institute: How to Access Intellectual Property Through Research Collaborations

If your business needs clinical insight, validation data, or new health-related intellectual property, partnering with a hospital-based research institute can be more efficient than building everything in-house. The CHEO Research Institute in Ontario offers companies access to pediatric research expertise, facilities, and intellectual property. These opportunities are provided through structured research collaborations rather than traditional cash grants.

This approach is important for life sciences, health tech, medtech, and data-driven companies that need credible evidence to commercialize products or attract investors.

How CHEO Research Institute Research Collaborations Work

The CHEO Research Institute collaboration program does not operate as a standard funding grant. Instead, it uses a partnership model. Businesses work directly with researchers to create or access intellectual property that can be commercialized.

What you receive in a CHEO collaboration

Through a research partnership, your business may benefit from:

Pediatric research expertise from clinicians and scientists
Specialized facilities and equipment that most private companies do not have
New or existing intellectual property, depending on the project
Proof-of-concept or validation data to support regulatory, investor, or customer needs
Innovative technologies or processes developed together during the research

The support is mainly in-kind. There is no fixed funding amount, and the program provides research capacity instead of cash.

Who can partner with CHEO Research Institute

CHEO Research Institute partnerships are usually suitable for:

Ontario-based and Canadian companies
Startups and scale-ups in health, biotech, medtech, digital health, and data analytics
Small and medium-sized enterprises developing products or services relevant to pediatric health
Companies with a clear research problem or commercialization goal

Early-stage startups are welcome, especially if the project focuses on feasibility, validation, or early intellectual property development.

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by province and industry in seconds, which is useful if you are comparing CHEO with other research institutions.

Understanding Intellectual Property in CHEO Research Collaborations

Intellectual property is a main reason businesses partner with the CHEO Research Institute. IP terms are not one-size-fits-all and are negotiated as part of the collaboration agreement.

Common IP models in CHEO partnerships

Depending on your project, intellectual property may be handled in several ways:

Company-owned IP: Your business keeps ownership of background IP and may own new IP created during the project
Shared IP: New IP developed together may be co-owned, with defined commercialization rights
Licensed IP: CHEO may license existing IP to your business for commercial use
Option-to-license arrangements: Your company gets first rights to license new IP developed during the research

The structure depends on what each partner brings, including funding, data, prior IP, and commercialization capacity.

Types of projects that generate IP

Projects that often create valuable intellectual property include:

Development of new diagnostic or therapeutic technologies
Digital health tools validated in pediatric settings
Improvements to clinical workflows
Data-driven models using pediatric health data
Medical device testing and refinement

These collaborations are designed to support commercialization, not just academic research.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming CHEO provides direct cash funding
This is a research partnership, not a grant. Plan for your own project costs.
Waiting too long to discuss IP terms
Address intellectual property early. Delaying this conversation can cause approval delays or project problems.
Starting without a clear commercialization goal
CHEO collaborations work best when you explain how the research leads to a product, service, or market opportunity.
Underestimating timelines
Hospital-based research involves ethics reviews and approvals. Build flexibility into your schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the CHEO Research Institute program considered a grant?
No. It is a collaboration opportunity that provides access to expertise, facilities, and intellectual property rather than direct funding.

Q: Can startups access intellectual property through CHEO research collaborations?
Yes. Startups and early-stage companies can partner with CHEO, especially for proof-of-concept, validation, or early technology development.

Q: Who owns the intellectual property created during a CHEO project?
IP ownership is negotiated and depends on the project. It may be company-owned, shared, or licensed under agreed terms.

Q: How long does a CHEO research collaboration usually last?
Timelines vary based on scope and complexity. Projects can range from several months to multiple years.

Q: Does my business need to be in Ontario?
CHEO is based in Ontario, and many partners are Ontario companies, but Canadian businesses with a strong project fit may also be considered.

How to Use ExploreIP to Find Licensable Canadian Intellectual Property
How Businesses Can Use NRC Research Facilities for Testing and Validation
How to Find R&D Partners Using Canada’s Research Facilities Navigator

Next Steps

If you want to access intellectual property and research expertise through a hospital-based partnership, consider reaching out to the CHEO Research Institute to discuss your project idea. GrantHub tracks active research partnership and grant programs across Canada—including hospital, college, and federal options—so you can compare which ones fit your technology, stage, and province before contacting CHEO. For more information, visit the CHEO Research Institute website or use GrantHub to explore similar programs.

CHEO Research Institute: How to Access Intellectual Property Through Research Collaborations