Feature Story
MaRS Discovery District and Toyota Mobility Foundation :
Innovating active mobility for a better future
Ian McCarter Director , Corporate Innovation MaRS Discovery District
Let us delve into the remarkable collaboration between the MaRS Discovery District and the Toyota Mobility Foundation ( TMF ), a partnership that is redefining the landscape of innovation . If you are interested in understanding how the future of technology is being shaped , prepare for an enlightening exploration . We will examine how bold ideas and advanced technologies are revolutionizing lives and setting new benchmarks for progress .
Meet MaRS Discovery District
Located in the heart of Toronto , MaRS Discovery District , often simply referred to as MaRS , is not about chocolate bars or outer space adventures , but something more exciting : transforming earlystage technologies into marketready solutions . With a focus on health and life sciences , cleantech and transformative tech , MaRS is North America ’ s largest urban innovation hub !
Imagine a place where startups , venture capitalists , government and corporate entities converge to foster technological advancements . That ' s MaRS . With a network supporting over 1,200 startups across Canada , MaRS provides the essential resources needed to scale groundbreaking ideas from university labs to global markets .
The birth of a partnership — MaRS and Toyota Mobility Foundation
The collaboration between MaRS and the TMF began over a year ago , driven by a shared vision to advance the field of active mobility . TMF , renowned for its contributions to innovation , sought a partner capable of fostering a thriving community around emerging technologies . Their search led them to MaRS , a natural fit with its established ecosystem of support and commercialization .
TMF had previously engaged in various activities to encourage innovation in active mobility . However , they realized that awarding prizes wasn ' t enough .
The technologies needed a supportive community to truly thrive . MaRS , with its holistic approach to innovation , emerged as the ideal partner to bring this vision to life .
Overcoming barriers — The Mobility Unlimited Hub
Together , MaRS and TMF embarked on a research phase to understand the barriers preventing innovation in active mobility . They discovered several key challenges , including the need for a more cohesive community approach to support emerging technologies . This insight led to the creation of the Mobility Unlimited Hub .
Launched in March 2024 , the Mobility Unlimited Hub is designed to provide comprehensive support to companies focused on assistive , accessible and rehabilitation technologies . The aim is to help individuals with disabilities and seniors lead more independent lives . By bringing together diverse community members , the hub creates a nurturing environment for these technologies to grow and scale .
36 Accessibilty for All To Table of Contents