An Interview with Dr. Reza Moridi: Promoting Commercialization of Innovation and Supporting Canadian Start-ups

Before entering politics, Dr. Reza Moridi had a successful career as a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Physicist. He spent 17 years at the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada, where he held the position of Vice-President and Chief Scientist. Prior to that, he worked in the electrical industry in executive role, as well as in academia as a professor and administrator. During his political career, he served as the Minister of Research, Innovation, and Science, and Minister of Training, Colleges, and universities in the province of Ontario.

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As a longtime supporter of Sci Innovation and a judge at the innovation competitions in the past, Dr. Moridi shared with us his valuable insights and experiences in the Canadian start-up scene and his involvement in our innovation competitions.

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Q. How did you first hear about Sci Innovation Competition, and how did you get involved?

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I learned about Sci Innovation Competition shortly after it was established by Jenny Qi. As the Minister of Innovation, Research and Science for Ontario, I was invited to attend the inauguration ceremony at Toronto City Hall. It was a pleasure for me to witness the establishment of an organization that seeks to advance ?commercialization of innovative ideas generated in Ontario.

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Q. How has your experience in the past, being a scientist yourself and working as Minister of Research, Innovation and Science helped you in anyway support Sci Innovation Competition as well as support the start-up space?

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My background as a scientist with experience in business, and my role then as the Minister for Research, Innovation, and Science have been advantageous in promoting commercialization of research in Ontario. As a scientist, I understand the subject matter and can appreciate the potential impact of scientific research on the lives of people. It is not enough to simply conduct research and publish papers; we must also ensure that the findings of research are made available to the public in the form of new products or services. Organizations like Sci Innovation are instrumental in building bridge between research and commercialization. That is why I have always supported Sci Innovation as one of the key players in this endeavor.

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Q. What do you think are the most important qualities for an innovation judge to possess, and how do these apply to your role as a judge in our competition??

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One of the key qualities required for a judge is fairness. The judgment that you make at an innovation competition can have a significant impact on the future of the companies and the product or service they offer.?Therefore, it is important to approach the task with a fair and unbiased mindset.?My general knowledge and expertise in the field were also advantageous in understanding the quality of the projects and their potential impact on the economy. Some projects may have more significant impacts than others, and some may have faster timelines for implementation. These factors are important to consider when judging the competition. Along with other judges, I was able to bring my expertise and knowledge to the table to make fair and informed judgments.

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Q. What is your experience in the Canadian start-up space for the past decade?

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Ontario is home to many start-up companies that emerge from universities, hospitals, and research institutes. These start-ups are of very high quality and are always seeking for investments to grow. To support these companies, the Ontario government has established organizations such as MaRS, the Ontario Centre of Innovation, Communitech, and 18 other acceleration centers to provide resources, support, and guidance for their growth. It is essential that we continue to focus on the commercialization of research to ensure that these innovative ideas and technologies emanating from our research institutions can benefit society and contribute to our economy.

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Q. Is commercialization key to innovation?

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You are right. Without commercialization, the results of innovation may remain confined to academic circles and not benefit society. In the field of life sciences, the results of research have the potential to save human lives, and it is crucial that we bring these innovations to the market and to the bed side of patients as soon as possible to make an impact. We must focus on finding ways to bridge the gap between research and commercialization to ensure that the benefits of scientific advancements reach the people who need them most.

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Q. What was your overall experience like judging for Sci Innovation Competition?

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I've always had a wonderful experience at competitions, and I've noticed that judges often give scores that are quite similar, with small difference. This suggests that my colleagues on the judges panel share a common understanding of the evaluation criteria and principles.

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Q. What was the most memorable moment at the competition for you?

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I recall a project related to dialysis, specifically a kidney machine, that left a strong impression on me. The technology they presented was remarkable, and if the project reaches full commercialization, it could potentially save many lives, particularly in developing countries where access to dialysis machine is limited.

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Q. What was your impression of Shenzhen

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I found Shenzhen a stunning city. I've had the opportunity of visiting Shenzhen a few times. What I admire most is that in just 40 years, this once-small town with a population of 50,000 has grown into a bustling metropolis of 20 million people, with beautiful parks and modern buildings with a vibrant economy.

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Q. What are benefits of innovation competitions like Sci’s to the Canadian start-up space??

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The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and it's important to recognize that we can't limit ourselves to only producing goods and services within Canada. Collaboration is crucial to achieving success, and we need to work with partners outside of Ontario and Canada to achieve our goals. One such partner is the city of Shenzhen, which is considered an innovation city in China, like Toronto which is a major innovation city in North America. By working together, we can leverage the strengths of both cities and create mutually beneficial outcomes.

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Q. What’s your feedback for Sci innovation competition?

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Sci has been doing an excellent job, especially during the challenges brought on us by the pandemic. Despite the obstacles, Sci successfully moved the entire competition online without skipping a beat. By bringing investors and inventors together, Sci is creating opportunities for commercialization of new discoveries that have the potential to positively impact human lives on a global scale, and indeed help grow our economy. I have no doubt that Sci’s efforts will yield significant results.