Canada is one of the markets where interest in collaborating with European innovation ecosystems has been growing recently. This was confirmed in May of this year, when Czech companies, universities, and research institutions showcased their work at several major events in Vancouver, Toronto, and Edmonton. CzechInvest was there as a partner, helping Czech innovations open doors to new contacts, research partnerships, and business opportunities.
The first stop was Web Summit Vancouver, one of the largest technology conferences in North America. Four companies represented the Czech Republic there—Apify, CodeNOW, Leadspicker, and Pointee. Throughout the week, they showcased their companies at startup booths, participated in masterclasses, workshops, and networking events, and had the opportunity to connect with investors, tech companies, and other startups from around the world. Apify and Leadspicker also contributed to the program by hosting their own joint workshop.
Web Summit Vancouver also demonstrated that Czech companies can benefit in Canada not only from the international atmosphere of the conference itself, but also from connections with the Czech business community living in Vancouver and the surrounding area. Its members shared their experiences with business development in British Columbia and the broader Canadian market. This year’s event attracted more than 20,000 participants and confirmed Vancouver’s growing importance as a technology hub connecting North America, Europe, and Asia.
The visit to the West Coast was followed by a mission of the Czech innovation ecosystem and universities to Toronto and Edmonton. The delegation included representatives from the Brno University of Technology, Masaryk University, the University of Chemistry and Technology, Brno University Hospital, HealthMonk, Prague.bio, JIC, the South Moravian Region, and the City of Brno. Together, they showcased Czech expertise, particularly in biotechnology, life sciences, advanced engineering, and artificial intelligence.
The mission’s program in Toronto was tied to the events surrounding Toronto Tech Week. CzechInvest and JIC participated in the “Reverse Pitch” networking event organized by the TBDC accelerator, which was aimed at Canadian companies considering expansion into Europe. The Czech and South Moravian ecosystems were presented there as a key gateway to the European market. This part of the program was followed by Czech Tech Day, which CzechInvest co-organized with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Toronto.
The interest of Canadian partners was also confirmed by their participation in Czech Tech Day itself. The event attracted approximately 80 Canadian partners, and discussions continued even after the official program had ended. It became clear that Czech innovations and research collaboration in fields such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies are generating significant interest in Canada.
The mission also included meetings with leading universities and research institutions in Toronto and Edmonton. Among others, the Czech delegation met with representatives of two of the three key Canadian institutes focused on artificial intelligence—the Vector Institute and Amii. The part of the delegation focused on life sciences also held talks with major healthcare institutions, including the University Health Network and SickKids Hospital.
In total, the mission included 16 individual meetings, two networking events, and a roundtable discussion with partners in Edmonton. The result is a number of new contacts and concrete follow-up discussions. Czech institutions are already discussing with selected Canadian partners how to formalize their cooperation, identify specific researchers, and participate in joint projects, including potential consortia under the Horizon Europe program.
