A partnership between the University of British Columbia, Rogers Communications and Mitacs is developing a new model for moving promising university research beyond the laboratory and into practical use.
At the centre of the collaboration is Operation EInsTein, a commercialization framework developed and operated by UBC’s Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems.
Short for Economic Impact Analysis plus Technology Readiness Acceleration Enablement, EInsTein combines technical evaluation with customer discovery, market research, business-model design and economic analysis.
The framework is intended to help research teams determine early whether an idea should advance, change direction or stop—reducing uncertainty before significant resources are committed.
The initiative grew out of a UBC–Rogers partnership that began in 2018. Rogers contributes funding, industry knowledge, engineering expertise and access to customers, while UBC provides researchers, facilities and student talent. Mitacs supports the collaboration through its Accelerate and Business Strategy Internship programs.
The partners describe the arrangement as a “living lab” where academic researchers can test their work against commercial requirements and real-world challenges.
One project evaluated through the framework uses mixed reality and advanced wireless connectivity to support remote ultrasound imaging. The research helped clarify clinical needs and barriers to adoption while informing the creation of UBC spin-off Coact Technologies, which is pursuing remote imaging applications for rural and underserved communities.
Another project applied the EInsTein process to wildfire preparedness. Researchers examined gaps in real-time forest monitoring, data integration and prescribed-fire training before advancing to a proof of concept with the BC Wildfire Service.
That work contributed to a partnership with the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia, the creation of Canada’s first National Prescribed Fire Training Program and more than $10 million in subsequent public and philanthropic investment.
The model also gives students experience working at the intersection of research and business. Mitacs-supported interns conduct stakeholder interviews, assess markets, develop business models and estimate the potential economic impact of emerging technologies.
For Rogers, the structured process offers clearer timelines and evaluation criteria while helping identify intellectual-property and commercialization pathways earlier. For UBC, it provides another route for translating academic discoveries into new products, services, ventures and broader societal benefits.
The partners believe the framework could be replicated by other large organizations seeking to collaborate with universities while improving the speed and quality of commercialization decisions.
Learn more about Operation EInsTein and the UBC–Rogers–Mitacs partnership in the full story from Innovation UBC.
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