Prime Minister Mark Carney Engages with UTIF Startups at Canada–India Innovation Showcase in Mumbai
Read Time: 5 Mins
Date: 06-03-2026
On February 28, 2026, the launch of the Canada–India Talent and Innovation Strategy brought senior government leaders, university presidents, researchers, and entrepreneurs together in Mumbai to advance a shared goal: strengthening the innovation and talent corridor between India and Canada.
The event, hosted by Universities Canada at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, was attended by The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister, Hon. Anita Indira Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Shri Jayant Singh Chaudhary, India’s Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Shri Jayant Singh Chaudhary, India’s Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship addressing the convening. (Photo: Office of Ch. Jayant Singh)
A highlight of the program was an innovation showcase hosted by the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF), which featured emerging cleantech startups connected to the University of Toronto’s growing research and innovation partnerships across India.
Universities Driving the Indo-Canadian Innovation Corridor
The event also brought together university presidents from several leading Canadian institutions.
Melanie Woodin, President of the University of Toronto, joined the Presidents of McGill University, University of British Columbia, and Dalhousie University for a closed-door discussion with Prime Minister Carney on the future of university collaboration between the two countries.
The conversation focused on how universities can help translate research, talent development, and entrepreneurship into deeper economic and innovation partnerships between India and Canada.
University presidents Benoit-Antoine Bacon (University of British Columbia), Kimberly Brooks (Dalhousie University), Melanie Woodin (University of Toronto), and Deep Saini (McGill University) alongside Universities Canada President and CEO Gabriel Miller, Colleges and Institutes Canada President and CEO Pari Johnston, and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney. (Photo: Lars Hagberg / Prime Minister’s Office)
UTIF Startup Showcase
As a part of the program, UTIF hosted a cleantech startup showcase, presenting five startups working on climate and sustainability challenges. These ventures represent the growing ecosystem of founders emerging from collaborations between Indian institutions and the University of Toronto.
Mirik Gogri, Sustainability Investor, Spectrum Impact with Prime Minister Mark Carney during the UTIF startups showcase. (Photo: Lars Hagberg / Prime Minister’s Office)
The participating startups included:
- Civilytix
An AI-enabled, solar-powered greywater recycling system designed to reduce freshwater consumption in urban and industrial settings. - Trinano
Developers of advanced nano-coatings that improve the efficiency and durability of solar panels. - JOL Energy
A clean-tech company focused on lithium-ion battery and e-waste recycling through advanced material recovery technologies. - Respirer Living Sciences
A platform delivering real-time air quality monitoring and environmental intelligence systems for cities and institutions. - Womenastic
A plastic recycling system that converts waste into 3D-printing filament, supporting distributed circular economy manufacturing.
Shruta Rawat, Associate Director – Research and Collaboration, UofT India Foundation with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister Anand during the UTIF startups showcase. (Photo: Lars Hagberg / Prime Minister’s Office)
These startups are supported through UTIF’s innovation ecosystem, which connects founders with University of Toronto faculty mentorship, prototyping grants, and collaboration opportunities with Indian university partners.
The ventures highlighted at the showcase reflect UTIF’s broader network of university collaborations across India, including IIT Madras, VIT, BITS Pilani, and IIT Bombay, demonstrating how academic partnerships can translate research into real-world innovation.
Prime Minister Carney Engages with Founders
Prime Minister Carney, joined by Ministers Anand and Chaudhary, spent time engaging directly with the startup founders, discussing the scalability of their technologies and the role of universities in supporting entrepreneurship and commercialization.
The interaction underscored the importance of early-stage climate innovation and cross-border academic collaboration in building the next generation of global technology companies.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister Anand with U of T Prof. Anjana Dattani from the Rotman School of Management and the co-founders of Womenastic. (Photo: Lars Hagberg / Prime Minister’s Office)
Importantly, the showcase also provided founders with the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and policymakers attending the event.
Following the discussions, the University of Toronto is exploring the possibility of hosting a pilot deployment of one of the participating technologies on its Toronto campus, demonstrating how the Indo-Canadian innovation corridor can help emerging startups access new markets and global testing environments.
Recognition of the Partnership
During Prime Minister Carney’s visit, the work of the University of Toronto India Foundation was referenced among the official deliverables announced during the visit, reflecting the growing role of university partnerships in strengthening collaboration between India and Canada.
Later that week, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, hosted a luncheon for the Canadian delegation and industry leaders. At the gathering, Neville Tata of Tata Trusts noted the ongoing collaboration between Tata Trusts and the University of Toronto, highlighting that five UTIF-supported startups had presented their work directly to Prime Minister Carney during the showcase.
Gauravi Lobo, Director, UofT India Foundation with Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra during the luncheon hosted for the Canadian delegation.
Building the Future of the Indo-Canadian Corridor
The launch of the Canada–India Talent and Innovation Strategy reflect a broader shift in the relationship between the two countries — moving beyond traditional student mobility toward deeper collaboration in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
For the University of Toronto and the University of Toronto India Foundation, the event underscored the growing importance of universities as connectors between research, industry, and emerging technology ecosystems.
As India and Canada continue to strengthen their partnership, initiatives like UTIF demonstrate how academic collaboration can translate into real-world innovation, new markets, and shared solutions to global challenges.
Gauravi Lobo, Director, UofT India Foundation with Prime Minister Mark Carney during the UTIF startups showcase. (Photo: Lars Hagberg / Prime Minister’s Office)
Media Coverage:
https://newspatrolling.com/new-ai-and-health-centre-to-be-launched-by-ilsc-and-u-of-t/