Aligning Innovation With Government Priorities

As healthcare organizations face increasing financial pressures, partnerships with the government are becoming essential for advancing innovation. Raphael Ronen, Director of Business Development at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, shared how Sunnybrook helped build INOVAIT, Canada’s image-guided therapy and artificial intelligence network, into a nationally recognized innovation ecosystem backed by federal funding.

Launched in 2020 with $49 million in federal support, INOVAIT now includes more than 130 industry and academic partners and has funded over 100 research and development projects across Canada.

According to Ronen, successful government partnerships require organizations to clearly demonstrate how innovation initiatives benefit the broader Canadian economy and healthcare system.

“If you’re going to get government on board, it has to be good for Canada,” he explained.

That means focusing on measurable outcomes such as job creation, commercialization, clinical trials, patents, and patient impact.

Building Collaborative Ecosystems

Ronen explained that while Canada has strong healthcare institutions and research talent, innovation efforts are often fragmented. INOVAIT addressed this by bringing together hospitals, universities, companies, and investors into one collaborative network.

“When you approach with a consortium speaking as one voice, you’re seen as an ecosystem, not just a private interest group,” he said.

Sunnybrook initially launched the network with 18 companies and two institutions before expanding nationally. Ronen emphasized that collaboration succeeds when every partner benefits.

“We never ask someone to contribute for the greater good alone,” he noted. “There has to be something in it for everyone.”

This collaborative approach helped build credibility with both government and industry stakeholders while encouraging organizations across Canada to participate.

Turning Outcomes Into Momentum

A major focus of the session was the importance of measurable results. Ronen explained that each phase of government funding was secured because previous investments demonstrated a clear impact.

“We weren’t asking the government to believe us with no data,” he said. “We were asking them to continue supporting something that had already shown value.”

Key outcomes included clinical trials, regulatory approvals, patents, commercialized technologies, and revenue growth for Canadian companies.

Ronen encouraged healthcare organizations to align innovation initiatives with government priorities rather than chasing funding opportunities that do not fit their long-term strategy.

Reducing Administrative Burden

While healthcare innovation often focuses on technology, Ronen argued that administration is frequently the biggest barrier to success.

“The thing most likely to sink your activity is administration,” he said.

To reduce friction, INOVAIT built a dedicated administrative team responsible for legal agreements, financial reporting, and partner support. Standardized processes and proactive communication helped organizations participate more efficiently while strengthening trust with government funders.

Ronen also stressed the importance of treating the government as a true partner.

“The government wants you to succeed,” he explained. “Make their lives easier.”

Final Takeaway

Ronen closed by encouraging healthcare organizations to think beyond individual institutions and focus on building collaborative ecosystems that create long-term value.

“Canada is small,” he said. “We are stronger when we work together.”

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