When Siamak Arzanpour and Edward Park founded Human in Motion Robotics to develop wearable lower-limb exoskeletons, they knew bringing the technology to market would take years of development and would face regulatory and commercialization barriers.
A lengthy timeline like this might deter some researchers from continuing to invest their time and effort into their inventions. But at Simon Fraser University (SFU), that's exactly the kind of long-term journey the university's innovation ecosystem supports, attracting researchers who care deeply about solving global challenges.
An intellectual property policy designed to enable innovation
Behind this commitment is SFU's intellectual property (IP) policy, which aims to reduce barriers between research and commercialization, while giving inventors flexibility in how they develop, license and scale their work. Updated in 2025, the policy ensures that researchers and students can choose to retain ownership over their own technologies from invention through to commercialization.
"Supporting innovation means creating the conditions for that kind of long-term work to take shape," says Dugan O'Neil, SFU vice-president of research and innovation. "That includes giving researchers the space to move at the pace their work requires, while building the skillsets and partnerships needed to carry it forward."
For Arzanpour, that flexibility proved valuable while advancing the company's flagship product, XoMotion, a self-balancing exoskeleton designed to help users stand and walk more naturally after mobility loss or injury.
"When developing advanced robotics like XoMotion, you can't rush the research and engineering behind it," says Arzanpour. "Retaining creator ownership gave us the freedom to make long-term decisions about its development, commercialization and partnerships in ways that best meet the needs of the people it's designed to support."
A central support hub for inventors
While SFU's IP framework gives inventors ownership over their work, researchers can also access patenting and commercialization support through the university's Technology Licensing Office (TLO).
Andy Hoffer is the lead inventor and founder of Lungpacer, a company whose minimally invasive diaphragm pacing technologies are designed to free ICU patients from prolonged dependence on mechanical ventilation and improve recovery outcomes. During its crucial formative years, Hoffer worked closely with the TLO as they helped him navigate patenting, commercialization strategy and industry engagement, while keeping the company connected to its research roots.
Andy Hoffer, SFU professor, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, and lead inventor and founder of Lungpacer
"Partnering with the TLO was instrumental to our early success in raising substantial grants that enabled us to build the technical team behind the novel technology and, over time, assemble a seasoned management team," says Hoffer.
"The TLO also helped us develop our patent strategy, establish licensing agreements and adopt an appropriate business model, while attracting two waves of private investment and advancing the technology through lengthy pre-clinical validation phases."
Lungpacer has since received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commercialize its first product, which is now being used to rescue patients in a growing number of hospitals.
Programs building pathways to entrepreneurship
Across the university, a range of innovation and entrepreneurship programs and supports work alongside the TLO and policies, such as creator-owned IP, to help researchers and students develop and grow new ventures.
As the operational base for the National i2I Network, the i2I Research & Innovation Institute connects universities, research institutes and industry partners across the country to help faculty, postdoctoral and graduate student researchers build the entrepreneurial skills needed to move discoveries beyond the lab and into the marketplace.
Elicia Maine, SFU associate vice-president, knowledge mobilization and innovation
"Whether you are shaping and validating an early innovation idea or scaling a venture, there is no single blueprint for success," says Elicia Maine, SFU associate vice-president, knowledge mobilization and innovation.
"i2I helps STEM researchers build the innovation skills and entrepreneurial capabilities to make early-stage decisions about IP strategy and market prioritization, while experimenting with business models and financing strategy."
At the undergraduate level, the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship supports students and alumni through experiential programs, venture support and innovation training. As it marks its 10th anniversary this year, initiatives such as their eCo-op program continue to help students gain hands-on experience building companies and testing business ideas while completing their studies.
From Surrey startup to a leader in cleantech
One notable success story is Moment Energy, co-founded by SFU alumni Edward Chiang, Sumreen Rattan, Gabriel Soares and Gurmesh Sidhu. The company develops battery energy storage systems using repurposed electric vehicle batteries. It has since become an emerging cleantech leader in North America, recently securing a $40M Series B investment round and set to open a megafactory in Surrey this month.
"Programs like eCo-op provide the launchpad for testing ideas, building industry connections and developing the entrepreneurial skills needed to grow a company," says Chiang. "That support was so important in the early days of Moment Energy, when we were working out of a Surrey garage as undergraduates and beginning to build the company into what it is today."
SFU ranked as top university for innovation
The success stories of Human in Motion Robotics, Lungpacer and Moment Energy reflect the different strengths of SFU's innovation ecosystem. They demonstrate how specialized entrepreneurial training, commercialization support and creator-owned intellectual property can help researchers and founders pursue early venture development to commercialization and scale.
That breadth and depth of support and expertise helped SFU earn recognition as Canada's top university for innovation in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2026 for the sixth consecutive year.
Globally, SFU placed 14th among 500 universities. SFU also ranked first among Canadian institutions for university-based entrepreneurial projects and curricular innovation for future-readiness, supported by submissions highlighting programs led by the i2I Research & Innovation Institute and the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Learn more about SFU's innovation ecosystem.
