MaRS and Innovate UK launch Made Smarter Innovation cohort
Sevent U.K. tech ventures are looking to scale globally and expand into the Canadian market with a focus in the smart manufacturing sector.
TORONTO, October 15, 2025 – MaRS Discovery District and Innovate UK (IUK) announced the ninth cohort of the Global Incubator Programme in Canada. Eight dynamic U.K. companies specializing in various areas of digitally enabled manufacturing, including recycling technology, factory optimization and electrochemical polishing, have been selected to participate in the Made Smarter Innovation program. Launched in the U.K. as an innovation challenge, the Made Smarter Innovation program funds businesses and researchers to deliver a resilient, flexible, more productive and sustainable sector driven by innovative digital solutions.
“By tapping into the MaRS ecosystem, this cohort will gain critical insights into the Canadian technology development and manufacturing landscapes, providing them with the knowledge and connections to thrive in the North American market,” says Chris Needham, the innovation lead at Made Smarter Innovation with IUK.
“We’re inspired by the incredible technological solutions these ventures bring and are highly motivated to support this new U.K. cohort as they work to revolutionize the manufacturing sector,” says Hadeer Abdelhamid, manager of cohorts at MaRS Discovery District. “Past cohorts in advanced manufacturing have seen great success in scaling globally and we expect these innovative companies to follow suit, with a focus on driving efficiency and growth in North America.”
The Made Smarter Innovation cohort reflects the strong demand for technological advancements in manufacturing systems and processes. The program, which runs for six months, provides these ventures with targeted workshops, networking opportunities and access to the extensive MaRS ecosystem, all designed to help connect them with potential Canadian partners and customers.
To successfully scale businesses globally, it’s critical to understand different markets and build the necessary networks — and IUK’s continued partnership with MaRS helps achieve that.
“We’re pleased to continue our partnership with MaRS,” says Jon Hazell, partnership manager at IUK. “With the support of MaRS, these Made Smarter Innovation manufacturing ventures can continue to explore the opportunities to innovate, scale and grow in new markets. The U.K. recognizes the positive economic impact of faster adoption of industrial digital technologies, and that by using maturing digital technologies we can build the cost-competitive, global manufacturing infrastructure of the future.”
Meet the companies in the Made Smarter Innovation cohort:
- Bloc Digital supports manufacturers with marketing, training and industry 4.0 solutions as digital visualization and immersive tech specialists.
- Connective AI is a collaborative platform that leverages real-time data to help businesses manage complex supply chain issues, improving the quality, cost and delivery performance of suppliers.
- Deep Meta’s software harnesses data from existing sensors at steel plants to improve yields and energy efficiency without additional hardware.
- Holdson has developed electrochemical polishing technology that transforms rough metal parts into uniform components in rapid turnarounds.
- J-Wadel Solutions simplifies the tech innovation cycle, turning ideas to apps, documents to data, data to AI-infused insights.
- Therion helps businesses modernize their operations with advanced digital tools, driving efficiency and profitability.
- THINKITTECH is a bespoke software development startup that’s transforming how businesses operate using AI and machine learning.
- Xworks AI is no longer part of the IUK cohort. Inquire with any questions.
About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District is a charitable organization and North America’s largest urban innovation hub, dedicated to helping Canadian technology companies succeed. With a focus on climate, health sciences and other emerging technologies, MaRS supports startups tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues. MaRS spans more than 1.5 million square feet of cutting-edge office, lab, meeting and event space in downtown Toronto across two locations — the MaRS Centre and MaRS Waterfront. Since 2010, MaRS has helped ventures generate $11.5 billion in cumulative revenue, raise $19 billion in funding, and create and maintain more than 33,000 jobs. The MaRS platform also includes MaRS IAF, one of Canada’s top seed-stage venture funds. Through its world-class facilities, strategic programs and partnerships, MaRS accelerates the adoption of groundbreaking Canadian technology and bolsters a globally competitive innovation ecosystem.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the United Kingdom’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialization of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.
About Made Smarter Innovation
Funded by the U.K. Government and led by Innovate UK, the Made Smarter Innovation challenge funds businesses and researchers to deliver a digitally enabled, resilient, flexible, more productive and environmentally sustainable U.K. manufacturing sector. Visit Made Smarter Innovation – UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for further information.
Read more about the ventures here.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Tammy Thorne, Manager, Media Relations, MaRS Discovery District
tthorne@marsdd.com
416-822-7910