Despite the chaos this virus has created, several DMZ companies (current and alumni) are pushing their traditional boundaries and devoting additional time, money and resources to help those in need. Some startups are cutting platform subscription fees for small businesses, while some are forming charitable partnerships within the community. Others have staff working around the clock to build new functionality to save customers millions of dollars.

MaRS-supported startups are banding together against the coronavirus — shifting their everyday business pursuits in hopes of bringing the crisis to a decisive end. This link provides a platform for partnering, procuring or learning more from these Canadian companies

University of Windsor’s COVID-19 Community Engagement page

In Winnipeg, library and recreation centre employees, whose jobs have become temporarily obsolete in an unexpected pandemic, are stocking shelves for Winnipeg Harvest, or filling sandbags to save homes prone to spring flooding.

Ryerson University’s DMZ created an online hackathon to facilitate the development of solutions to help address COVID-19. Over a two-week period, teams will develop a technology solution to help curb the virus’ spread. The winner of the challenge will receive $10,000 in cash and an expedited application for DMZ membership.

Luminary Labs is tracking open innovation programs — from challenges and hackathons to open data projects and open-source hardware — that seek to address COVID-19 and the virus that causes it.

Businesses are taking steps to help flatten the curve and support customers through new products, services, and free offerings. This link outlines what Canadian tech companies are offering during the outbreak.

NGen, an industry-led non-profit, will invest $50 million in Supercluster funding to support companies as they rapidly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by building a Canadian supply of essential equipment, products, and therapeutics. Projects will be selected for funding according to critical needs identified by the Government of Canada and the ability of manufacturers to produce products that are safe for both patients and health care workers.

The Toronto Public Library just announced that they’re temporarily donating 10 of their Ultimaker 2+ 3D printers to a team at Toronto General Hospital making personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line healthcare workers. Other Ontario libraries, such as those in Kitchener and Stratford, have also agreed to loan their 3D printers to PPE production efforts.

Dalhousie’s COVID-19 rapid response team is moving forward with testing a vaccine that uses a genome of DNA from SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

They are looking for technical skills, domain knowledge and funding. 200+ techies, designers, legal experts and MDs have been mobilized to date – originated in Norway but going global – fast.

Roundhouse, an Edmonton-based social enterprise and co-working space is offering “virtual coworking” during COVID-19. As a community hub for entrepreneurs and changemakers, they are rolling out a new suite of online programming “Roundhouse From Home”. They will be offering online versions of our Roundhouse Learning Series, Waffle Wednesday and even daily coworking chats. Check out the full schedule for more information.

The company’s online COVID-19 screening program will be covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The screening will allow people in Ontario with a valid OHIP card to talk to a physician through audio or video chat about their symptoms and receive advice on whether they need testing or emergency care. The service is aimed to relieve the pressure on overloaded emergency rooms and allow patients to receive screening safely. Maple is also currently offering its virtual clinic software to all Ontario and British Columbia (BC) physicians free of charge amid the outbreak.

Survey results will inform decision makers on how to support the innovation ecosystem.

Multidisciplinary team works toward creating an emergency pandemic ventilator.

The Code Life Ventilator Challenge, a newly announced joint venture by the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, in collaboration with the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), is “calling for teams to design a simple, low-cost, easy-to-manufacture and easy-to-maintain ventilator which could be deployed anywhere needed to save lives.” The deadline is March 31, 2020 and the challenge is backed by a prize of CAD$200,000. The top three designs will be made free to download immediately.

Canada Goose announced it will be using its manufacturing facilities to make scrubs and patient gowns for frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.

NYC designer Christian Siriano is retooling his studio to produce face masks to help with reported hospital supply shortages due to the coronavirus.

OPSI has put together a crowsourced spreadsheet of innovative solutions and inspiration on how individuals and organisations across the globe are responding to COVID-19, to help governments make use

Open source medical supply guide, crowdsourced via Facebook (https://m.facebook.com/groups/670932227050506). Group formed to evaluate, design, validate & source fabrication of open source emergency medical supplies around the world but specific to locales

The European Commission calls for startups and SMEs with technologies and innovations that could help in treating, testing, monitoring or other aspects of the Coronavirus outbreak to apply to the next round of funding from the European Innovation Council (Mar 18 deadline). With a budget of €164m, this call is “bottom up”, meaning there are no predefined thematic priorities and applicants with Coronavirus relevant innovations will be evaluated in the same way as other applicants. The Commission will look to fast track the awarding of EIC grants and blended finance (combining grant and equity investment) to Coronavirus relevant innovations, as well as to facilitate access to other funding and investment sources.

Canadian distillers across Canada have retooled to produce hand sanitizer–either for free for people working in essential services or for purchase to regular consumers.

Artisan and small batch distilleries across Canada are stepping up and offering their alcohol to their customers or local organizations. Artisan Distillers Canada has put together a list of those distillers by province.