Innovation Intern, two position available

Brock University is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement.

We are one of Canada’s outstanding comprehensive universities, where excellence and innovation thrive! Brock has been recognized as a Top Employer in Hamilton-Niagara for seven consecutive years. We have been ranked #3 as Canada’s Best Employers and top 10 as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity. For 2025, Brock has been proudly recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Company Culture, ranked seventh by Forbes in partnership with Statista. At Brock, you will find a welcoming, inclusive community and an exciting range of meaningful career opportunities.

Ignite new possibilities for your career. Break through at Brock.

Post End Date:

July 23, 2026 at 11:59 PMThis job advertisement is to fill an existing vacancy in the Temporary Research Positions (Employee Group)

The Innovation, Commercialization & Partnerships team at Brock LINC is seeking motivated graduate students for a paid Innovation Intern position. This internship provides hands-on experience in technology transfer, intellectual property (IP) management, commercialization, market assessment, industry engagement, and innovation strategy within a university research environment. Working alongside the Innovation, Commercialization & Partnerships team, interns will contribute to the commercialization of Brock University research by supporting technology assessments, intellectual property protection, industry partnerships, commercialization planning, and research funding initiatives. The position offers exposure to technologies spanning life sciences, engineering, physical sciences, computer science, health sciences, and other emerging research disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer

• Assist with intellectual property management, including patent, trademark, copyright, and industrial design activities.
• Support patent prosecution activities and communications with external patent counsel.
• Gain experience with invention disclosures, prior art searching, freedom-to-operate analyses, and intellectual property strategy.

Technology Assessment & Commercialization

• Evaluate new technologies and inventions for commercial potential.
• Conduct market research, competitive landscape assessments, and commercialization analyses.
• Assist in developing commercialization strategies and technology marketing plans.

Industry & Research Partnerships

• Support interactions with faculty researchers, industry partners, investors, and innovation ecosystem organizations.
• Assist in preparing materials for industry outreach, licensing opportunities, commercialization funding applications, and partnership development.

Communications & Marketing

• Create technology marketing materials, technology summaries, presentations, newsletters, website content, and social media communications.
• Assist with promoting Brock innovations to external partners and commercialization networks.

Innovation Programming

• Participate in training related to intellectual property, commercialization, licensing, technology assessment, market research, research agreements, and industry engagement.
• Assist with workshops, seminars, networking events, and other Brock LINC initiatives.

Administrative & Project Support

• Support special projects across the Innovation, Commercialization & Partnerships portfolio.
• Assist with project coordination, documentation, reporting, and data management.

What You'll Gain

• Practical experience in university technology transfer and commercialization.
• Exposure to intellectual property management and innovation strategy.
• Experience conducting technology and market assessments.
• Opportunities to interact with researchers, industry partners, entrepreneurs, investors, government organizations, and commercialization professionals.
• Professional development in project management, scientific communication, commercialization, and business development.
• Insight into careers in technology transfer, intellectual property, innovation management, research partnerships, consulting, venture creation, and entrepreneurship.

Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled in a graduate program at Brock University.
• Have a background in life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics, health sciences, business, or a related discipline. Applicants from other fields with a demonstrated interest in innovation and commercialization are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrate a strong interest in research commercialization, technology transfer, intellectual property, and industry collaboration.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate strong analytical and research abilities.
• Be highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.

Compensation

Hourly Rate: $–$ per hour

Compensation will be commensurate with education, experience, and qualifications.

Contract Length

8-12 months, with anticipated start date of fall of September 2026.

We are recruiting for two students.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit:

• A cover letter describing their interest in innovation and commercialization and how the internship aligns with their career goals.
• A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
• A letter of support from their graduate supervisor confirming support for participation in the internship.