Program
Inclusive Innovators
Removing barriers so more people can enter, and lead, Canadian innovation.
- Idea creation
- Invention
- Prototype & IP
Start
From Zero to Invention
Our core educational program, for people who are curious about innovation or entrepreneurship but don’t have an idea, an invention or a startup yet. You’ll learn to see everyday problems differently, generate original ideas and develop them into structured invention concepts.
Who it’s for
Anyone interested in innovation who doesn’t know what to invent yet. No idea, experience or technical background is needed. The program is especially designed to reach people who haven’t traditionally had access to innovation programs: youth, students, persons with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous communities and other underserved groups.
What you’ll learn
- How to identify real-world problems
- How to generate practical, original ideas
- How to develop an invention concept
- The basics of prototyping
- Awareness of intellectual property
- Presentation and pitching skills
- The basic path from invention to commercialization
How it works
1
Learn
Work through the program with a group, in person or online, through a school, university, community organization or FICI directly.
2
Create
Develop your own invention concept from a real problem you’ve identified.
3
Present
Share your concept and get feedback. Participants who complete the program receive a certificate.
4
Go further
Promising ideas can be connected to incubators, accelerators, universities, investors, industry partners and international invention programs, including the National Inventors’ Team of Canada.
From a course to the world stage
In 2017, a 15-year-old high-school student in Toronto took FICI’s creativity course, the program now called From Zero to Invention. His result: an autonomous drone that washes the windows of high-rise buildings. He went on to secure international patent protection, join the National Inventors’ Team of Canada and present his invention at an international competition in Silicon Valley.
Also within this program
IP workshops
Free intellectual-property workshops for students and entrepreneurs, run with the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC).
Upcoming events
November 14, 2026
From Zero to Invention: Waterloo workshop
A one-day workshop for students who don’t have an idea yet: how to find real problems worth solving, and how to turn one into an invention.
Frequently asked questions
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