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What if we could make bendable, flexible robotics to go where humans can’t? Thanks to the Eva and Allen Lau Commercialization Catalyst Prize for Computing and Engineering Innovation, the Continuum Robotics Lab is one of two U of T research teams selected to bring its technology closer to reality.
The prize, hosted by the University of Toronto’s Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE), was established through a visionary $2-million gift from U of T alumni and renowned entrepreneurs Eva and Allen Lau.
With matching funds from the Faculty of Arts & Science and the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, the gift doubles its impact to support graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty members. By providing staged funding, mentorship, educational resources and workspace, the prize helps teams advance proof-of-concept and validate product-market fit.
The selection process for the 2025-26 cohort was incredibly competitive, with nearly 30 teams applying from both the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. While not every project advanced to Stage 1 this year, the high calibre of work from all applicants represents the best of U of T’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative potential in computing and engineering.
After its inaugural launch in fall 2025, the prize’s mission is now underway following the selection of the Stage 1 teams. Two pioneering teams have each secured $5,000 in initial funding and are currently in the process of validating their technologies and exploring product-market fit.
Continuum Robotics Laboratory
Ella Walsh (MIE PhD student) and Jimmy Shentu (EngSci 2T2, Computer Science PhD student) serve as the project development leads for a specialized team out of the Continuum Robotics Lab.
The team is developing slender, flexible robotic structures that navigate complex environments by mimicking the movement of a snake or elephant’s trunk.
Supported by faculty principal investigator Jessica Burgner-Kahrs (Department of Mathematical & Computational Sciences, MIE), the project focuses on “continuum” robots designed for delicate interactions in constrained spaces.
These versatile robots offer transformative potential for minimally invasive surgery, allowing for safer navigation through the human body, as well as industrial applications such as the inspection and repair of high-value machinery in environments otherwise inaccessible to traditional, rigid robotics.
Walsh and Shentu bring a combined expertise in mechanical design, medical device commercialization and full-stack robotic software to the project’s development.
The team began a series of ideation workshops in February covering entrepreneurial strategy, customer discovery and experimentation, along with individualized sessions focusing on their specific ventures. They will continue to receive feedback through bi-monthly developmental workshops and regular consultations with advisors.
Stage 1 concludes this May, leading into the highly anticipated Stage 2 in June. Current recipients will compete for a spot as the 2025-26 finalist, which includes up to $65,000 in funding to further accelerate their path to commercialization. Final allocations will be contingent on completing milestones mutually agreed upon between the finalist teams and the review committee.
“The launch of the Catalyst Prize marks an important milestone in our commitment to supporting the commercialization of science at U of T,” says Professor Hong Luo (Rotman, Department of Economics), academic director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship.
“Both teams in our inaugural Stage 1 cohort have demonstrated strong technical excellence and entrepreneurial drive.”