University of Waterloo Economic Impact Report
The University of Waterloo has a significant economic impact across Ontario and Canada, and around the world. In 2017/18, Waterloo's operating expenditures alone contributed $1.52 billion to Canada's GDP. The 2019 assessment by Deloitte found that the University “is successfully contributing to innovation and entrepreneurship ... a critical issue for Canadian economic competitiveness.”
Quick facts (2018/19)
Research for impact
- $458 million to Ontario's GDP from the University's research
- Waterloo is advancing research and scholarship on some of society’s most complex challenges and opportunities
Entrepreneurial culture
- $170 million to Canada's GDP from Velocity and Accelerator Centre programs
- More than 7,500 jobs were created from Waterloo's entrepreneurship programs over the last decade
Workforce for the future
- $567 million to Canada's GDP from Waterloo's co-op program
- $525 million in employer gains from the co-op program across 60 countries
To view the methodology used to calculate these figures, please download the full 2019 Economic Impact Assessment.