Research

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  • Engineering
Research Waterloo Engineering's research teams address society's toughest challenges by advancing technologies that drive meaningful change

Our Faculty's innovative research tackles wicked problems head-on, translating breakthrough discoveries into solutions that benefit communities and industries worldwide. We set the standard for innovation, empowering engineers globally to shape a better future.

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#1 in Canada Top Research University Research Infosource Canada's Top 50 Research Universities 2024
330+ Researchers 2025 Faculty and Staff
$370M+ Research Investment 2020-2025 Funding

Explore Waterloo Engineering's research areas

  • Advanced Manufacturing

    Powering the future of smart, sustainable production.

  • AI & Data

    Unlocking possibilities with intelligent, data-driven innovation.

  • Communications

    Connecting the world with next-gen technologies

  • Energy

    Leading the clean energy revolution

  • Entrepreneurship

    Strengthening Canada’s ecosystem with evidence-based insights

  • Future Communities

    Designing resilient, inclusive communities of tomorrow

  • Health Technologies

    Transforming healthcare through breakthrough innovations

  • Quantum

    Shaping tomorrow with quantum breakthroughs

  • Robotics

    Creating robots that work for people

  • Sustainable Resources

    Protecting our planet with sustainable solutions

  • Transportation

    Redefining mobility with safer, greener technologies

  • Trust

    Building confidence in innovation and design

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Waterloo Engineering research in the news

Fire fighters responding to fire in a large building engulfed in flames
  • Engineering Research
  • Engineering
  • Research

AI-powered system could help save lives by predicting how modern house fires behave

AI-powered system could help save lives by predicting how modern house fires behave
  • Engineering Research
  • Engineering
  • Research

AI-powered system could help save lives by predicting how modern house fires behave

AI-powered system could help save lives by predicting how modern house fires behave
Woman wearing an apron using mobile device in a remote farm area
  • Engineering

Breakthrough battery-free sensor has the potential for a direct satellite uplink

Breakthrough battery-free sensor has the potential for a direct satellite uplink
  • Engineering

Breakthrough battery-free sensor has the potential for a direct satellite uplink

Breakthrough battery-free sensor has the potential for a direct satellite uplink
Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Donor powers graduate research in embodied AI research

The Tang Family Foundation, a charitable fund within the Philantra Foundation, has invested $500,000 in the University of Waterloo’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Institute (Waterloo.AI) to support graduate research in embodied artificial intelligence (AI) through student scholarships.

The inaugural recipients, eight students from the faculties of Engineering and Math, have received $15,000 each to help them focus on their work in embodied intelligence — AI that senses and acts in real environments.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Student achievements fuel alum's career in advanced AI

Waterloo Engineering graduate Jarett Dewbury (BASc ’26, biomedical engineering) crossed the stage at convocation this month and is now heading to MIT to do full-time research in advanced AI for health-care applications.

Dewbury is the winner of this year’s Pearl Sullivan Emerging Global Leaders (PS EGL) Award, one of the Faculty of Engineering's highest student honours, in recognition of his work as a student to make advanced AI more accessible in health care and across Waterloo's student community.

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