NTNU Researchers Visit Waterloo as Part of IWIL AI Program to Advance Global AI Collaboration
A delegation of eight NTNU researchers spent four days at Waterloo exploring shared research interests and building on the IWIL AI partnership.
A presentation on NTNU and NorwAI's AI Innovation Ecosystems.
Researchers gather for talks and networking during the visit.
A robotic-arm demonstration during a talk on deep networks as brain models.
The TALOS humanoid robot and a Husky rover at RoboHub.
The NTNU delegation gathers around a NAO robot demonstration at RoboHub.
Through a shared commitment to artificial intelligence research and co-operative education, the University of Waterloo and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) are working together to turn global collaboration into real-world impact.
Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) and the Waterloo Data & Artificial Intelligence Institute (Waterloo.AI) recently welcomed a delegation of eight NTNU researchers to campus for a four-day visit. The program brought together faculty and students to explore shared research interests, strengthen ties between both institutions, and spark new opportunities for collaboration in the field of AI.
About the Visit
This visit was part of the International Work-Integrated Learning in Artificial Intelligence (IWIL AI) project, a four-year initiative between NTNU and the University of Waterloo that connects student learning with real-world application and research. Supported by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), the program promotes international research mobility and hands-on learning to strengthen education for a sustainable future.
A Growing Partnership
Since its launch, IWIL AI has supported twenty-four Waterloo co-op students completing AI-centred research work terms in Norway, along with five NTNU master's students undertaking research visits in Waterloo. The recent delegation of NTNU researchers builds on this project by offering new opportunities to connect the research ecosystems of both institutions.
Program Highlights
Throughout the visit, the NTNU delegation visited a wide range of Waterloo labs and innovation spaces, including:
- A campus tour and an overview of the Waterloo Data & Artificial Intelligence Institute, led by faculty members
- Meetings with student-led AI groups
- A tour of RoboHub
- A visit to the Bio-robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience (BRAIN Lab)
- Sessions on Waterloo's approach to industry collaboration, including visits to the Perimeter Institute and the Velocity Innovation Arena, to explore the intersection of research and entrepreneurship
- A networking session bringing Waterloo co-op students, researchers, and faculty supervisors together with the NTNU delegation to share research ideas and explore future collaboration
Voices from the Delegation
Several NTNU PhD students reflected on what the visit meant for their own research. “The trip was beneficial for me, as I gained a fresh perspective on research and innovation beyond Europe and Africa. I will definitely reach out to some of the contacts I got and explore possible future collaborations,” said one delegate. Another added, “Learning about the Waterloo co-op program, industry collaborations, campus infrastructure, student clubs, and administrative support: these were very interesting and inspiring practices that gave me a new perspective.”
Looking Ahead
As the program wraps up this year, visits like this reinforce the value of international collaboration in strengthening Waterloo's position as a global leader in AI innovation, helping expand its research networks, and creating new opportunities for students and researchers to collaborate on impactful, real-world projects.