Future students

The University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering recognized the remarkable professional achievements of three alumni at this year’s Engineering Awards Dinner. 

Hosted by Dean Mary Wells, the event highlighted how Waterloo Engineering alumni are driving sustainable innovation, strengthening communities and mentoring the next generation through research, entrepreneurship and design. 

The recipients of this year’s awards are: 

Dr. Vikramaditya (Vikram) Yadav — Alumni Achievement Medal for Professional Achievement  

The University of Waterloo continues to be recognized among the top universities in Canada and globally for a variety of disciplines from engineering and math to hospitality and tourism management according to the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) subject rankings by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.

Five startups have been awarded $10,000 Velocity Momentum Grants to help them take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. The no-strings attached funding is intended to allow founders to focus on their business full-time after graduation.

Velocity is the University of Waterloo’s centre of entrepreneurship and offers mentorship, funding and Canada’s largest tech-corridor network to help founders move ideas from the lab to market. Since 2008, Velocity has helped launch more than 500 startups that together exceed $40 billion in enterprise value.

As Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025 begins, we’re spotlighting 10 standout entrepreneurs from the University of Waterloo — students and alumni who are challenging norms, redefining industries and building a better future. These innovators are not only making waves in their respective fields but are also setting the pace for what’s next for society, health, technology, the economy and sustainability. 

New research from the University of Waterloo is making inroads on one of the biggest problems in theoretical computer science. But the way to do it, according to Cameron Seth, a PhD researcher working in the field of algorithmic approximation, is by breaking the problem down into smaller pieces. 

“Everyone working in computer science and mathematics knows about the ‘P vs. NP’ problem,” Seth says. “It’s one of the notorious Millennium Prize Problems: so famous and so difficult that solving one will earn you a million dollars.” 

The University of Waterloo has seen an increase in the number of researchers included in this year’s Highly Cited Researchers™ 2025 list recently published by Clarivate. The list highlights the world’s most influential researchers and scientists.

Those selected have authored multiple Highly Cited Papers which rank in the top one per cent by citations in their field. Citations and peer review are the lifeblood of academic research, ensuring both integrity and innovation. The Highly Cited Researchers™ list recognizes only one in 1,000 researchers from around the world.

Conrad School professor and Enterprise Co-op champion inspired students and entrepreneurs through mentorship, optimism and care

Deep within the structure of the Mathematics and Computer building (MC) at the University of Waterloo lies one of the most sophisticated and important digital research computing systems in Canada. The newly refreshed system, named Nibi, recently replaced the Graham supercomputer.

The University of Waterloo has long been a key driver of innovation, fostering entrepreneurs whose ventures shape industries and enrich communities — with alumni leading some of the region’s most vibrant and creative businesses.

Four researchers at the University of Waterloo have been awarded $3.95 million in funding to support their research as part of the illustrious Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program.   

This year, the CRC program is investing more than $198 million to support new and renewed Chairholders. Through the program, up to $311 million each year is invested to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds.