Global Futures

Ask a 10-year-old in Waterloo region about the University of Waterloo and they may tell you about the time they played with Nao or Talos, the humanoid robots housed in Waterloo Engineering’s RoboHub.

When an idea takes flight, it can soar — especially when it is supercharged. The University of Waterloo has long been known as one of Canada’s most innovative universities and ranks number one amongst Canadian universities for producing the most successful entrepreneurs with undergraduate degrees. In large part that stems from its exceptional students and researchers that actively uncover solutions to challenges facing humanity and the planet.

Waterloo researchers, students and alumni are leading innovations to solve the climate crisis by developing sustainable technologies today for the future, and Keith Cleland (MASc ’22) is no exception. 

His passion for environmental sustainability and expertise in electrochemistry converged to launch Aqua-Cell Energy Inc. — a startup dedicated to designing affordable and safe energy storage solutions for commercial and industrial solar power.  

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented tariff war against more than 180 countries – what I call “World War Trade” (WWT). I argue that from a competitive dynamics perspective, it’s a strategy that has some merit – for Canada. 

A University of Waterloo professor is part of an international coalition revolutionizing vaccine production with new health-care technology. The tech aims to support local vaccine production, cutting  the vaccine production time from nine days to just one day, and save millions of lives and dollars as a result.   

Dr. Mikal Skuterud
Professor, Economics
> Director, Canadian Labour Economics Forum

Dr. Mikal Skuterud became interested in labour markets in high school while working in a large warehouse alongside many recent migrants to Canada. During his undergraduate degree in labour studies, Skuterud took several economic theory courses, which confirmed he was on the right career path.

Many of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems share a common feature: a world-class research university at their core. The University of Waterloo has played a pivotal role in establishing the Waterloo region as a premier innovation ecosystem in Canada. 

Imagine a painless patch that continuously sends your health status to your phone. A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo is on a mission to deliver just that by developing next-generation technologies that can monitor and dispatch personalized medicine. 

For co-op students, securing a co-op job has always required persistence. The process of scanning job boards, tailoring resumes, and submitting applications to multiple employers can feel like a full-time commitment, often pulling focus from coursework and other responsibilities.