Waterloo is Canada’s top comprehensive research university

The University of Waterloo has been designated Research University of the Year in the comprehensive category by Research Infosource Inc. for the 16th consecutive year. Waterloo’s consistent ranking stands as a testament to the University being at the forefront of fostering the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs. 

"We are very pleased that the University of Waterloo has been named top Research University of the Year in the comprehensive category by Research Infosource,” says Charmaine B. Dean, vice-president, Research and International at Waterloo. “Our approach to prioritizing research, where we can play a critical role for supporting knowledge advancement as well as making impact in various stakeholder communities, is an integral part of Waterloo's strategic Futures framework aimed at betterment for the future of our world: economic futures, health futures, societal futures, sustainable futures and technological futures.” 

Waterloo also ranked first for research income and corporate research income among Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities in the comprehensive category, and second for not-for-profit research income in the same category. 

From 2022 to 2023, the University secured $249 million in research funding from public and private sources. 34 per cent of research partnership funding is derived from government and private sector contracts. Additionally, a number of Waterloo researchers were appointed Canada Research Chairs and fellows of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. 

This year, the theme of Canada’s Innovation Leaders (CIL) 2023 publication is on solving global challenges through research partnerships and collaborations and well aligns with Waterloo’s strategic plan in transforming societies, economies, technologies, sustainability and health through advancing research, for humanity and the planet to thrive in the future. 

Waterloo researchers excel in a unique environment that integrates experiential education and entrepreneurship with interdisciplinary research. Waterloo’s research is uniquely energized by co-op and entrepreneurship and is connected to both immediate challenges and long-term possibilities for the good of our communities and the world. Waterloo will continue to build on our research strengths to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. 

Research Infosource’s Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities rankings are based on a balanced set of impact measures that distinguishes exceptional achievement in research income and publishing research in leading scientific journals.