Goal R2: Propel Waterloo’s global leadership in innovation, entrepreneurship and social impact.
Objectives
R2A Create interdisciplinary teams to solve problems relevant to Canada’s economy
R2B Increase infrastructure to support research commercialization and policy application
R2C Establish a commercialization fund
R2D Leverage networks to expand entrepreneurial opportunities
R2E Foster an environment that stimulates entrepreneurial pursuits
Selected initiatives
Faculty highlights
All systems go
Two Waterloo Engineering graduates who started the company Vena Medical to commercialize their fourth-year design project have announced government approval for a device that removes blood clots from the brain. They are now working toward U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.
New program challenges students to zero in on impact and innovation
The “Zero” programs help students learn about innovation and kickstart their careers. Founded by Waterloo Math and Engineering alumni Jackson Mills and Holden Beggs, the programs operate on the fundamental belief that everyone can be an innovator with the right support. Zero programs have exploded in popularity, with thousands of student, and increasingly alumni, registrants. Find out more about this alumni innovation project.
Science students part of winning youth challenge team
Decomp, a start-up by Waterloo Biology students, was chosen as the Canadian winner of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Youth Innovation Challenge. Decomp has developed an organic plastic waste disposal solution, and seeks to genetically engineer proprietary plastic-degrading microbes that can degrade plastics in weeks.
Preparing for the next pandemic
An interdisciplinary team of Waterloo alumni and researchers develop an AI-powered surveillance system for future pandemics
GoodLabs Studio, co-founded by Waterloo Math alumni Thomas Lo, has been working with the University of Waterloo to develop the Syndrome Anomaly Detection System (SADS) – a system that uses machine learning and AI to detect patterns of atypical disease across communities so that healthcare and policy leaders can act quickly to prevent future pandemics. Read more about how Waterloo alumni are working on pandemic preparedness.
Selected indicators
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