AR Goal R2

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

Organizational restructuring to support commercialization and entrepreneurship 

Creating a roadmap for the entrepreneurship / commercialization support ecosystem 

Responding to Ontario’s Commercialization Mandate Policy Framework 

Incorporating equity, diversity, inclusion & anti-racism (EDI-R) focus in commercialization and entrepreneurship 

Focus: Creating space for opportunity and innovation

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.