March Wrap-up: Deep Tech, Talent and Ideas Take Shape in Waterloo

This month’s stories show how the Waterloo region continues to lead in deep tech innovation, world-class research and talent development.

For international businesses exploring new locations for growth, this kind of momentum matters. It reflects the strength of the local ecosystem – where research translates into real-world solutions, startups scale globally, and future-ready talent is building the next wave of technology.

From top global rankings and AI innovation to next-gen co-op talent and advanced quantum tools, this area is proving it has the expertise and ecosystem to support new ideas at every stage.

Here are the top stories from March:

UWaterloo earns top global rankings

The QS World University Rankings by Subject were released in March – and the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo) was ranked among the top-50 globally in four high-impact fields:

• #30 in Electrical Engineering
• #33 in Computer Science
• #34 in Data Science & Information Systems
• #47 in Mathematics

UWaterloo also led in Arts and Social Sciences on the national stage, ranking #1 in Hospitality and Leisure Management Studies and #2 in Classics and Ancient History. These rankings “prove that #UWaterloo can excel both at technical (STEM) and creative disciplines,” said the university.

In other news, U.S. News & World Report ranked UWaterloo #1 in Canada for nanoscience and nanotechnology in March, highlighting the university’s expertise in research, talent and collaboration in advanced materials.

Page raises $4.1M to expand AI platform

A perfect example of how research and entrepreneurship intersect in Waterloo, Page – a startup based at Velocity – raised $4.1M to take its AI-powered lobbyist platform to the US and UK.

Designed to help organizations monitor, analyse and influence government and media in real time, Page is addressing a $42B global industry.

“Page solves that problem by providing our customers with a better way to monitor, analyse and influence governments around the world with our real-time AI lobbyist,” said co-founder and CEO Ben Cox.

The company’s growth shows what’s possible in Waterloo’s startup ecosystem, especially for deep tech ventures targeting international markets.

$7.5M awarded to six Waterloo researchers

Waterloo’s research strength was further reinforced this month as six researchers received more than $7.5M in new and renewed Canada Research Chairs funding.

Projects include trauma biomechanics, Indigenous-led design, bone health, bionano health monitoring, wetland climate solutions and regenerative medicine.

“Waterloo is leading the way across multiple, diverse research areas,” said Charmaine Dean, vice-president, Research and International at the University of Waterloo.

These research efforts contribute to a steady flow of innovation that global companies can tap into through partnerships, talent or collaboration.

$1M supports quantum measurement tools

At the Institute for Quantum Computing, researchers received $1M to develop scalable quantum measurement tools for use in telecommunications, nuclear energy and precision sensing.

“By making quantum standards more widely accessible, this project will enable the ultra-precise measurements on which new quantum technologies rely, accelerating Canada’s growing quantum industry,” said Dr. David Cory, professor in the Department of Chemistry.

Quantum is one of Waterloo region’s key areas of strength, and this work supports Canada’s broader strategy to lead in this space.

Builder communities support student-led innovation

Entrepreneurship is embedded in the student experience at UWaterloo.

In March, Socratica – a student-led maker collective at UWaterloo – hosted its 2025 Symposium, drawing more than 2,500 students to showcase projects in art, engineering, design and more.

“Socratica is unlike anything I’ve seen in my years working with students. They’ve created something remarkable – a community where everyone from artists to tech entrepreneurs work side by side as builders,” said John Dick, senior director of founder development at Velocity.

Socratica and Velocity are two of Waterloo’s most active builder communities – creating space for  students to “find their place at any stage of an idea.”

Laurier co-op students driving tech innovation

Talent is a core consideration for any company evaluating expansion. Wilfrid Laurier University is one of three local post-secondary schools supplying Waterloo’s workforce with skilled, job-ready graduates.

A recent article highlights how the school’s co-op program offers a unique blend of business and technical expertise, with students making impactful contributions to local companies like Sun Life and D2L.

They’re helping companies roll out AI dashboards, digitize internal systems and integrate new technology – gaining experience while solving business challenges.

“Laurier has a fantastic reputation and its students are prepared, hard-working, knowledgeable and highly collaborative,” said Jeff Ollinger, director of talent acquisition at Sun Life.

New funding supports Canada-based companies

Export Development Canada announced $5B in new funding through its Trade Impact Program to help Canadian exporters and suppliers manage risk and expand internationally.

“Our priority is to provide meaningful and timely support to Canadian exporters, so you can focus on what you do best: provide the goods and services the world wants,” said EDC.

This type of national support strengthens the business environment in Waterloo and across Canada, especially for companies with global ambitions.

A region that supports innovation

This month’s headlines tell a clear story: Waterloo is a place where research turns into real impact, students help build the future and companies scale with speed and purpose.

For businesses exploring where to expand next, our community offers a connected ecosystem and the support needed to grow – from early research and entrepreneurship to global trade and talent.