Waterloo News - Technological Futures

WatSPEED brings industry leaders together to advance Canada’s AI readiness

Angelica Sanchez — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:51:04 +0000

From hype to enterprise implementation: How the University of Waterloo and the iSchool are helping executives lead in the age of AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the global economy, WatSPEED is helping Canadian business and technology leaders strategically position themselves for the future.

The University of Waterloo’s professional, executive and corporate education arm recently convened senior leaders from across sectors for a one-day, in-person course: Operationalizing Generative AI: Executive Insights and Applications. Delivered in partnership with the iSchool Institute at the University of Toronto, the program offered attendees a practical exploration of how generative AI tools can be implemented to drive real value in their organizations.

From left to right: Dr. Jimmy Lin, co-director of the Waterloo Data and AI Institute, Eily Hickson, head of global data and AI strategy at Sanofi, Dr. Ali Vahdat, director of Applied AI Research at Thomson Reuters Labs, and Javed Mostafa, professor and dean of Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto.

From theory to application

Led by Dr. Jimmy Lin, co-director of the Waterloo Data and AI Institute and one of the world’s most cited AI scholars, the course examined how large language models (LLMs) can enhance productivity, support data-driven decision-making and improve client and employee experiences.

Lin’s sessions framed prompt engineering as an emerging essential skill, comparable to the early days of digital literacy.

“At some point, you had to learn how to search Google,” says Lin, who is also the Cheriton Chair in Software Systems at Waterloo’s Cheriton School of Computer Science. “Today, it’s exactly the same thing for prompt engineering.”

Throughout the day, Lin emphasized the need for a culture of adaptability and lifelong learning as generative AI transforms how organizations structure work, evaluate talent and plan for the future.

“The transformational impact of LLMs will be no less than that of the steam engine, than electricity, than the internet,” he notes. “In fact, it will probably be more.”

Building executive AI literacy

With participants from health care, finance, technology and government, the course fostered rich dialogue around the practical realities of AI integration, including enterprise-scale deployment, regulatory compliance and responsible implementation.

Eily Hickson, head of global data and AI strategy at Sanofi, shared use cases spanning pharmaceutical research and development, accessibility technologies and clinical diagnostics. She highlighted how AI could help detect cancer earlier, alleviate long-term pain and enhance independence for people with disabilities.

“If you live in the ‘scary,’ you’ll never get to the ‘good,’” Hickson says. “I’m cautiously optimistic about the benefits — from curative medicine to quality-of-life improvements.”

She also emphasized the importance of executive alignment and storytelling in ensuring long-term AI success.

“If you don’t have executive buy-in, you can have the best strategies, but if the mindset isn’t ready to receive them, it will fall flat,” Hickson says. “AI has to be wrapped into every layer of your business, from how you run a portfolio to how you tell your story to investors.”

Eily Hickson shares use cases spanning pharmaceutical research and development, accessibility technologies and clinical diagnostics.

From hype to implementation: Leadership that drives change

Designed to move beyond AI hype and focus squarely on real-world implementation, Operationalizing Generative AI equipped leaders with the frameworks needed to evaluate tools, assess cost–performance trade-offs and identify both opportunities and risks across business functions.

In a closing panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Javed Mostafa, dean of the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, panelists explored organizational models for AI adoption, building internal capability and managing the tension between innovation and accountability.

“LLMs are like a bright student that hasn’t done the reading,” Lin says. “At a glance you think, ‘this isn’t bad,’ but then it completely falls apart under closer evaluation.”

Supporting Canada’s innovation ecosystem

“Generative AI is not just a trend,” says Aaron Pereira, executive director of WatSPEED. “It represents a fundamental shift in how organizations operate and compete. This type of programming is tailored to helping industry leaders prepare for what’s next, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to lead through disruption.”

WatSPEED continues to support Canadian organizations in preparing for the future of work through professional and executive education tailored to the realities of rapid technological, societal and economic change. By working closely with industry partners and drawing on Waterloo’s renowned research expertise, WatSPEED helps organizations stay competitive, resilient and future-ready.

To learn more about WatSPEED’s innovative AI programming, visit watspeed.uwaterloo.ca.

Technological Futures

Natural disasters are increasingly putting the value of properties at risk

Sam Charles — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:45:00 +0000

Experts say homeowners and governments need to be more proactive as they face the increasing risk of wildfires and flooding

Whether it’s flooding in Toronto or forest fires raging in Alberta and Manitoba, climate change is pushing natural disasters into populated areas and having a dire impact on communities.

The threat to many homeowners extends beyond property damage and risk of life. The value of their homes and properties could be at risk.

“In Canada right now, few property owners actually know if their property is exposed to any type of climate risk, whether flooding, wildfires or landslides,” says Dr. Jason Thistlethwaite, professor in the Faculty of Environment and co-lead of the Climate Risk Research Group at the University of Waterloo. “We very much like to keep our heads buried in the sand on this. But information and data are powerful tools that can help us direct our community resources towards prevention and preparedness.”

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Recent events around the world, including the fires in Los Angeles and the flooding in the North Coast of Australia, should serve as a further reminder that Canada is not immune from the catastrophic impact of major climate influenced events.

While governments around the world have put in place response teams and protocols, according to researchers there has not been a focus on preparedness. Governments are also off-loading responsibilities to regional and local governments.

“Every dollar governments spend building a community to withstand a disaster like a flood or wildfire has a tremendous return on investment, but it is not rewarded with voters,” Thistlethwaite says. “It’s the opposite in the aftermath of a disaster when a government knows it will lose votes if it doesn’t spend enough on recovery to help people get back on their feet.”

Thistlethwaite says there are many similarities within health care. He says our health-care systems struggle to allocate resources, policy and people to preventative medicine, but when someone gets sick or injured the system responds well.

“Canada is about 10 to 15 years behind its G7 counterparts when it comes to pro-active disaster management,” Thistlethwaite says. “The U.S. has the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which, despite its critics, has a huge budget and tends to be a lot more proactive and experimental than Canadian authorities. The U.K. even has a property address lookup to measure your risk.”

Waterloo researchers from across disciplines are collaborating to analyze and innovate in the areas of preparedness, mitigation and recovery. In the most recent survey conducted by Waterloo researchers about natural disaster awareness in Canada, it was found that only six per cent of Canadians who live in a high-risk flood area were aware of the danger. Insurers and governments have the tools to inform Canadians about these risks, but are reticent to do so because of a fear of influencing property values.

According to Thistlethwaite, it comes down to a lack of data. “I’m working on a project to improve the efficiency of risk assessment so it doesn’t take a bunch of supercomputers or expensive consultants for a municipality to understand whether they can safely build needed housing near a floodplain or wildfire zone safely,” he says. “This involves collaboration with engineers, geospatial specialists, actuaries and policy people.”

Thistlethwaite says you should be able to use your address to access comprehensive information on your property’s exposure to any type of risk.

“You should be able to access the implications for insurance related to that risk and disaster recovery systems in place in your area, and you should know about subsidies and local services that could support you in making informed choices to help protect your property.”

Currently, none of that information is readily available.

He has also explored other policy approaches, including whether or not government-initiated buyout programs would be an effective approach to reducing the flood and fire risk for people and property.

“It is imperative that we consider every option when it comes to resiliency, preparedness and mitigation, so that our communities stay safe.”

It can be challenging to look beyond the fear of disaster and what it can mean to one’s business and property values, but according to Thistlethwaite, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“We need to start treating property owners as adults, by providing clear and transparent information about disaster risk, then we can start coming up with solutions to protect and prepare for what’s ahead.”

Technological Futures

New horizons for Waterloo’s Canada 150 Chairs

Angelica Sanchez — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:18:02 +0000

Dr. Anita Layton and Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn complete their C150 terms but their research impacting the future of health and technology continue

Eight years ago, to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, the Government of Canada invested $117 million to launch a new initiative aimed at enhancing Canada’s reputation as a global centre for science, research and innovation excellence.

The Canada 150 (C150) Research Chairs program set out to attract top-tier internationally-based scholars and researchers to Canada – with two international researchers joining the University of Waterloo.

As their C150 terms come to an end, both Dr. Anita Layton and Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn who will continue as professors at Waterloo, look back at their terms fondly and ahead to the future.

As C150 Chair in Intelligent Robotics, Dautenhahn says the Chair was a tremendous opportunity to open the Social and Intelligent Robotics Research Laboratory (SIRRL) and relocate her family to Canada following her previous role in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

“This has worked out really well, and Waterloo is a great place. Collaboration across the University and with the faculties is encouraged, which is needed as my work is very interdisciplinary,” says Dautenhahn, who is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “I couldn’t have done these projects without Waterloo. It’s a place with a lot of opportunities.”

Since arriving at Waterloo, she has advanced and furthered her research in therapeutic and educational usage of social and intelligent robots. The robots have demonstrated the benefits and support that can be provided to children with speech and language challenges, along with helping children to learn about bullying and empathy.

Additionally, intelligent robots offer a tremendous opportunity to teach people without judgement, says Dautenhahn, making them highly suited for the role of a public speaking coach or a mental wellbeing coach, allowing students to practice skills and techniques.

“I really believe that there are many applications where robots can be beneficial, not replacing people, but taking advantage of the specific characteristics of robots,” she says.

For Layton, the C150 Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine, the different funding landscape in Canada meant more research prospects.

Dr. Anita Layton, professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics, cross-appointed to Computer Science, Pharmacy and Biology.

“With my research funding I was able to have a large group of students, branch out, collaborate, get more support — and do the things I found exciting,” Layton says. “I learned a lot about chronic disease and drug simulation — and was able to take my knowledge to the public through the media.”

She is a professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics, cross-appointed to Computer Science, Pharmacy and Biology, and this interdisciplinary lens is central to her research.

Her research team uses computational modelling tools to better understand health and disease, in an approach she describes as using mathematics as a microscope. Through the use of computer simulations and mathematical analysis, her research has revealed insights into the progression and treatment responses of chronic diseases, and how sex hormones may explain individual differences. One of her recent studies found adding more potassium-rich foods to a diet may have a greater impact on blood pressure than reducing or eliminating sodium. This work gained significant media attention for promoting a simple change that can make a difference to many people.

As her seven-year term as a C150 Chair comes to an end, she has been named a University Professor at Waterloo.

Her plans include working with collaborators and the community, supporting the advancement of faculty, guiding postdoctoral fellows in knowledge translation, and training students to become independent thinkers who initiate research direction and communicate research.

“I want to do more to elevate others,” Layton says.

Awards, Honours and Rankings

Technological Futures

Waterloo represents within BetaKit Most Ambitious List of 2025

Sam Charles — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:38:24 +0000

More than 20 founders from Waterloo highlight the newly unveiled list that celebrates those making the biggest impact inside Canadian tech and innovation

As a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation, it’s no surprise that companies and founders linked to the University of Waterloo have a noticeable presence among those featured within BetaKit’s Most Ambitious List.

Waterloo ranks as the top university in Canada for startup founders and 21st in the world according to the Pitchbook University Rankings. Recently released data shows that Velocity, Waterloo’s core entrepreneurship incubator, has more than 500 companies with a combined enterprise value of $40 billion.

The Most Ambitious List includes several categories including the “Moon Shots” (Canadians reaching for the stars), “Deep Tech,” “World Savers,” “Category Challengers,” “Expats,” “The Products,” and “The Next Generation.”

From student leaders to established founders and companies, the BetaKit list featured some of Waterloo’s best and brightest. Of the four organizations listed among the next generation of Canadian tech was Socratica. The social entrepreneurship collective recently hosted an event in Waterloo that brought together nearly 2500 people to collaborate and share ideas.

"We’re proud to show how when we bring people in, hand them real responsibility and resources, and believe in them, we can do more as an ecosystem," says Jake Rudolph, an engineering student and one of the Socratica’s organizers.

Jetson recognized in the “World Savers” category

Co-founded by Stephen Lake (BASc ’12), Aaron Grant (BASc ’12) and Matt Bailey (BASc ’12), Vancouver-based Jetson is a climate tech product manufacturer that is developing new ways to install heat pumps in residential buildings and homes.

Challengers are breaking open markets and making Canada more competitive

Rachel Bartholomew (MBET ’14), Float, and MappedIn are listed as challengers for reshaping Canadian markets. Bartholomew is the founder and CEO of Hyivy, a company focused on creating therapeutic and remote monitoring devices for gynecological conditions. She is also the founder and lead advisor for Femtech Canada, an advocacy organization for women working in the innovation space.

Former engineering student Hongwei Liu co-founded MappedIn’ while at Waterloo along with Toby Gu (BASc ’15), Mitch Butler and Leander Lee (BCS ’13). Waterloo alum Edward Wei (BCS ’06) is MappedIn’s CTO. The Velocity-linked company is an indoor maps wayfinding platform.

Another Velocity-linked company to make the list is Float which is making waves in the corporate credit card market. Last year, Float co-founders Ruslan Nikolaev (BCS ‘20) and Griffin Keglevich secured $50 million to expand its financial products and innovate business-to-business financial services.

Wealthsimple also made the challenger category. Its Chief Legal Officer is Waterloo arts alum Blair Wiley (BA ’04).

Most ambitious products that have people talking

Among the list of ambitious products are Able Innovations. Able Innovations is a Velocity company that develops solutions for lifting and moving patients within health care settings.

"Being recognized in BetaKit's Most Ambitious list is a great affirmation that Canadian innovation can compete on the global stage when we're willing to take calculated risks and push boundaries,” says Jayiesh Singh, CEO of Able Innovations. “This recognition isn't just about what we've accomplished, it's about the responsibility we have to continue driving solutions that are improving lives and creating better systems."

Rounding out the list are Core Devices, Ideogram, Wave View Imaging and 1Password. Smartware company Core Devices was founded by Eric Migicovsky (BASc ’09). The company recently announced a pair of new smartwatches that run on open-source PebbleOS. Ideogram, a text-to-image platform, was co-founded by William Chan (BASc ’11) in 2022. The following year, it received $16.5 million in seed funding. Wave View Imaging, a non-intrusive imaging system designed to enhance early detection, was co-founded by Elise Fear (BASc ’95) who now serves as CSO.

The CEO of the Waterloo-led unicorn, 1Password, is Jeff Shiner (BMath ’92). The global cybersecurity company protects more than 150,000 businesses and millions of consumers around the world.

The moon shots reaching for the stars

Two companies with Waterloo connections were featured for their Canadian-made innovations that are literally reaching for the stars. Canadian Space Mining Corporation (CSMC) is led by COO Adam Gryfe (MBET ’11). CSMC is an infrastructure and technology company focused on filling key gaps in future space exploration in areas that address Earth’s immediate challenges. The CEO of MDA Space is Mike Greenley (MSc ’97). The space mission partner supports communications satellites, Earth and space observation, space exploration and infrastructure.

Deep tech working on the next big breakthrough

Photonic and Xanadu were among the companies included within the deep tech category. Photonic was founded by Stephanie Simmons (BMath ’08). Today, she serves as the company’s Chief Quantum Officer. The company is building one of the first scalable, distributed, fault-tolerant and unified quantum computing and networking platforms based on optically-linked silicon spin qubits.

Xanadu recently unveiled the world’s first scalable, networked and modular quantum computer. The company’s CTO is Nathan Killoran (PhD ’12, physics).

Since its founding, the University of Waterloo has always been bold and unconventional. It continues to be a place where ambitious innovators and ideas take root. Through transformational research and inspired learning, Waterloo is helping to identify and solve the complex challenges facing humanity and our planet.

The Betakit’s Toronto Tech Week Special Issue also includes an interview with Waterloo professor Larry Smith.

Technological Futures

WatSPEED appoints Aaron Pereira as executive director

Angelica Sanchez — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

New leadership to accelerate growth and global engagement

The University of Waterloo is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Pereira as executive director of WatSPEED, the University’s professional, executive and corporate education arm.

Pereira assumes the role following a successful tenure as managing director, client partnerships at WatSPEED, where he led the development of high-impact collaborations with industry, government and university partners. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding WatSPEED’s engagement with both Canadian and international organizations and deepening its involvement in national skills development efforts.

“WatSPEED is uniquely positioned to help shape Canada’s future workforce by connecting academic excellence with real-world skills development,” Pereira says. “It’s a privilege to lead this next chapter alongside a talented team, as we continue to build transformative learning experiences that support professionals and organizations through rapid technological change.”

With more than 15 years of experience at Waterloo, Pereira brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and cross-sector expertise to this role. His career has spanned research administration, corporate partnerships, and advanced education, with past roles including client manager, corporate research partnerships manager and manager of institutional research in the Office of Research. From managing multi-million-dollar strategic initiatives to facilitating research collaborations in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science, Pereira’s contributions have connected cutting-edge research with real-world impact.

Pereira’s appointment comes at a time of accelerating momentum for WatSPEED, as the unit continues to scale its offerings in emerging areas such as AI, cybersecurity and health technologies. Positioned at the intersection of technology, talent and industry, WatSPEED plays a critical role in advancing Waterloo’s mission to drive innovation and societal impact.

A Message from Aaron Pereira

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Leadership for WatSPEED’s next chapter

Joining Pereira in shaping this next phase is Karina Graf, who has been appointed managing director, marketing, brand and growth. Graf brings a strong track record in strategic marketing, digital engagement and program innovation. In her expanded role, she will lead efforts to amplify learner impact, strengthen the WatSPEED brand and drive institutional growth through high-performance marketing.

To further strengthen WatSPEED’s engagement with global and corporate partners, Jean-Paul Mouton has assumed the role of associate director, strategic partnerships and global growth. In this expanded role, he will lead efforts to deepen existing relationships, forge new global partnerships, and identify opportunities for international expansion.

These new appointments complement the continued leadership of Dean Perkins, associate director, systems, finance and operations, whose work ensures the infrastructure, resourcing and operational rigor that support WatSPEED’s mission.

Together, the team will continue to strengthen WatSPEED’s role in delivering impactful, future-focused learning experiences that support professionals, executives and organizations navigating technological change.

For more information about WatSPEED and its programs, visit watspeed.uwaterloo.ca.

Technological Futures

How to suspend one liquid inside another

David George-Cosh — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Waterloo-led research team creates “programmable” droplets with potential usage in wastewater treatment and carbon capture

Researchers led by a team at the University of Waterloo have developed a way to create tiny droplets of one liquid inside another liquid without mixing the two together.

Known as droplet templating, the technique enables the creation of a new class of nanoparticle-based soft materials with potential applications in carbon capture and wastewater treatment.

The process involves assembling and jamming nanoparticles onto the surface of an aqueous-based droplet, forming a strong outer shell that keeps each droplet intact and distinct. These coated droplets can then be filled with a wide range of nanoparticles and dried to form lightweight, porous aerogel beads.

The aerogel bead droplets are filled with magnetic particles that can be used to shield against electromagnetic waves. A magnet under the Petri dish helps to attract the droplets into the 'C' position. (University of Waterloo)

“This technique allows researchers to create hybrid aerogels by filling each droplet or bead with specific nanomaterials for different targeted uses,” said Dr. Milad Kamkar, a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

“Researchers can now control not only the composition but also where each droplet is arranged within a liquid, essentially making the droplets and the resulting soft materials and aerogels programmable.”

Kamkar added that the droplet templating process could have a significant impact on wastewater treatment. The aerogel beads could be loaded with different nanoparticles, each targeting specific contaminants, and strategically packed in a column to optimize treatment as wastewater flows through it.

In the fight against climate change, aerogel beads could be infused with metal-organic frameworks and other functional materials to capture carbon dioxide from the air. Potential applications also include sensors, electronics and the aerospace industry.

“This technique allows researchers to create layered, gradient or mixed aerogels, opening up new possibilities for designing multifunctional materials,” said Kamkar, who is also director of the Multiscale Materials Design Lab. “Scientists can now control the precise location of components and nanomaterials.”

Another potential use case for droplet templating is to shield against electromagnetic waves, which can interfere with sensitive equipment. Aerogel beads filled with magnetic and conductive nanomaterials could be strategically placed in buildings like hospitals to protect patients and equipment from electromagnetic interference.

“In the modern world, we’re constantly surrounded by electromagnetic waves from electronics such as cell phones, laptops and Wi-Fi, which can negatively affect the performance of sensitive equipment,” Kamkar said.

“These waves can also cause serious health issues, such as cancer. Removing this invisible pollution from our environment is a big challenge, and these aerogel beads could help address it.”

Kamkar and the Waterloo team collaborated on this research with researchers at the University of British Columbia and Drexel University in Philadelphia.

A paper on their work, Droplet-templating soft materials into structured bead-based aerogels with compartmentalized or welded configurations, recently appeared in Material Horizons.

Second image: A suspended droplet atop a generated interfacial layer of nanoparticle (CNC)-surfactant. The top phase is hexane-POSS, and the bottom phase is CNC suspension. (University of Waterloo)

Feature image: Dr. Milad Kamkar, a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering, photographed in his laboratory where he developed the droplet technology that can contain one liquid inside another. (University of Waterloo)

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Technological Futures

More than 1,200 founders and counting

Sam Charles — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Newly released data shows Velocity companies have an enterprise value of $40-billion

The University of Waterloo startup ecosystem has long been a driver of innovation across its campuses, in Waterloo region and around the world. Entrepreneurship is woven deep within the Waterloo DNA and continues to grow and prosper because of a solid foundation of support and resources.

At the core of the Waterloo ecosystem is Velocity. The organization is more than an incubator. It is a community of founders dedicated to supporting the entrepreneurial aspirations of students and researchers by providing the advisory services, industry connections and investor relations required to accelerate their business traction.

Momentum, the recently released publication from Velocity highlights that their founders are connecting to capital. Velocity’s more than 500 companies have a combined enterprise value of $40 billion.

John Dick, Velocity’s senior director of Founder Development, says its work, and that of the companies it supports, are becoming increasingly important given the current economic landscape in Canada. “At Velocity, we know that startups are the key to unlocking Canada’s potential. Founders are not just building companies; they’re building the future of Canadian competitiveness.”

Every year, more than 1,400 students step into Velocity and many walk out as startup founders. In 2024, 395 student-led teams were actively building on campus and moving from idea to pre-seed startup.

“We’re encouraged by the growing progress and impact of our community of students, founders, builders and innovators,” Dick says. “Velocity not only prepares startup founders, but it trains the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow.”

PatientCompanion, founded by Christy Lee (BASc ’24) and Ethan Alvizo (BASc ’24) joined Velocity in Fall 2023, and completed a successful hospital pilot in 2024. The platform improves communication between patients and care teams, helping reduce nurses’ workload.

In less than one-year, PatientCompanion launched CAN Health commercialization projects in three Ontario hospitals; Waterloo Region Health Network (WRHN) Midtown and Brightshores Health System in Owen Sound and Southampton, focusing on women’s and children’s care, childbirth and acute units. The company is now preparing to scale across Canada. They are an example of Velocity founders who are getting traction early.

“We’ve built a support model that goes beyond traditional incubation and helps founders move faster, reduce risk and succeed sooner,” says Moazam Khan, director at Velocity. “By opening doors to customers, capital and connections, we’re de-risking startups across team, technology and traction. Ultimately, we’re accelerating founder success and driving real gains in Canadian productivity.”

Within the last year, Velocity received more than 300 applications, resulting in 41 promising new, pre-seed and seed startups joining its program located at the Innovation Arena in downtown Kitchener. Already, 83 pilot projects have been unlocked with companies securing $62 million. Collectively, they have generated $12 million in revenue and acquired 136 customers.

The Momentum publication also showcases the wide variety of startups originating through Velocity. From health technologies to finance and robotics, founders are contributing to nearly every sector.

“Velocity empowers thousands of student founders to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions,” Dick says. “When students have the right tools, community network and coaches, they can build impactful solutions — and they do.”

There are plenty of Velocity founders to watch in 2025 including:

Airfairness – A platform that helps passengers around the world receive fair compensation after experiencing flight disruptions.
Doro – AI-based psychotherapy tools for early and subclinical mental health needs thereby preventing conditions from escalating into a disorder.
Entangled Vision – An early-stage macular degeneration screening test allowing for earlier treatment options to prevent vision impairment.
Foqus Technologies – Technology that enhances the sensitivity of magnetic resonance technology (MRI), resulting in scans that are 10 times faster with higher-resolution for earlier disease detection and is less expensive than hardware upgrades.
Gale - Visa application platform that accelerates applications, frees up lawyers to focus on strategy and ensures ongoing compliance for applicants and businesses throughout the visa lifecycle.
Movarion - Power-assisted carts and dollies that make it easier for health-care workers to move equipment and supplies while reducing the risk of injury.
Liquid Energy - Turnkey green data centers solutions that store renewable energy and recovers waste heat to produce heating, cooling and electricity.
Page - A real-time government relations platform that turns government noise into a competitive advantage featuring personalized insights, effortless tracking and a suite of AI-powered tools.
Phantom Photonics – Quantum-based sensors that are used both underwater to monitor equipment and in space, to prevent satellite collisions.
Real Life Robotics - Autonomous and teleoperated ground cargo and delivery robotics.
Swish Solar - Self-cleaning solar technology designed to actively keep solar panels clean in snowy and sandy regions, eliminating inefficiencies and maximizing energy output.
Upside Robotics - Autonomous robots that match fertilizer to crop needs, leading to better yields, lower costs and healthier soil for farmers.

Velocity continues to support founders who are unlocking economic impact in Waterloo region and beyond. As Canada continues to navigate uncertain economic times, Velocity supported companies will play a pivotal role in ensuring its continued success.

Technological Futures

WatSPEED and Vector Institute collaborate to accelerate AI adoption in Canada

Stephanie Longeway — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:47:51 +0000

Strategic partnership brings cutting-edge AI training to today’s workforce

WatSPEED, the University of Waterloo’s professional, executive and corporate education arm, has partnered with the Vector Institute on a new pilot program to help professionals turn AI ambition into meaningful business results.

“This collaboration unites WatSPEED’s strength in professional education with the Vector Institute’s AI expertise to address a critical skills gap in the market,” says Aaron Pereira, executive director of WatSPEED. “By equipping professionals to lead AI initiatives more effectively, we’re helping Canadian organizations turn their AI investments into real competitive advantage.”

Running on June 19, Managing AI Projects is a one-day, live online course is designed for project managers, team leads and functional experts responsible for driving AI initiatives forward. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in business operations, professionals in non-technical roles are playing a part in shaping and steering adoption efforts — ensuring that emerging technologies translate into real-world impact.

The pilot program represents an important step in advancing AI adoption in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. It recognizes that traditional project management tools and approaches must evolve to meet the realities of AI technologies. By equipping participants with actionable strategies to plan, lead and deliver AI projects, they can effectively bridge the gap between innovation and organizational success.

“Vector Institute is committed to accelerating the safe and effective adoption of AI across Canada,” says Craig Stewart, executive director of applied AI programs at the Vector Institute. “By equipping leaders with the right tools and frameworks to drive their AI initiatives forward, we’re helping organizations unlock this technology’s potential and translate AI ambition into real-world results.”

The Vector Institute — an independent, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence — works with a broad network of academic experts, corporate partners and subject matter experts to develop cutting-edge research, training programs and projects that help organizations harness AI to drive productivity and foster economic growth. They are funded by the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada through CIFAR Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and industry sponsors across Canada.

As Canada looks to strengthen its position in the global innovation economy, the need for skilled professionals who can confidently lead AI projects and adapt established practices to new technological concepts has never been more urgent. The collaboration between WatSPEED and the Vector Institute signals a shared commitment to making advanced AI training more accessible, helping organizations overcome adoption challenges and build a future-ready workforce equipped to lead in the digital economy.

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Economic Futures

Technological Futures

Redefining physics to roll a ball vertically

David George-Cosh — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Waterloo researchers discover how to make a soft ball roll – not fall, slide or tumble – down a vertical surface that “challenges our basic understanding of physics”

Researchers from the University of Waterloo have achieved a feat previously thought to be impossible — getting a sphere to roll down a totally vertical surface without applying any external force.

The spontaneous rolling motion, captured by high-speed cameras, was an unexpected observation after months of trial, error, and theoretical calculations by two Waterloo research teams.

The soft sphere is shown rolling down the vertical surface during laboratory tests. (University of Waterloo)

“When we first saw it happening, we were frankly in disbelief,” said Dr. Sushanta Mitra, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering and executive director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology.

“We double-checked everything because it seemed to defy common sense. There was excitement in the lab when we confirmed it wasn’t a fluke and that this was real vertical rolling.”

The discovery hinged on finding just the right balance of elasticity, or softness, between a pea-sized sphere and a vertical slide about the size of a cellphone screen that was used in experiments.

If the spheres were too soft, they stuck to the surface or slid down it. If they were too rigid, the spheres fell straight down through the force of gravity.

But when researchers hit on just the right combination of elasticity — with a sphere the approximate consistency of a gummy bear and a surface that would feel like a spongy mouse pad — the sphere slowly rolled down at a rate of about one millimetre every two seconds.

Soft spheres like these may be useful in space exploration, inspecting pipes or exploring cave systems. (University of Waterloo)

“The key is that as it rolls, the sphere slightly changes shape at the contact point,” Mitra said. “The front edge acts as a closing zipper, while the back edge acts like opening it. This asymmetry creates just enough torque, or grip, to maintain rolling without either sticking or completely falling off.”

The academic journal Soft Matter, which published a study on the work, Spontaneous rolling of a soft sphere on a vertical soft substrate, said in a summary that the discovery “challenges our basic understanding of physics.”

In practical terms, Mitra said, the finding could be used in the development of soft robots to inspect pipes, explore cave systems, or assist in the manufacturing of better equipment for missions to Mars or other space exploration endeavors.

“This opens up a whole new way of thinking about movement on vertical surfaces,” said Mitra. “Currently, robots and vehicles are limited to horizontal or slightly inclined surfaces. This discovery could change that.”

The research teams also included Dr. Boxin Zhao, a professor of chemical engineering at Waterloo, and post-doctoral fellows Dr. Surjyasish Mitra and Dr. A-Reum Kim.

Technological Futures

Three Waterloo graduates earn prestigious gold medals

Darren Mc Almont — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 04:15:00 +0000

The Governor General Gold Medal awards graduate students for their remarkable academic achievements and transformative research

The University of Waterloo is pleased to recognize three outstanding graduate students as recipients of the prestigious Governor General’s Gold Medal at Spring 2025 Convocation.

This distinguished award honours graduate students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and a remarkable commitment to scholarly excellence. These recipients exemplify the brilliance and impact of our academic community, contributing transformative research and advancing knowledge for the betterment of society.

Each year, the Advisory Committee on Graduate Scholarships and Awards carefully reviews nominations to select the medal recipients. Nominees who are not selected will be recognized as University Finalists and will receive a certificate of distinction.

This year, we are delighted to present the Governor General’s Gold Medal to one master’s and two PhD graduands. Please join us in celebrating their extraordinary accomplishments and the inspiration they bring to our academic community.

Laura Pierson (Master of Mathematics in Combinatorics and Optimization)
Faculty of Mathematics
Supervisors: Drs. Oliver Pechenik and Logan Crew

Laura Pierson’s research applied algebraic tools to the study of discrete mathematical structures. She studied colouring problems (like finding all ways to colour a map so that neighbouring countries get different colours) using deep and modern ideas from pure mathematics like homology and K-theory. Pierson proved several unrelated conjectures that had been posed by established mathematicians. She was also the first to make significant progress on multiple other open problems.

“I chose to study at Waterloo because unlike most schools, it has an entire Faculty of Mathematics, with a whole department uniquely focused on the area of math I'm most interested in,” she says. “I don't think there are many schools where I could have been surrounded by so many people with similar mathematical interests to me.”

Pierson plans to pursue a PhD in mathematics.

Dr. Michelle Anagnostouo (PhD in Geography)
Faculty of Environment
Supervisor: Dr. Brent Doberstein

Dr. Michelle Anagnostou’s research examined global illegal wildlife trade — a significant and growing form of organized crime which intersects with other forms of serious crimes like trafficking in drugs, humans and arms — a phenomenon called “crime convergence.”

Her work also explored the types and global patterns of crime convergence in illegal wildlife trade by uncovering its conceptual and theoretical foundations.

Her dissertation is comprised of data from interviewing 112 law enforcement personnel and other experts in key source, transit and destination regions that include Canada, South Africa and Hong Kong.

“I chose the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment for its reputation as a leader in innovative research and its vibrant, world-class faculty,” she says. “Throughout my PhD, I received outstanding support in career development, skill-building, and had the privilege of working with exceptional mentors who guided me every step of the way.”

Immediately following her doctoral defense in the fall of 2024, Anagnostou took up a prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Oxford, working with global experts in the Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science to advance the use of financial investigations to mitigate illegal wildlife trade.

Dr. Fasih Rahman (PhD in Kinesiology)
Faculty of Health
Supervisor: Dr. Joe Quadrilatero

Dr. Fasih Rahman’s doctoral research investigated the role of mitochondrial remodeling pathways in skeletal muscle, emphasizing mitochondria as critical regulators of both energy production and cellular health. His findings have significant implications for therapeutic approaches aimed at maintaining skeletal muscle health.

During his doctoral studies, Rahman authored and co-authored 32 conference proceedings, and published 32 full-length papers and book chapters, including contributions to leading journals such as Autophagy.

Rahman is continuing his research as an NSERC-funded postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph, aiming to expand his expertise in bioenergetics and metabolism. His current goal is to bridge the gap between mitochondrial stress responses and metabolic regulation.

“One of the things I will miss the most about Waterloo is the opportunity to work closely and collaborate with passionate peers in a research environment that consistently fostered curiosity, creativity and growth,” he says.