The University of Waterloo has been ranked 25th on Fast Company's inaugural Ignition Schools 2024 list, recognizing the top 50 universities worldwide that are driving innovation and entrepreneurship. Waterloo is also the third-highest ranked Canadian university, following the University of Toronto and McGill University.
Ignition Schools celebrates institutions that play a pivotal role in shaping the future economy by generating groundbreaking research, producing top-tier graduates and fostering entrepreneurship. The ranking evaluated universities based on their number of venture-backed startups founded by students and alumni, total venture capital raised and government research and development spending.
Waterloo encourages entrepreneurs by opening pathways from research to commercialization through startups, corporate partnerships and an intellectual property policy that lets creators own what they invent.
The University's long-standing leadership in co-operative education and its dynamic innovation ecosystem, including incubators like Velocity and Greenhouse, continue to make a significant impact on local, national and global economies. Students and alumni from Waterloo have been instrumental in launching companies across a variety of industries, from tech to health care, solidifying the university's reputation as a hub of entrepreneurship and cutting-edge research.
This ranking reinforces the Waterloo's ongoing commitment to building a brighter, more innovative future through strong industry collaborations, research excellence and a thriving entrepreneurial culture.
See the Ignition Schools 2024 list from Fast Company.
