The University of Windsor has been punching above its weight when it comes to research partnerships with private industry and universities abroad, according to a report released recently by a national research and development organization.

Mitacs, a national non-profit organization that brings together Canadian academia, private industry, non-profit organizations, and government to provide research and training opportunities, reports Windsor came eighth out of 72 universities in Mitacs research internships for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Overall, UWindsor secured nearly $7.1 million in research partnerships through Mitacs in the past year.

K.W. Michael Siu, UWindsor’s vice-president, research and innovation, said he is “absolutely delighted” with the success UWindsor has enjoyed with Mitacs.

“Funding awarded through the Mitacs suite of programs enables students and faculty from across our campus to engage in ground-breaking research and innovation,” said Dr. Siu.

“Mitacs funding has been truly invaluable in facilitating training of the next generation of researchers, scientists, community leaders, and policy makers in health, engineering, and the social and natural sciences.”

Among the 38 Mitacs projects UWindsor has contributed to in the past year are research related to construction, artificial intelligence, reciprocal learning, electric vehicles and other automotive research, pesticide alternatives, cannabis edibles, and water quality.

UWindsor graduate students and post-doctoral fellows secured 452 internships and three fellowships through Mitacs. Mitacs also brought 27 students from six countries to do research with UWindsor professors.

Mitacs, which is funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario,  powers Canadian innovation by building partnerships to generate economic and social benefits, said John Hepburn, the organization’s chief executive officer and scientific director.

“For 20 years, Mitacs has funded cutting-edge research, created job opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and helped companies reach their business goals,” Dr. Hepburn said. “These results from the University of Windsor have bolstered the economy in Windsor, across Ontario, and around the country.”

—Sarah Sacheli