University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park

In the spring of 2002, phase one construction began on the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park.

The Park is a partnership between the University of Waterloo, the City of Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo, Communitech and Canada's Technology Triangle, with the support of the federal and provincial governments.

Once complete, the Park will be a 120-acre campus of advanced technology to leverage the talents and resources of the University of Waterloo into new opportunities for business and economic growth for the community.  It will include 1.2M square feet of floor space in several buildings.  These buildings will house technology-intensive companies undertaking applied research and product development in co-operation with the university including current tenants Sybase Incorporated and Open Text Corporation.

The Park will include state-of-the-art telecommunications, a transit hub, pedestrian trails and attractive landscaping, including a 270-acre environmental reserve encompassing local water systems.

A 20,000 square foot Accelerator Centre has now been built and will assist early-stage companies in their growth and development stage.  The Accelerator Centre reflects the University of Waterloo's tradition of supporting start-up companies and spinning off technology from the research projects on campus to create intelligent technology companies in the community.

Innovate Inc

The University of Waterloo has officially launched a new company to support the innovative spirit of its students, faculty, staff and alumni, and to help bring their ideas to the marketplace. UW Innovate Inc., described as "a novel approach to business pre-incubation within a university setting," seeks to encourage and nurture the entrepreneurial activities within the UW community.

Together with its affiliates, Enterprise Co-op and the Entrepreneurs' Association of the University of Waterloo, UW Innovate Inc. assists entrepreneurs within the university community in the development of their venture concept, business case development, building their business venture team and possible introduction to incubators, investors and funding sources.

Photonics, Wilfrid Laurier University

Laurier's photonics program is the only BSc degree program of its kind in English-speaking Canada. The program is designed to develop a strong understanding of both the theory and application of photonics, with specific emphasis on data communications and networks. The program includes a hands-on exposure to optics, fibre optics and laser physics.

The Leitch-UW  Multimedia Laboratory, University of Waterloo

Leitch Technology Corporation and the University of Waterloo have partnered to create a world-class multimedia communications laboratory, which will provide computing and testing facilities to support research in multimedia communications. Multimedia communications, which involves the seamless integration of telephone, television and computer, is predicted to dramatically change everyday life and the world economy. The Leitch-University of Waterloo Multimedia Communications Laboratory is the largest and most advanced multimedia communications research lab in Canada and, combined with expertise and research excellence, is the leading facility of its kind in the world. The lab is a magnet for the most talented researchers from around the world.

The lab opened in the new Centre for Environmental and Information Technology (CEIT) building in September 2003 on the UW campus.

Centre for New Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and Text Research

In January 1985, the University of Waterloo established the Centre for the New OED to fulfill its obligations under an agreement with the Oxford University Press to computerize the OED. The fundamental goal of the Centre remains to support innovative research through the development of application-driven text management software.
In 1989, the Oxford University Press published the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, second edition. As a joint venture with the Press, the University of Waterloo designed an on-line dictionary database that is suitable for editors charged with maintaining the OED, lexicographers working on other dictionaries, and researchers who wish to consult the OED interactively.

While the research continues at the University, the tangible results are further developed and commercialized by Open Text Corporation, a spin-off company located in Waterloo.

ORION (Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network)

All three of Waterloo's post-secondary institutions participate in ORION (Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network), a high-speed optical network that brings broadband and connectivity to the provinces' research and advanced education institutions, and which connects Ontario's 43 post-secondary institutions and more than fifty publicly-funded research organizations to one another, and to the world.  ORION was created in 2003 to bring leading-edge network capability to the publicly-funded research and education community, and to stimulate create and next generation Internet applications.  With more than 8,200 km of optical fibre through 23 points of presence in major centres across Ontario, including Waterloo, ORION is one of the largest and most powerful optical research networks in the world.

Communitech

Established in 1997 to support the technology clusters that began in the 1980's, Communitech serves intelligent technology companies and research institutes in diverse fields, and now includes more than 450 technology companies from Waterloo and other parts of the region.  Communitech's primary mission is to build capacity by being an active and effective driver on issues that are central to the region's technology sector, and to advocate for Waterloo and the region as a world class centre of technical expertise.

Communitech attracts top talent and capital to the Waterloo area.  Waterlootechjobs.com, Communitech's technology jobs portal, is a key site for attracting technology workers to the Region.  Communitech also partners with technology companies, government and the community on talent recruitments, workforce development programs and continuing education for technology workers.  Communitech is a hub for the technology community, an organization through which people can meet, network, and get advice through peer-to-peer networking, venture support services and a range of special events.

The organization also takes a role in broader community issues, such as transportation concerns and the availability of medical services to the community.

Waterlootechjobs.com

Focused on the technology industry in Waterloo Region, this website encourages member companies, partners and sponsors to post locally-available technology-related jobs and seeks to make the region attractive to those outside the community, providing information and emphasis on the people, companies and lifestyle attributes of the region. Waterlootechjobs.com is a member-supported site managed by Communitech Technology Association, created in partnership with the City of Waterloo, Canada's Technology Triangle and a private benefactor.

Canada's Technology Triangle

Canada's Technology Triangle (CTT) is a not-for-profit, private-public sector economic development organization which markets Waterloo and the other cities in the region to the world.

CTT supports the prosperity of the local business clusters, and facilitates partnerships to strengthen local economic development activities.  The CTT website was developed as a community learning space by the local Computer Systems Group, based on a service-oriented architecture and using Web Informatics Development Environment (WIDE) software toolkit.

Both Communitech and CTT contribute to an enhanced quality of life by encouraging and attracting investment, growth, and interest in Waterloo.

Waterloo Technology StartUp Network

In 2004, the Waterloo Technology StartUp Network was formed.  This is a local website through which budding entrepreneurs can connect with more experienced peers and financial backers.