Now more than ever, universities are recognizing the value of collaborating with industry to grow technology. The University of Victoria is putting a greater emphasis on promoting and supporting university-industry research partnerships and knowledge transfer.
UVic believes that growing technology in partnership with industry can be a much more effective means of transferring technology from the academic environment to the commercial environment. Working collaboratively with industry also enables both UVic and its industry partners to access public funding programs and to share resources. This benefits UVic researchers and students, industry partners and the economy as a whole.
UVic: A unique learning environment
The University of Victoria is a rich and supportive learning community for students and faculty alike. Widely recognized for leadership in research, inspired teaching and community engagement, UVic provides innovative programs and real-life learning experiences in a diverse and welcoming West Coast environment.
In September 2010, UVic climbed to 130th in the world and 6th place in Canada in the Times Higher Education’s annual World University Rankings. UVic was the top-ranked university in Canada without a medical school. There are nine Canadian universities in the top 200.
Research that’s changing lives
Researchers at the University of Victoria work on the cutting edge of knowledge, making major contributions in a wide range of fields from fuel cells and cancer cells to climate change and cultural change.
UVic is known for its research strengths in the arts and sciences and selected professions. Some areas of note are:
- Society and health
- Oceans and climate
- Matter and energy
- Indigenous and cultural studies
- Global change and sustainability
- Genomics and proteomics
- Fine and performing arts
- Computational modeling and information processing
Our researchers
UVic researchers were awarded more than $98 million in outside research grants and contracts in 2009/10, more than triple the amount ten years ago.
UVic owns the world-leading Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) Observatory, comprising the VENUS coastal network and the NEPTUNE Canada ocean network. The observatory pioneers a new generation of ocean observation systems that use innovative engineering and the Internet to provide continuous, long-term monitoring of ocean processes and events, as they happen.
In February 2008, the BC government awarded $94.5 million to the University of Victoria to create, lead and host the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). A $90-million endowment – the largest single contribution to a university endowment in Canadian history – signaling the BC government’s long-term commitment to taking action on climate change.
According to the international newsletter Science Watch, UVic is the 5th most influential university in the world in the field of energy and fuels, as measured by the citation impact of the top 100 scientific articles per institution published between 1998 and 2008. In North America, only Princeton, Cornell and the US National Energy Lab ranked higher.
UVic owns more technology transfer space than any other BC university. UVic-owned Vancouver Island Technology Park (VITP) is an economic powerhouse for the province of BC. The park generates $317 million in direct, indirect and induced revenue, and creates more than 2,000 local jobs. A highly acclaimed centre of academic and biotech excellence, VITP facilitates the local growth of high technology, which is already Victoria’s number one industry, estimated yearly at $1.67 billion, surpassing Victoria’s $1.19 billion tourism industry.
To advance your next research project, contact Brent Sternig at UVic Industry Partnerships.