The University of Guelph has once again confirmed its place as one of the top research universities in Canada in an annual survey. 

For the ninth straight year, U of G has claimed second spot among Canadian comprehensive universities in the 2023 Research Infosource Inc. ranking of Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities,  

The University ranked 18th overall based on such measures as total sponsored research income and research impact. 

“Our University’s research excellence has made us a destination of choice for researchers and students from around the world. It is wonderful to see our ground-breaking research and dedication to solution-oriented discovery recognized through this ranking,” said U of G president and vice-chancellor Dr. Charlotte Yates. 

U of G has long been one of the country’s most research-intensive institutions among comprehensive universities – those with a full range of graduate programs and professional schools without a medical school. 

Dedication to research partnerships 

This year, U of G placed first in both graduate student research intensity and faculty research intensity in the comprehensive university category – averaging $52,100 per graduate student, and $194,200 per faculty member. 

A total sponsored research income of $163.5 million helped the University place second among comprehensive schools for all funds supporting research, including grants, contributions and contracts. 

U of G also earned second spot in the amount of research income it attracts from the private sector, attracting more than $113.5 million from industry partners. Not-for-profit research income also grew by an impressive 460 per cent between 2018 and 2022. 

The full results appear in the December issue of Canada’s Innovation Leaders (CIL) 2023. 

“The University’s consistently high standing in these rankings is a testament to our dedication to creating a diverse institution where innovation and discovery thrive,” said Dr. Rene Van Acker, interim vice-president (research).   

“Across our institution, we are committed to working across disciplinary boundaries in our research to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.” 

Training the next generation of research leaders 

U of G’s dedication to research intensity is forged through long-lasting partnerships with government and industry that result in global impact for U of G’s researchers as well as engaged, broad-based learning for students. 

Among U of G’s most longstanding research partnerships is the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, which brings together the Government of Ontario, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario and U of G to discover and develop agri-food solutions with global impact. 

“By leveraging U of G’s global leadership in agricultural, food and veterinary sciences, these partnerships deliver world-class research and top training to help the next generation of research leaders be future ready,” said Dr. Shayan Sharif, interim associate vice-president research (agri-food partnership). 

These future leaders benefit from the University’s dedication to working across disciplinary boundaries. Students in the Bachelor of One Health program, for example, learn to integrate both the scientific and the socio-cultural aspects of health at the interface of animals, humans and the environment. 

They have access to unique research opportunities as well as the expertise of several global thought leaders working to address our planet’s most complex challenges, from antimicrobial resistance to food insecurity to climate change. 

“One of our strategic priorities is to deepen our global impact,” said Yates. “Through the innovative work of our faculty, research staff and students, the impact of our research is felt not only in Guelph and southern Ontario, but also across Canada and around the world.” 

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