Ontario Tech University Named Canada’s Top Small Research University for Second Year
Ontario Tech University has been named Canada’s Research University of the Year in the small university category for the second consecutive year by Research Infosource, according to the organization’s 2024 report released December 5. The ranking reflects data from the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
The recognition highlights Ontario Tech University’s standing among Canadian universities with a focus on research performance, as determined by Research Infosource. The ranking is of interest to local residents because it draws on independent, national data, and includes universities of similar size and research activity.
According to Research Infosource, its annual ranking measures universities on factors including research impact, reputation among partners, and growth in industry-sponsored research income. Ontario Tech University, located in Oshawa, was placed first among small universities for international government research income in fiscal year 2023. The university was also ranked second for international government research income as a percentage of total research income and third for corporate research income for the same period.
In the area of artificial intelligence research from 2018 to 2022, the Research Infosource report placed Ontario Tech second among its peer group for both the number of AI publications and for AI publications as a percentage of total university publications (7.9 percent). The university was also second among peers for the growth in AI publications, reporting a 150 percent increase during this period.
Ontario Tech University states that it has been ranked in the top three among smaller Canadian research universities by Research Infosource each year since 2021. The university also reports that its total annual research income now exceeds $28 million, with notable growth in not-for-profit research income, international government research income, and international collaboration.
Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President of Research and Innovation at Ontario Tech University, said the 2024 ranking "confirms Ontario Tech’s rapid ascendency as an influential research enterprise that is results-driven, and committed to excellence."