Message from the Vice-President, Research & Innovation
With a solid foundation of excellence and a focus on partnerships and collaboration, we are making Ryerson a hub for world-leading research.
It is with pride and enthusiasm that I share our 2017–18 annual report, which highlights some of the many scholarly, research and creative achievements of our Ryerson community. With a solid foundation of excellence and a focus on partnerships and collaboration, we are making Ryerson a hub for world-leading research.
Ryerson is unmatched in our performance in collaborative research. We rank as number one in not-for-profit research income growth in the country, according to Research Infosource Inc. From 2013 to 2017, Ryerson’s not-for-profit research income increased by 726 per cent, a credit to our tremendous strength in building relationships with local, national and global partners.
Ryerson’s location at the heart of Toronto lends momentum to our work in city building and urban innovation. Funding support from municipal agencies makes it possible for us to accelerate initiatives that shape the city’s future direction and sustainability, broadening our impact in communities. Funding from the province through programs such as the Early Researcher Awards helps our next generation of leading scholars investigate issues from voting behaviours in Ontario to how autonomous vehicles fit into our transportation systems.
Support from the Tri-Agencies – the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council – and the Canada Research Chair program enable Ryerson to build from strength to strength across all research themes. With this support, our faculty are exploring new ways to approach complex challenges like developing clean energy storage systems, enhancing disability services in Indigenous communities, and providing affordable mental healthcare and housing in low income countries.
We are also forging synergistic networks and novel collaborations through industry and government partnerships. For instance, Ryerson is leading the way in areas such as sport innovation, cybersecurity, and preparing Canadians for the jobs of tomorrow. Our collaborative research projects are creating quality employment and training, which in turn benefits our economy and improves our quality of life.
I am inspired by the many ways that Ryerson researchers are rising to meet the challenges of the 21stcentury. They envision, create, and translate ideas and aspirations into real-world applications. They bridge the bounds of possibility to reality. It is my pleasure to share with you our 2017–18 annual report, and to highlight the dynamic research and innovation ecosystem at Ryerson University.
Steven N. Liss, PhD
Vice-President, Research and Innovation
Ryerson University