Arctic

Established in the 1980s as the Arctic Working Group, ARCTIC expands the visibility and coordination of northern research across the university. ARCTIC promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and serves as a central resource for researchers undertaking work in the North, providing guidance on permitting, community engagement, logistics and field operations unique to Arctic environments.

CDL Defence is an objectives-based accelerator stream for founders developing dual-use technologies that improve mission capability, resilience and national security. It helps ventures align with real buyer needs, navigate government pathways, and build evidence for testing and procurement with allied partners.

Kepler Communications is building a network of satellites that exchange data directly in orbit by laser, which it describes as “the internet for space.” It was founded in 2015 by U of T graduate students through the University of Toronto Aerospace Team, with early support from the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, Start@UTIAS and the Creative Destruction Lab.

MOACC is a U of T co-led long-term research platform at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay, continuously monitoring Arctic climate change, extreme events and surface conditions. Its integrated observations support climate modelling and ecological applications across snow, atmospheric and permafrost systems.

The Munk School is a leading centre for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and global engagement on major public policy challenges. Through partnerships with governments, civil society and the private sector, the Munk School advances evidence-based policy research on global security, geopolitical risk and democratic governance.

PEARL is a High Arctic research facility that provides U of T-led ground-based observations of the atmosphere from the surface to the lower thermosphere. Established in 2005 and operated by the Canadian Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Change (CANDAC), PEARL is a nationally significant dual-use platform that supports Arctic domain awareness, satellite validation and environmental monitoring in Canada’s North.

Repellion Technologies develops thin, low-power sensors that detect ice the moment it forms and signal when it has cleared, so de-icing runs only as long as needed. Built on research from U of T Engineering professor Kevin Golovin’s lab, they could keep military and civilian aircraft and drones flying safely across the North and protect equipment in remote communities.

StarSpec builds hardware and software for satellites, including star trackers, power systems and flight computers, by making off-the-shelf components fit for space, which lowers the cost of Earth observation, infrastructure and national security missions. Founded by a U of T aerospace PhD alumnus and supported early by UTEST, it also tracks environmental change in northern regions from orbit.

UTE connects the accelerators across U of T’s three campuses that help students, faculty and alumni turn research into companies, among them dual-use ventures that serve civilian and defence customers alike. Its “no wrong door” approach gives founders a way in at any stage or in any industry, with mentorship, funding and domain expertise.