Ecosystem

AC is a flagship initiative that leverages artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation to accelerate the discovery and deployment of advanced materials and molecules. Through AI-guided self-driving laboratories, AC researchers integrate machine learning, robotics, chemistry and engineering to identify materials critical for life-saving medicines, biodegradable plastics and renewable energy technologies.

The AI Competitiveness Project is a Munk School initiative that brings together researchers, policy-makers and industry leaders to examine how Canada can strengthen its position in the AI landscape while preserving its sovereignty. Its report “Sovereign by Design” sets out policy options across procurement, security classification, regulation and public investment.

A3MD is a partnership between U of T and McMaster University, the National Research Council and industrial partners. It applies artificial intelligence to the design of high-performance materials for clean energy and electronics. A3MD combines high-performance computing, machine learning and high-throughput experimentation to screen, fabricate and evaluate candidates.

AMD–U of T Research Lab is a research and development partnership with AMD in artificial intelligence and computing, supported by donated AI servers. Its work covers energy-efficient AI systems, enterprise-scale data intelligence and decentralized approaches, run through the Department of Computer Science.

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.

ASRL advances visual navigation, localization and mapping for mobile robots in both space and terrestrial environments, through methods like Visual Teach & Repeat and SLAM. ASRL’s work produces datasets, software and algorithms that support long-term autonomous robot navigation without GPS, applicable to planetary rovers, field robotics and other mobile systems.

BioLabs University of Toronto is a wet-lab incubator and co-working space at MaRS for early-stage life-science companies, run by BioLabs in partnership with U of T. It is one of the hubs supporting U of T’s health and life sciences companies.

BioHubNet is a national talent development platform building an industry-ready workforce for Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sectors through industry-led training, experiential learning, mentorship, and commercialization support for graduate students, postdocs, and other trainees.

The Biomechanics & Sport Medicine Lab develops movement assessment and (re)training strategies for performance enhancement and injury prevention. Its research spans strength training, jump biomechanics, and workplace injuries affecting first responders.

ByteShape makes advanced AI run on hardware an organization already owns: its ShapeLearn technology compresses AI models to use far less memory and run faster. That could let defence and security agencies use AI on secure, on-site systems or on drones where power is limited. The UTEST-backed U of T spinout is led by professor Andreas Moshovos.

HI³ is a U of T-led coalition of more than 90 academic, hospital, research network, industry, government, not-for-profit and community partners. HI³ strengthens Canada’s preparedness for infectious disease threats by advancing biomanufacturing and countermeasure development capacity, enabling faster and more coordinated responses to emerging biological risks.

CACT uses experimental, analytical and computational research in thermal spray coatings and plasma processing, covering deposition through to testing and characterization. The work of CACT researchers addresses surface tension, droplet impact and liquid atomization, and is carried out with industrial partners in aerospace, automotive and power generation.

CAN is Canada's first nanotechnology research centre, working across nanoscale materials, devices and characterization. CAN research spans the design and fabrication of nanostructures and their application in electronics and photonics.

CARRE expands and unifies research and teaching in aerial robotics. CARRE supports the development of new technologies, the advanced training of highly qualified personnel, and the dissemination of research outcomes to strengthen Canada’s innovation capacity in aerial robotics.

CARTE is a hub for analytics and artificial intelligence across the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, organized around research, education and partnerships. It runs industry-focused AI training and research collaborations with affiliates drawn from eight engineering departments, working in manufacturing, finance, energy, health care and the public sector.

CAPE conducts power electronics research directed at modernizing the electric grid: integrating renewable generation and energy storage, microgrids, high-voltage direct-current transmission, and wide-area control and protection. Its laboratory models grid behaviour in detail, supporting collaborative development with industry.

CBBP pursues research and scale-up in biocomposites and biomaterials, from bioplastics and cellulose-based nanocomposites through to industrial biomaterials manufacturing and biomass technology. CBBP's processing equipment supports prototyping and performance testing for lightweight, sustainable products in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

CHE brings together engineers, clinicians, and health system partners to address challenges in healthcare delivery. Through data-driven research and collaboration, CHE develops engineering and analytical solutions that improve patient outcomes, system efficiency, and healthcare resilience.

CMC is a centre for fundamental research on the neural and cognitive mechanisms of motor control, learning and development. It serves as a hub for motor behaviour researchers across U of T and Ontario, using neuroscientific, behavioural and biomechanical methods.

CPI focuses on the future of the electric grid infrastructure, including renewable integration, cyber-physical security, and demand response. Its research involves power electronic converters that connect wind and solar energy, energy storage, and direct-current transmission. CPI works with industry partners to apply this research in real-world scenarios.

CQIQC is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the theory and experimental realization of quantum technologies. CQIQC’s researchers advance quantum computing, communication, sensing and the control of complex quantum systems. CQIQC promotes collaboration across physics, engineering, computer science and mathematics, and supports postdoctoral fellowships, scholarships and graduate education in quantum science.

CRAFT is a collaborative platform led by U of T, the National Research Council of Canada and Unity Health Toronto. CRAFT advances microfluidics—the precise manipulation of fluids at micron scales—for applications spanning diagnostics, organ-on-a-chip models, biofabrication and biodefence, supported by world-class facilities for device design, fabrication and characterization.

CROBE develops flying laboratories: drones equipped with high-resolution sensors to study vegetation health and plant productivity, measure trace gases, and monitor environmental change. It brings together aerospace studies, robotics, plant biology, remote sensing, and atmospheric science, along with computing to process the data collected by drones.

CSRCR researchers explore the pathophysiology, diagnosis, rehabilitation and prevention of concussion in sport and physical activity, covering cognitive, emotional, physical and sensory recovery. CSRCR runs alongside dedicated clinical services at the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic.

CERT Systems produces ethylene, a key ingredient in plastics and fuels, from captured carbon dioxide, water and clean electricity. With federal support, it is turning captured carbon into sustainable aviation fuel for civilian airlines and military aircraft alike. The U of T spinout, supported by UTEST, builds on research from the labs of David Sinton and Ted Sargent.

The Citizen Lab is internationally recognized for research into spyware, disinformation campaigns and digital threats to civil society. Its interdisciplinary team draws on expertise in law, computer science and the social sciences to analyze and expose surveillance and influence operations, and to report its findings publicly.

CEL deploys theory-guided discovery and synthesis of nanomaterials for energy, combining atomistic simulation, machine learning and high-throughput synthesis. CEL's work spans lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen storage, carbon dioxide capture and photovoltaics, identifying candidate materials computationally and then fabricating and testing them.

CleverHans conducts research on the security and privacy of machine learning, spanning adversarial examples, robust and secure models, and privacy-preserving learning. The lab maintains the CleverHans library for constructing attacks, building defences and benchmarking both.

Cohesys is developing BoneTape, a single-piece, fully resorbable tape that holds fractures together without metal plates or screws. A U of T spinout supported by UTEST, it was one of two U of T ventures chosen in December 2025 for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), which backs technologies that could strengthen the alliance’s defence and security.

CDL AI is an objectives-based accelerator stream for founders building on core AI and machine learning innovations, including natural language processing, computer vision and generative AI. It brings early-stage ventures together with researchers and experts to advance AI research and systems while refining and scaling their innovations.

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.

CDL Neuro is an objectives-based accelerator stream for founders commercializing neuroscience, from brain-computer interfaces and neuromodulation to neuroprosthetic devices and therapies for neurodegenerative disorders. Over nine months, mentors advise its companies on regulatory approval, neurodata, clinical trial planning and business models for neurotechnology devices and therapeutics.

CDL Quantum is an objectives-based accelerator stream for founders commercializing quantum technologies from academic research, from quantum computing hardware and software to quantum sensing and secure communications. It helps ventures bridge foundational research and market deployment, strengthening Canada’s position in the global quantum innovation landscape.

CDL Space is an objectives-based accelerator stream for founders of early-stage space and space-related technology startups, in areas such as satellite communications, Earth observation, robotics and AI. It pairs them with mentors—entrepreneurs, investors and astronauts—to sharpen business strategy, raise capital and scale their technologies.

DSI is a university-wide hub for data science research, training, and partnerships. DSI researchers develop methodologies for collecting, cleaning, linking, governing, and interpreting datasets across health, public policy, energy, the environment, and Indigenous governance. DSI strengthens Canada’s AI ecosystem by advancing data infrastructure and delivering public-facing reskilling programs.

DAIR is a collaborative innovation platform that connects industry, academia, and government across Canada’s aerospace ecosystem. As a funding partner, U of T contributes research expertise and participates in shared R&D initiatives focused on aeroacoustics, advanced materials, propulsion and next-generation aerospace systems. DAIR provides access to secure research space and state-of-the-art facilities, supporting advanced aerospace development and commercialization.

EHub conducts research across the electrification chain: battery materials discovery, manufacturing and recycling; battery packs, powertrains and thermal management; and the integration of electric vehicles, fleets and stationary storage. EHub's work spans machine-learning-driven materials discovery through to deployment in commercial buses, trucks and vans.

EPIC facilitates academic and industry research on infectious pathogens, including HIV, tuberculosis and emerging global health threats, and accelerates the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines and clinical interventions. EPIC administers the Toronto High Containment Facility (THCF), the Greater Toronto Area’s sole Combined Containment Level 3 (C-CL3) laboratory.

The Entrepreneurship Hatchery is a venture studio in U of T Engineering whose programs help students, faculty and alumni build startups, with funding that lets student founders work on their companies full-time. Its aerospace stream runs with Start@UTIAS, and it gave early support to Kepler Communications, now building secure satellite links between orbit and the ground.

FCCRL is a long-term U of T collaboration with Fujitsu on combinatorial optimization using quantum-inspired computing. FCCRL's work develops algorithms and architectures for the Fujitsu Digital Annealer and applies them to problems in health care, finance and intelligent transportation.

GMC, led by U of T’s Lawson Climate Institute, is a testing and simulation facility at Downsview that speeds the integration of clean technologies into a decarbonized, decentralized and digitalized grid. With partners from federal agencies and utilities to regulators, equipment manufacturers, start-ups and industry associations, it tests technologies such as EV charging, energy storage, micro-grids and grid cybersecurity.

H2i is U of T’s health-focused accelerator in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. It educates, enables and partners with early-stage health entrepreneurs, and backs VRiT, whose handheld bioprinter could help treat burn and blast injuries in the field and after disasters.

The Human Physiology Lab studies how the body adapts to exercise and physical training, and how far those limits can be pushed through training, recovery, and nutritional and physiological interventions. Its work ranges from the effects of exercise on prescription drugs to physical activity and nutrition in children with chronic disease.

UTIAS is a globally recognized centre for research and graduate education in aerospace engineering, robotics, and space systems. UTIAS advances foundational and applied research in aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, autonomy and spaceflight, supported by strong international partnerships and deep industry engagement. Through initiatives such as Start@UTIAS, UTIAS also accelerates the translation of aerospace and robotics innovations into applications.

IHEP advances science and policy on health emergencies, pandemics and large-scale crises—including infectious disease threats, chemical and biological hazards, natural disasters and mass casualty events. IHEP fosters collaboration across medicine, public health, engineering, the social sciences and policy to strengthen preparedness, response and recovery.

iMBL combines human movement analysis with joint, tissue, and molecular mechanical testing to identify the causes of overuse injury, particularly in soft tissue. iMBL research covers spine and knee soft-tissue mechanics and the multi-scale mechanisms by which tissue is injured by or adapts to mechanical and physiological load.

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.

The Lassonde Institute is an interdisciplinary centre for mining research, spanning mineral, mining and process engineering, geophysics, geology, geochemistry and environmental science. Its work covers the full range of mining activity, from rock mechanics and deep-ground behaviour to processing and environmental performance, and includes training for graduate students and working professionals.

MaaTRx warns health systems of drug shortages before they hit. Its AI-driven platform ranks medications by how exposed their supply chains are and how critical they are to patients, and points to safe substitutes or spare stock. Built on research by Mina Tadrous of U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, it serves officials who manage Canada’s drug supply.

MPARC studies how physical activity can protect and improve mental health, developing and testing programs for people at risk of inactivity or mental illness. Its four labs share exercise, psychological assessment and data collection facilities funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

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.

NanoMorphix commercializes patented self-healing armour for military and security uses: transparent armour for vehicle and aircraft windows that must stop bullets and withstand blasts, and flexible armour that adds ballistic protection to textiles. Both are tested to NATO ballistic standards and made to fit existing manufacturing. The UTEST company was co-founded by U of T Engineering researcher Nello Sansone.

OCCAM is a materials analysis facility built around electron microscopy and surface characterization, with electron and ion beam instruments, X-ray and secondary ion spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Full-time scientific staff support academic and industrial users across chemical engineering and materials science.

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.

PATRON-ROTIP is an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research program based at U of T. It uses computational methods to analyze Canadian governance, from representation and lobbying to political finance, procurement and electoral integrity, and partners with civic non-profits to train students through projects such as MaRiPoSa, which samples electoral district boundaries.

The Public History Lab at the Munk School shows how historical context can inform contemporary political discourse on freedom and democracy. Understanding how political movements operated in the past, it argues, sheds light on politics shaped by today’s technologies. The lab shares this research-based scholarship widely, working with community members, writers, thinkers and policy-makers.

QAT convenes researchers, industry partners, and technology users to advance quantum science towards applications, organized into five interdisciplinary thematic groups: computing hardware, algorithms, communications networks, imaging and sensing, and quantum materials. QAT's researchers span physics, chemistry, engineering, and the life sciences, medicine, finance and policy.

Quantum Bridge develops quantum-safe key distribution that runs on existing networks, protecting classified data now and once quantum computers can break today’s encryption. Tested with Defence Research and Development Canada, it can sell directly to the federal government. It was co-founded in 2019 by Hoi-Kwong Lo, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at U of T.

QSC builds Canadian leadership in quantum software by developing methodologies for distributed quantum computing. QSC researchers design algorithms, architectures and software frameworks that network multiple quantum processors together, pooling computational capacity to overcome current hardware limitations.

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.

RI is a globally recognized hub for interdisciplinary research in robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems. Bringing together researchers from engineering, computer science, health and design, RI advances foundational and applied work in perception, manipulation, human-robot interaction and learning-enabled autonomy. Its facilities include a dedicated indoor drone testing arena.

SRI coordinates interdisciplinary research on the societal impacts of advanced technologies, including safe and aligned AI development, fairness in machine learning and trusted data sharing. SRI develops governance approaches for emerging technologies by integrating technical research with social, legal and regulatory analysis.

SciNet is the university’s supercomputing centre, providing Canadian researchers with computational resources (e.g., the Trillium supercomputer and other advanced clusters), high-performance storage and expertise to run large-scale simulations, data analysis, and research computing across fields ranging from climate science to biomedical engineering to astrophysics.

SPRG is a cross-faculty group focused on applied cryptography, hardware and systems security, privacy, and machine learning security. SPRG's research spans privacy-preserving systems and secure computation, online harms and mobile permissions, and cyber deception for active defence of critical infrastructure.

SpinUp is U of T’s first wet-lab incubator at U of T Mississauga. It gives early-stage life-science startups biosafety level 2 lab space below market rates for up to two years, with shared equipment, programming and mentors, and is one of the hubs supporting U of T’s health and life sciences companies.

Start@UTIAS helps graduate students at the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies turn their research and technologies into startups, with mentorship, legal and accounting help, networking and capital. Part of the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, it gave early support to Kepler Communications, now building secure satellite links between orbit and the ground.

TISS brings together sport science and sports medicine research with clinical expertise at the Dovigi Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Clinic and the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. Its research advances high performance for professional and non-professional athletes and para-athletes, and helps people in the wider community, with and without disabilities, get the most from recreational sport.

T-CAIREM brings clinicians, researchers, data scientists, engineers and industry partners together to translate AI research into better health care. Its research program advances multidisciplinary work that moves AI discoveries into clinical practice, and its Health Data Nexus gives researchers a secure platform to access, share and analyze health datasets while protecting patient privacy.

TightBeam Photonics builds smaller, more portable and less expensive optical ground stations, using photonic chips to bring satellite data down to Earth by laser in place of radio. Supported by UTEST and U of T’s Innovations & Partnerships Office, it was selected for the 2026 cohort of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).

TAHSN brings together U of T and 14 academic hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area, integrating clinical care, research and innovation at scale. The network translates discovery into practice in areas such as trauma care, critical care medicine, infectious disease response and complex surgical interventions.

THCF is the Greater Toronto Area’s sole Combined Containment Level 3 (C-CL3) laboratory for research involving infectious pathogens that require enhanced biosafety controls. THCF supports work in infectious disease, immunology, diagnostics and medical countermeasure development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it supported SARS-CoV-2 research and the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and evidence for public health decision-making.

TIAM brings together researchers in advanced materials manufacturing, processing methods, and knowledge-based manufacturing. It works with industry on additive manufacturing, smart and functional materials, and the processes that move a design into production, including translating lab-based technologies into commercial, scaled-up processes.

TISL designs algorithms for robotic intelligence, working towards embodied AI and robot learning models inspired by how people learn. Current TISL work covers foundation models for scene representation, simulation environments, robust policy learning, and neural three-dimensional reconstruction.

TNFC is an open-access cleanroom for micro- and nanofabrication, offering electron-beam and photolithography, deposition, etching, dicing, packaging, imaging and characterization. Academic and industrial researchers use TNFC for prototype development, including semiconductor and nanomaterials work.

TRAIL advances autonomy, perception, and decision-making for robotic systems operating in complex environments. TRAIL researchers develop algorithms and integrated systems for mapping, localization, motion planning and multi-sensor fusion, with dual-use applications in aerial robotics, autonomous vehicles, infrastructure inspection and safety-critical operations.

UTEST is an accelerator for research-based startups founded by U of T faculty, students and staff, with investment capital, mentoring, incubation space and entrepreneurial training. Its portfolio includes TightBeam Photonics and Cohesys, chosen in 2025 for NATO’s DIANA, and NanoMorphix, ByteShape and CERT Systems. It runs in partnership with Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP).

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.

Vector is an independent, non-profit AI research organization based in Toronto, advancing machine learning and trustworthy AI and their applications in health, climate and other domains. Its research community also shapes AI governance, ethical frameworks and the Canadian AI ecosystem. U of T is a founding partner.

Vox Pop Labs builds data-driven tools for civic engagement and public consultation, among them Vote Compass, which shows voters how their views align with the candidates’ and has helped millions of people take part in elections in Canada and abroad. It was founded by Clifton van der Linden while a PhD candidate in U of T’s Department of Political Science.

VRiT is developing a handheld bioprinter that lets surgeons apply stem-cell-based therapy directly to wounds, making skin grafts unnecessary. It could help treat military personnel with blast and burn injuries in the field, and civilians hurt in fires and disasters. It builds on professor Axel Guenther’s U of T Engineering lab and is backed by UTEST, CDL and H2i.