SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

Wilfrid Laurier University not only prepares our students for careers in a rapidly changing world, but also plays a role in driving innovation in our local communities and beyond. Through our partnership programs and research, Laurier is making meaningful contributions to achieving SDG 9.

Highlights of Progress

The work that Laurier completed in 2024 to advance SDG 9.

Laurier’s UX Design for Change challeng highlights student ideas to leverage AI in education

How can we harness generative AI to make education more accessible?   That’s the question university and college students from across Canada set out to answer as part of this year’s Design for Change challenge, presented by Wilfrid Laurier University’s User Experience (UX) Design program.   

Laurier researchers develop AI chatbot to help principals support students with complex needs

During their first years of school leadership, new principals often report high stress and feeling under-prepared to support students with complex education needs. There are few existing professional resources to help them learn how to effectively engage underserved and marginalized students. Together with educators, regional innovation laboratories and principals’ associations, a team of researchers from Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Education is using generative AI to develop a chatbot that supports principals in their decision-making.

Laurier empowers high school students from across Canada during Shad Laurier STEAM and entrepreneurship program

 

More than 60 Grade 10 and 11 students from across Canada are leaving Wilfrid Laurier University with new experiences in leadership, innovation and community engagement.

The students participated in the Shad Laurier program, a month-long experiential learning initiative designed to build high-potential high school students’ skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM), and entrepreneurship.

Master’s students gain in-demand skills as part of Laurier’s Environmental Data Analytics field

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Master of Environmental Studies in Geography – Environmental Data Analytics field offers graduate students in-demand skills in environmental analytics and was created to fill a need in the marketplace.   The Environmental Data Analytics field combines training in data science, geospatial computing and environmental data, preparing students for data-intensive careers in the private, public and non-profit sectors.

Research Centres

Laurier research centres advancing SDG 9.

Centre for Supply Chain Management

The Centre for Supply Chain Management (CSCM) facilitates research in supply chain management. Affiliated with the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, the CSCM maintains regular communication between researchers, practitioners and strategic decision-makers in supply chain management. By establishing open communication through seminars, conferences and roundtables, relevant topics are analyzed and research findings are disseminated to stakeholders in a timely fashion.

Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability

The Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability facilitates and coordinates research related to business and environmental sustainability. The centre ensures regular communication between researchers and practitioners, including strategic decision-makers in the local sustainability community. Located in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Laurier, the centre hosts seminars, conferences and roundtables to discuss relevant topics aligned with practitioner needs and assists in disseminating research findings in a timely fashion to those who can use them.

Lazaridis Institute for the Management of Technology Enterprises

The Lazaridis Institute for the Management of Technology Enterprises was created to support growth-oriented Canadian technology companies. The Lazaridis Institute empowers current and emerging technology firms to scale rapidly into globally competitive enterprises through:

  • A unique program for C-level executives that identifies the very best Canadian tech firms who are ready to scale and brings them together through personalized mentorship with experts who have ‘been there and done that’ when it comes to growing a company.
  • Insightful research that looks to develop new knowledge about innovation, management and disruption as it relates to tech companies.
  • Programs creating a direct link between cutting-edge, international research; the best, proven practices in global scaling; and curriculum to empower future Lazaridis School graduates with the knowledge they need to make a difference in emerging companies.

Initiatives

Laurier initiatives in 2023 that advanced SDG 9.

Commercialization Framework

As outlined in its Commercialization Framework, Laurier is committed to maximizing the benefits of research undertaken at Laurier for the benefit of the citizens of Ontario and its economy. We seek to create an ecosystem that drives innovation to strengthen human health and well-being, the economy, communities and the planet. We are committed to the management and protection of intellectual property generated by our researchers to maximize commercial opportunities and benefits to society. Our commitment is reinforced in our Research Strategy where knowledge dissemination, research excellence, partnerships and future-readiness are woven throughout. 

Inspired Industry Partnerships report

Industry partnerships are a critical ingredient of Laurier's academic excellence. Through philanthropy, mentorship, research and co-operative education, Laurier fosters mutually beneficial opportunities for growth and success.

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companies supported by the Lazaridis Scaleup program since 2016
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to fund a new technology governance initiative at the Balsillie School of International Affairs
times Laurier's Enactus team has represented Canada at the Enactus World Cup

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