As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on a pivotal year for the University of Waterloo’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI). This year was defined by securing critical institutional support, advancing impactful research, and fostering the next generation of cybersecurity and privacy leaders. 

Our Strategic Growth & Funding 

1. CPI was proud to be among eight inaugural recipients awarded funding from Waterloo’s Global Futures Fund (GFF). This critical support underscores our alignment with the University’s strategic vision and provides a vital foundation for us to advance research, education and training in the field of cybersecurity and privacy.  

2. CPI researchers were exceptionally successful in the 2025 National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC) competition, securing more than $2.4 million in NCC funding. These grants will fund path-breaking interdisciplinary research collaborations across the university.  

3. We are pleased to announce that Kyndryl, an IBM spin-off and the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, renewed its industry sponsorship of CPI, emphasizing the value of our research and knowledge exchange for the private sector.  

Knowledge Exchange & Education  

4. Our 7th Annual Conference was a resounding success. Thanks to the dedication of our team and community, we brought together diverse groups to share insights and address pressing societal issues.  

5. We hosted the inaugural Graduate Student Conference, a first-of-its-kind event in Canada. The event successfully bridged the gap between graduate scholars and industry partners, providing a platform for the next generation of researchers to showcase their work.  

6. Through a new collaboration with WatSPEED, CPI members can now access an exclusive 20% discount for cyber education programs designed for professionals.  

Institute News & Engagement  

7. We have successfully progressed the search for CPI’s next Executive Director (Interim) and look forward to sharing a formal leadership announcement in early 2026. 

8. The release of the UnMarker tool, featuring breakthrough research from CPI faculty, garnered the University’s second highest earned media hits year to date, highlighting the public’s urgent interest in privacy preserving technologies.  

9. Our digital community has grown. We have now surpassed 3,000 followers on LinkedIn. Your likes, comments, and shares have expanded our digital presence and enabled us to create a dynamic community. 

10. We were delighted to host University of Waterloo co-op student, Fatima Rahman, this fall. Her contributions were instrumental to the success of our annual conference, among other initiatives. 

The steadfast engagement and support of the CPI community enables us to sustain our initiatives and create impact far beyond Waterloo. Cheers to 2026! May it be a peaceful, secure, and prosperous New Year for all! 

Save-the-date for CPI’s 2nd Graduate Student Conference on Monday, March 30, 2026