Twenty-one researchers at the Cheriton School of Computer Science have secured a combined $1,331,500 in funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

This year, NSERC is investing $630 million to foster discovery research, training and talent development in Canada. The funding will empower researchers to tackle pressing problems and strengthen Canada’s position as a global innovation hub.

More than 100 researchers at the University of Waterloo are part of this funding announcement.   

“Canada’s greatest competitive advantage is our people,” says the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “By investing in our world-class researchers and innovators right here at home, we are helping turn Canadian discoveries into new technologies, growing companies, and good jobs. At a time of rapid global change we are backing Canadian talent, strengthening our economy, and ensuring Canada remains a global leader in innovation, competitiveness, and resilience.”

At the centre of this investment is NSERC’s Discovery Grants (DG) program, one of Canada’s most competitive and prestigious research funding programs. Unlike project-specific funding, Discovery Grants give researchers the flexibility to follow promising discoveries wherever they lead, creating space for breakthrough ideas that may not fit within traditional research boundaries.

Researchers in the early stages of their academic careers can also receive additional support through the Discovery Launch Supplements (DLS) program, helping them build research teams, attract students and establish momentum in their fields. The Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) grants program ensures researchers have access to the advanced tools, equipment and lab infrastructure needed to strengthen research capacity, accelerate discovery and transform ideas into solutions.

Researchers at the Cheriton School of Computer Science are advancing a wide range of projects spanning medicine, sustainable computing, software systems, data science and artificial intelligence, including efforts to improve the accountability and trustworthiness of AI systems.