Saskatchewan Polytechnic Appears at the Top of Rankings in Multiple Categories on Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges List

Saskatchewan Polytechnic Sask Polytech has topped all categories in Research Info Source Inc. ‘s 2024 Top 50 Research Colleges list, cementing its position among the leaders in applied research and innovation in North America. It secured the number one ranking in Canada for the number of completed research projects-498 projects completed in the academic year 2022/23-for the second consecutive year. It saw a high 30 percent increase compared to the previous year. Also, Sask Polytech ranked first in the number of research partnerships at 249 during the same period.

It achieved a second position in the industrial research income growth, with the research income showing an extraordinary rise of 130 percent from last year. These achievements confirm the success of Sask Polytech at acquiring financial support from industries and governments alike, making it capable of transforming novel ideas into practical solutions which could have economic impacts.

Applied Research and Innovation Associate Vice-President (Interim) Dr. Ian McWilliams is proud of the accomplishments. “Being ranked at the top in terms of numbers of research projects completed and research partnerships is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire applied research team,” said McWilliams. “Our commitment to innovation and collaboration helps our industry partners achieve their goals while contributing to local, provincial, and national economies.” I thank and appreciate most deeply our applied research team who will work with relentless dedication.

One of the standout projects of 2022-23 was with Ground Truth Agriculture Inc., an agtech firm that specializes in real-time grain quality data. This collaboration centered on the development of advanced artificial intelligence systems to enhance grain quality evaluations and falls under the Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE). Sask Polytech collaborated with NWC Wild Rice Company on the design of a more efficient wild rice harvester, along with a corresponding community-based training program for maintenance in northern Saskatchewan.

Further, the Virtual Interventions and Community Connections for Indigenous Youth initiative, which started with La Loche, expanded to 15 rural and remote communities. This project addresses mental health care disparities faced by Indigenous youth and is part of Sask Polytech’s Centre for Health Research, Innovation, and Scholarship (CHRIS).

Dr. Larry Rosia, President and CEO of Sask Polytech, congratulated the Applied Research and Innovation team on their continued success. “This recognition underlines the critical role our research plays in addressing real-world challenges and drives the development of innovative solutions.