Amplify Western's Global Research Impact
The world continues to face a growing number of threats that societies must work collaboratively to solve. Fueled by our culture of inquiry and discovery, Western will be a key partner in the international research ecosystem, focused on addressing the most pressing challenges of our time, as expressed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), while continuing to nurture and inspire the talent of tomorrow.
We will:
- Pursuing reciprocal and synergistic international research collaborations.
- Engaging in capacity-building research and training projects with new partners, particularly in the Global South.
- Co-creating at least two Global Research Coalitions, aligned to our research strengths and global areas of importance.
- Strengthening the translation, commercialization and exchange of research and innovation in the key regions of emphasis through WORLDiscoveries in collaboration with our strategic partnerships
- Identifying and pursuing strategic funding opportunities, leveraging international grants.
- Collaborating with local, regional and international Indigenous communities on community-engaged research.
- Incentivizing international doctoral training clusters that accelerate graduate and postdoctoral training through workshops, conferences and think tanks on specific themes.
- Positioning Western as a convenor and global hub that attracts international researchers, organizations, governments and industries.
- Leveraging cultural research and creative expression, empowering Western’s diverse local and international communities to co-create transformational change.
- Amplifying Western’s role as a thought leader and influential voice on global and local challenges and contributing to public discourse and policy related to the UNSDGs.
- Supporting globally displaced students and scholars in conjunction with international and national organizations.
- Tracking emerging areas of strength at Western in relation to the UNSDGs for future focus and investment.
Some measures of progress
- Increase Western publications with international collaborations from 46 to 50 per cent.
- Increase international research awards to 100 awards valued at a total of $15 million per year.
- Attract two international research or private organizations to develop a presence in Western Research Parks over the next five years.
- Rank Top 5 in the U15 for number of publications and publication impact for the UNSDGs with substantial research intensity.
- Support Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG9) by achieving Top 5 U15 ranking for research income from business grants.
Our global engagement in action
Western Research Parks
Western Research Parks, one of Canada’s leading science and technology parks, is the catalyst for commercialization, partnership development, research translation and entrepreneurial learning at Western.
With three locations in London and Sarnia, Western Research Parks contributes nearly $100 million annually to our communities and act as a key contributor to the movement of a discovery from concept to marketplace.
