Economic futures

Reimagining home ownership

Scaling the electric vehicle economy

Google partners with University of Waterloo to shape the future of work and learning

Leia Minaker and a student walk near a construction site while wearing safety equipment.

Reimagining home ownership

How can Canada create affordable paths to home ownership? This urgent question is at the heart of a new living lab launched by the Future Cities Institute (FCI) founded by CAIVAN in partnership with BUILD NOW, an initiative led by Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region.

BUILD NOW sets out a bold new model of affordable homeownership that could reshape how communities across Canada approach housing. The goal is to build 10,000 “missing middle” homes by 2030. Seventy per cent of these homes will be designed for ownership, using a legal model that keeps them affordable in perpetuity.

“Canada needs housing solutions that are both ambitious and practical. By asking tough questions and working across sectors, we can help build communities that are fair, productive and future proof.”

Dr. Leia Minaker, director of the FCI and professor in the School of Planning

Find out more about how BUILD NOW is tackling one of Canada’s biggest challenges →

Dr. Linda Nazar and Dr. Michael Pope posing for a photograph in their lab.

Scaling the electric vehicle economy

The Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre is at the forefront of Canada’s efforts to scale the electric vehicle economy. The centre is co-led by Dr. Linda Nazar, professor of Chemistry and Dr. Michael Pope, professor of Chemical Engineering, and brings together an interdisciplinary team focused on addressing key challenges in battery technologies.

“Next-generation batteries present enormous challenges because they require integrating complex chemistry and material science to create lower-cost, safer and longer-lasting energy storage solution. We are pushing the boundaries of battery chemistry to create sustainable and efficient solutions for the future of transportation and beyond.”

Dr. Linda Nazar, professor , Chemistry

Read about how OBEC is paving the way for Canada to build a greener economy →

Google partners with University of Waterloo to shape the future of work and learning

The University of Waterloo and Google have announced a research collaboration that will examine the impact of artificial intelligence on education and career readiness. The partnership includes a $1 million research agreement to create the Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning. The partnership will enable a number of research and education initiatives at the intersection of technology design and pedagogical innovation, including hands-on learning labs for students to envision technologies for the future of work and learning through prototyping.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with Google to explore how we can best design tools and environments for learning, taking full advantage of AI’s potential while being cognizant of its risks.”

Dr. Edith Law, new Google Chair in the Future of Work and Learning and executive director of the Future of Work Institute

Find out more about how this partnership will connect mathematics and computer science with the social sciences and humanities, and link academia with industry and government →

Economic futures

Scaling the electric vehicle economy

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