At UCalgary, it’s time to Start Something

The University of Calgary is taking the next step in its evolution as a globally impactful institution, a place where anyone can come and start something transformational in health, the arts, public policy, energy and technology, amongst many others.

UCalgary is the place where learners, researchers, teachers and budding entrepreneurs come to expand their potential through innovative learning experiences, bold discoveries and lifelong connections. This year, UCalgary created more startup companies than any other Canadian university and is the youngest institution to join Canada’s top-five ranked research universities. And UCalgary is a vital talent creator with 93.5 per cent of graduates going on to find employment.

“The University of Calgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university," says Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor. "We don’t wait for change. We drive change.

Whether it’s a new solution for a problem, a new creative composition, a new look for a downtown block or a new technology to transform the marketplace — we’re here to help Calgary grow, prosper and diversify in the years ahead. UCalgary is where people come to start something.

UCalgary has the capacity to do big things or fine tune solutions to smaller-scale challenges. Noticing the challenges for low-income families to access fresh groceries, a student launched a community service that gets them the food they need in a dignified environment. UCalgary scholars are transforming an old LRT as just one step in its work to help revitalize downtown Calgary. And, a new degree marries western health-care practices with Siksika traditional ways to help widen opportunities for Indigenous students.

On a grander scale, last year, UCalgary and the Government of Alberta, in partnership with global tech company Mphasis, announced the Quantum City Centre of Excellence, solidifying the university’s leadership position in quantum technologies. Calgary will also become Mphasis’s Canadian hub, creating up to 1,000 jobs to start.

Through community partnerships, innovative research at UCalgary is having impacts far beyond campus. Earlier this year, the Azrieli Accelerator was launched, a $25 million partnership with the Azrieli Foundation aimed at taking a holistic and revolutionary approach to investigating brain development and making life easier for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs), which include autism and ADHD.

Each one of these projects has a student learning component. Attracting community partnerships and exploring important research opportunities enhance the experience for all students, as UCalgary strives to provide an environment where they draw on their own strengths, imagination and creativity.

“The University of Calgary is committed to transformation and reimagining the student experience," says Dr. Teri Balser, provost and vice-president (academic). "We are a place where students can discover their greatness in a world-class environment for learning. Here, learners of all kinds have a chance to draw on their strengths, imagination, and creativity to reach their full potential and start something that helps make the world a better place.”

UCalgary is built for entrepreneurial thinking and innovation. It currently has an estimated $16.5 billion economic impact that grows each year by creating jobs, supporting local businesses and fostering companies, products, and solutions that help Calgary’s economy grow and diversify. 

Existing UCalgary hubs, including Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies, Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking and the UCeed program, act as innovation incubators by advancing ideas and research into real-world solutions that benefit our community. Let’s find your starting line.