How Ontario’s Universities are Supporting a Globally Competitive Economy

Through talent and innovation, Ontario will be better positioned to respond to the changing needs of the labour market, while producing the type of Ontario-made innovative solutions that will continue to help our province throughout the pandemic and beyond. These key ingredients will help Ontario and its regions compete globally, fuel economic growth and improve quality of life for all Ontarians.

Supporting a Globally Competitive Economy (pdf)
Key Facts
Nearly 250,000
Projected number of STEM graduates Canada will need from now until 2028, including 57,500 engineers; 72,700 computer programmers, software engineers and designers; and 37,800 managers in engineering, architecture, sciences and computer sciences, according to the Canadian Occupational Projection System.
38%
Percentage of university students enrolled in STEM programs, up from 30% in 2010, according to Ontario’s universities enrolment data
$30.6B
Increase in Ontario's GDP in 2018 compared to 1971 due to Ontario university research and development, according to the Conference Board of Canada
  • Ontario needs a strong workforce that can fill the job gaps of today and tomorrow, coupled with ground-breaking innovation that continues to drive discovery, commercialization and investment for its economic recovery.
  • A highly skilled workforce with the transferrable and cross-disciplinary skills to meet the changing needs of the job market will position our province as a jurisdiction that can attract investment and compete with other countries around the world.
  • Ontario is already seeing increasing levels of demand amongst certain high-quality STEM and non-STEM jobs that require a university degree, such as engineers, computer programmers and health-care professionals.
  • In addition, a strong innovation ecosystem will bridge the gap from discovery to commercialization, help firms grow and scale, advance local industries and turn ideas into products, services and jobs in Ontario – ultimately attracting global talent and investment.
  • The ripple effect of innovation ecosystems and university-industry partnerships is not only supporting job creation, but also attracting interest and investment from the global marketplace.
  • Much like Silicon Valley, Toronto, Ottawa and Waterloo have become high-tech ecosystems, attracting companies like Amazon, Uber, General Electric and Stripe who are looking to invest in Ontario’s highly skilled talent and innovation.
Due to the attractiveness of Ontario’s highly skilled talent, as well as recognizing its manufacturing capacity and ground-breaking innovation, Hoffmann-La Roche Limited invested $500 million over five years in 500 highly skilled and specialized full-time positions in the province.
Making an Impact
to Support a Globally Competitive Economy
A new testing technology provides patients with an accurate assessment of COVID-19 diagnosis.
Battling the pandemic by commercializing COVID-19-fighting technology
Future Maker Story
A group of doctors discussing something while sitting in a circle
Bringing researchers and industry together in a market-focused partnership
Future Maker Story
Aerial shot of the uOttawa campus
Upskilling and training to accelerate the growth of a local tech ecosystem
Future Maker Story
How Universities Are
Supporting Ontario

Ontario’s universities are working to ensure the province remains competitive and attractive to investment by developing the highly skilled talent for Ontario to prosper, conducting and commercializing ground-breaking research and acting as innovation hubs, critical connectors and job creators.

Universities are leading the development of talent, particularly in fast-growing fields, such as artificial intelligence, clean technology, life sciences, engineering and cybersecurity, providing students with the critical skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow in these research and development-intensive sectors.

Students are increasingly enrolling in these high-demand programs. Universities have seen a 98% increase in enrolment in math and physical science, 58% in engineering and applied science and 31% in health care since 2010.

To encourage the movement of research from ideas to market, universities are working to foster a culture of risk-taking and entrepreneurship, fuel the innovation pipeline and partner with industry to encourage investment in the early-stage innovation.

Whether it’s by partnering with small businesses to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, working with local industry to develop made-in-Ontario solutions, or by supporting Ontarians through innovations in health care, researchers will continue to drive ground-breaking research and discovery.

Partnering to Rebuild Ontario
Vibrant universities will continue to develop adaptable talent, help rebuild our health-care system, as well as drive innovation and regional economic development.By working together, we can navigate through this pandemic, safeguard Ontario’s health and economy and build a brighter future – not just for the students we teach and the communities we serve, but for Ontario’s future and all who live here.
Read the Report

In Partnering to Drive Ontario’s Recovery through Talent and Innovation, we outline how, as Ontario looks to rebuild and recover from COVID-19, Ontario’s universities are at the forefront of rebuilding a world-class health-care system; developing job-ready graduates; driving regional economic development; and creating solutions to Ontario’s challenges.

full report
summary report
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Resources

Browse through reports and related materials to find out about Ontario universities' role in everything ranging from university graduate employment to family medicine and community transformation.

Resources: Mental Health
Partnering to Drive Ontario’s Recovery through Talent and Innovation