Waterloo partners with the Accelerator Centre to further innovation and entrepreneurship | Waterloo News

A University of Waterloo partnership with the Accelerator Centre (AC) will further advance our commitment to creating social change through innovation with the launch of the Global Impact Creator Program.  

The pilot program invites early-stage innovators to become Impact Creators who research and identify unmet needs in human, animal and planetary health, and equip them with the skills and resources needed to develop future-focused solutions that will impact rural Canadian and global communities. Participants will receive one-on-one mentorship and guidance from industry experts on how to pilot their creations. Applications for the program are open until July 31 through the Accelerator Centre website. 

“Waterloo is pleased to work with the Accelerator Centre to create novel pathways for our students to explore unmet needs in a global context,” says Dr. Charmaine Dean, vice-president of Research International at the University. “We will be excited to see what the bright and curious Impact Creators engaged in this superb new program will come up with over the year.” 

The University empowers early-stage innovators and creators to transform their research into cutting-edge solutions by offering the right support at each stage of the journey. Where Waterloo researchers, students and alumni can access incubators, corporate partnerships, curated programs, such as the Global Impact Creator program, and an intellectual property policy that lets creators own what they invent. Waterloo’s commitment to creating social change is driven by the entrepreneurs and creators who seek to develop sustainable solutions that cut through society, health, the environment, economy and technology. 

The Global Impact Creator program is in partnership with Waterloo Ventures, the central unit at the University for all matters related to innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and associated thought leadership and social impact activities. Starting in September, the pilot program will leverage the AC’s structured entrepreneurship program methodology to guide five to seven participants in exploring and addressing challenges faced by rural Canadian and global communities. 

The Global Impact Creator program is open to the following Waterloo community members:   

• faculty 
• staff 
• senior-level undergraduate students (e.g., during a co-op work term)
• graduate-level students with permission from their program/supervisor 
• recent graduates (within 2 years) 

The pilot program provides participants with one-to-one mentorship and connections with peers, industry leaders and potential investors. Participants will also receive a $12,000 stipend as they work to uncover solutions while enhancing their entrepreneurial skills, from ideation to execution, with hands-on experience. 

Selected participants can expect confirmation of their acceptance by August 15. The pilot program will begin on September 17, 2024, and conclude on March 25, 2025, with an opportunity to participate in the final showcase event hosted by the Accelerator Centre.    

Canadian THRIVE Network

The Global Impact Creator program is the prospective Canadian THRIVE Network. Waterloo Ventures is currently leading an application for the Lab to Market grant funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. If successful, the number of Impact Creator immersive experiences like the Global Impact Creator Program will scale across the country.  

If funded, the THRIVE Network will provide trainees with various opportunities to expand their professional and personal networks, connect with industry partners, build critical skills and knowledge necessary for impact creation, receive support from travel grants, and participate in market validation and new technology adoption activities across the country. Selected applicants will also explore innovation adjacent roles in the ecosystem (e.g., investment analysis, tech transfer, social impact programs). 

Waterloo and the Accelerator Centre believe in empowering the next generation of global entrepreneurs. Visit the Accelerator Centre website to learn more about the Global Impact Creator Program or submit your application by July 31.