Research Infosource

Lakehead Recognized As One of Canada’s Top Undergraduate Research Universities

Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont. - Lakehead University has climbed to one of the highest positions among Canada’s undergraduate research universities, according to new rankings released today by Research Infosource Inc.

Lakehead shines in Research Infosource’s list of the Top 50 Research Universities of 2025, moving up one spot to secure its place as the #2 undergraduate research university in Canada. Lakehead continues to rank 35th overall among all Canadian research-intensive universities.

“Our continued success reflects the exceptional talent, capacity, and research leadership at Lakehead University,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall. “This recognition validates the university’s commitment to advancing discovery that matters, connecting knowledge to community, and preparing students to shape the future as we drive social and economic progress in our regions and beyond.”

Over the past decade, Lakehead has emerged as a national research leader, with significant growth in research funding and infrastructure investment. The university’s total research income continues to grow year-over-year, increasing 4.1 per cent to $28 million from 2023 to 2024. Once again, Lakehead holds the top spot among Canada’s undergraduate universities for not-for-profit research income, attracting $7.2 million in funding.

“Lakehead University is a valued and trusted research partner,” stated Dr. Langis Roy, Vice-President of Research and Innovation. “Working with collaborators in Indigenous communities, social service organizations, hospitals, and other post-secondary institutions, our researchers are making a difference in the communities and regions we serve and driving tangible societal change.”

Lakehead continues to outperform in cross-sector Artificial Intelligence (AI) research collaborations, with nearly 150 international publications on the topic, showing that university researchers are at the forefront of real-world innovation and transformation.

“Lakehead is leading the nation in AI publication growth, demonstrating our commitment to merging our deep expertise in areas such as health, environmental science, mining, and natural resources management, with new cutting-edge technologies,” said Dr. Roy. “We have an interdisciplinary, community-connected approach to advancing the innovation economy.”

“The launch of the Barrie STEM Hub in fall 2026 will broaden our capacity to provide high-tech, hands-on environments for students to participate in groundbreaking research and develop the future-focused skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow,” he added.

For more information about Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities 2025, visit: https://researchinfosource.com/cil/2025/top-50-research-universities

Keywords:

Undergraduate Research University

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Top Research Universities

Top 50 Research Universities 2025

Lakehead named a leader in artificial intelligence research

Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont. - Lakehead University has been identified as a Canadian research powerhouse in the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

According to Research Infosource’s annual Top 50 Research Universities ranking and analysis, Lakehead is the number one research-intensive undergraduate university in Canada when it comes to AI research and publications. With over 180 per cent growth in published studies in the area of AI (from 2018 to 2022), Lakehead researchers are at the forefront of real-world innovation and transformation.

“The recognition from Research Infosource reflects the extraordinary talent and research capacity cultivated at Lakehead University,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall. “Research and innovation is an important economic driver for the regions we serve and opens doors to collaboration, discovery and positive social progress. It also offers opportunities for our students to be at the forefront of real-world, cutting-edge research, particularly in the area of AI, that will give them hands-on experience and practical skills that employers seek.”

Lakehead academics are working with industry partners and collaborators in Northwestern and Central Ontario, nationally, and internationally on unique machine learning and knowledge engineering projects including intelligent transportation systems, healthcare robotics, power systems, and consumer electronics.

“Universities hold the key to shaping the future of AI by pushing the boundaries of what technology can do but in a way that’s responsible and ethical,” stated Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President of Research and Innovation. “The high calibre of research happening at Lakehead University has the potential to stimulate advancements around the world that contribute to global progress and societal good. Lakehead continues to be a trusted expert for knowledge transfer that leads to innovation and economic development.”

In this year’s Research Infosource rankings, Lakehead also maintained its spot as one of the top three universities in Canada in the Research University of the Year competition in the undergraduate category. In addition, Lakehead ranked:

No. 1 in not-for-profit research income (2023)
No. 1 in International Government Research Income Growth (470 per cent growth from 2022 to 2023)
No. 1 in artificial intelligence publications (2018 to 2022)
No. 1 in artificial intelligence publications as a percentage of total university publications (9 per cent of Lakehead’s total research publications)
No. 1 in artificial intelligence publications growth (over 182 per cent increase from 2018 to 2022)

The university’s total annual research income continues to grow, increasing 13 per cent to $27 million from 2022 to 2023, and there’s also steady growth in corporate research income in addition to the not-for-profit research income.

Keywords:

Research

Innovation

Artificial Intelligence

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rankings

Lakehead University Research Ranks Second in Ontario; Third in Canada

Tuesday, October 28, 2014 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, ON

Lakehead University has been ranked in the top three Research Universities of the Year in the undergraduate category of Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities, released annually by Re$earch Infosource.

Re$earch Infosource ranks Lakehead second among Ontario’s undergraduate universities, and third among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

“Re$earch Infosource’s recognition of Lakehead reaffirms the upward trend our University’s research endeavours have been experiencing for years,” said President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson.

Re$earch Infosource’s 2014 Rankings continues to show how Lakehead University research has, for years, maintained an exceptional status when compared to its peer institutions in Ontario and Canada.

“This trend is significant because of how much of a direct impact university research has on regional economic development by supporting local industry, training highly qualified personnel, and offering innovative products and services,” Dr. Stevenson added.

“This recognition by Re$earch Infosource shows that Lakehead University continues to make great strides in producing high-quality research,” said Dr. Andrew Dean, Vice-President, Research, Economic Development & Innovation.

“The vast majority of our external funding is used to provide support for student research projects. The research training of the next generation of Lakehead alumni is a key part of our mission as a university,” Dr. Dean added.

“We are excited about this recognition because research is such an integral part of teaching and learning at Lakehead University,” said Dr. Moira McPherson, Provost & Vice-President (Academic). “It shows that the exceptional focus, drive and dedication of our faculty, students and community partners is paying off.”

“Lakehead demonstrates that size and location are no barrier to research excellence,” said Ron Freedman, CEO of Re$earch Infosource which compiles Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities List.

Re$earch Infosource’s ranking is based on a balanced scorecard of research inputs and outputs. Calculating the top ranked Undergraduate Research Universities of the Year involves examining several factors, such as the total amount of sponsored research funding received by Lakehead University, research intensity (total research income per full-time faculty member), research outputs based on total number of publications, publication intensity, and publication impact.

For more information about Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities, visit http://www.researchinfosource.com/top50_univ.php

Lakehead University Research Achievements in Recent Years

Lakehead University has been one of Canada’s fastest growth research-intensive universities in the undergraduate category in the last decade. During this time, sponsored research income has grown by 128%, and the number of students enrolled in graduate studies has increased by 90%.

In 2013, Maclean’s magazine included Lakehead among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, in addition to the top spot in numerous research-specific areas, including first in Ontario for total research dollars and total value of Social Sciences & Humanities grants.

In 2012, Higher Education Strategy Associates named Lakehead University first in Canada for its Aboriginal studies. The same year, Lakehead research placed in Canada’s Top 10 most inventive universities according to The Impact Group.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and Faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Science and Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education and Graduate Studies. Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 3 Research Universities in the undergraduate category (2014 Re$earch Infosource), as well as 1^st in Canada for total research dollars and total value of Social Sciences & Humanities grants (2013 MacLeans). Visit http://www.lakeheadu.ca.

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Research Infosource