U15 Canada is an association of fifteen leading research universities across Canada. U15 Canada works to optimize research and innovation policies and programs that advance knowledge, develop highly qualified leaders for all sectors, and mobilize knowledge for the benefit of all Canadians. In this way, U15 Canada helps universities make a prosperous, sustainable and just future for all.
Members of U15 Canada are those Canadian research-intensive universities that came together in 2012 to form an association dedicated to helping advance research and innovation policies and programs for the benefit of all Canadians.
U15 Canada has three pillars of activity:
- Convening;
- Advocacy; and
- Stewardship of the Research Ecosystem.
In convening, advocacy and stewardship, U15 Canada engages with federal policy and program makers, collaborates with Universities Canada and other domestic organizations, and participates in the Global Network of Research-Intensive University Organizations.
To support its three pillars of activity, U15 Canada is committed to continuous improvement in its operations. The staff seeks to work as a high-performance team in keeping with the latest research on organizational excellence.
Together, U15 Canada universities:
- train 64% of Canada’s full-time Graduate students.
- perform $866 M of research for business.