This November was all about investments, impact and long-term vision. Spanning everything from funding opportunities in clean energy, AI and manufacturing to national recognition for our leadership in quantum and academic excellence. This month’s achievements are proving that Waterloo is becoming a major tech powerhouse—and the world is starting to take notice.
Here are the top stories from November 2025.
Canada fuels AI and quantum growth
The federal government’s latest budget proposal takes “positive steps” for Waterloo Region’s tech sector, according to local tech leaders. With $900 million set aside for AI and quantum technologies, the new funds aim to expand Canada’s compute capacity and create new opportunities for startups.
Read the full story from CityNews.
Waterloo’s IQC celebrates quantum investment
UWaterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is also welcoming the budget proposal, calling it essential for keeping Canada at the forefront of global quantum innovation. The government has committed $334.3 million over five years to strengthen Canada’s quantum ecosystem, along with nearly $2 billion to recruit international researchers. This funding will allow the IQC to expand its research capacity and accelerate the development of new technologies.
Read more in this write up from the University of Waterloo.
Waterloo founder plans one million homes in 10 years
Cabinovo is developing a large-scale modular construction factory to build one million homes across Canada in ten years. The company plans to produce fully finished, stackable housing units that can be installed on site in a single day. This ambitious project is starting right here in Kitchener – one of the Waterloo area’s three cities – with the first site set to finish in January 2026.
Learn more about Cabinovo’s mission in The Record.
Toyota donates $2M to Conestoga College
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada has donated $2 million to upgrade Conestoga College’s engineering and technology lab. The donation will fund three additional Industry 4.0 manufacturing lines at its Cambridge campus.
These lines are being built in-house, providing students with real experience in industrial robotics, automation and smart-factory technology. The construction is expected to be complete by September 2026.
Check out the full story from CTV News.
Swish Solar secures $1.5M to scale clean tech
Swish Solar, a cleantech startup based at UWaterloo, has raised US$1.5 million to scale its innovative solar technology solutions. Their technology aims to improve long-term sustainability and efficiency in the global solar sector. The funding will support manufacturing, product development and team growth as their company begins to scale toward full commercialization. This is a huge milestone for cleantech growth in the region!
Learn more about Swish Solar in the University of Waterloo’s write-up.
Region approves LRT expansion to Cambridge
The Region of Waterloo Council has officially approved a 17 km extension of the ION LRT from Kitchener to Cambridge. This decision has been years in the making, and while construction is still several years away, this is exciting progress. The estimated cost is currently $3.1 billion, potentially rising to $4.3 by 2033. This builds on a first phase of the ION LRT, which has been heralded as a huge success, spurring billions in new development.
Read the full story from CityNews.
Five Waterloo subjects rank #1 in Canada
The University of Waterloo ranked #1 in Canada in five subjects in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities; these subjects included Remote Sensing and Energy Science & Engineering. In total, 13 programs placed in the global top 50, highlighting Waterloo’s strength across research, innovation and academic excellence.
For more information about the programs and their rankings, read the full story from the University of Waterloo.
Looking Ahead
November has set the stage for a very exciting future in Waterloo Region. As these initiatives begin to take shape, we can certainly expect to see some major advancements in AI, quantum, clean energy and manufacturing. We’re looking forward to learning what the months and years ahead have in store for our region!