From sustainable buildings to autonomous shuttles, Waterloo’s R+T Park gives businesses a unique opportunity to experiment, test, refine and scale their latest ideas – all in a real-world environment.
For growing companies, bringing new technologies to market requires extensive lab testing before they’re ready for customers – and it could take months or even years. What if there was a way to fast track the process and get real time feedback before launch?
The David Johnston Research & Technology Park (R+T Park) offers exactly that – a ‘Living Lab’ environment that helps businesses…
- Test and iterate in near real conditions
- Collect real-time data to refine the idea
- Tap into University of Waterloo’s research, talent and infrastructure
- Partner with public and private stakeholders
- Reduce go-to-market risk by validating assumptions early
In our recent conversation with Mike Pereira, Director of Real Estate and R+T Park at the University of Waterloo, we discussed how the Living Labs Initiative creates value for businesses.
Innovation in action
Located at the University of Waterloo with nearly one million square feet of space, R+T Park has supported innovation for over 20 years. With its open spaces, private trails and stormwater ponds, it’s naturally suited for real-world testing.
R+T Park’s Living Labs initiative builds on this very foundation – inviting businesses and innovators to refine their ideas in a real-world setting using R+T Park’s facilities and infrastructure. “Waterloo’s unique infrastructure provides a space to experiment with innovative technologies, from autonomous vehicles to sustainable energy solutions,” shared Pereira.
Case in point: When the Region of Waterloo wanted to pilot a first-in-Canada e-scooter project, the 5.5km of private trails at R+T Park were the perfect testing ground. In just eight weeks, more than 18,000 rides generated valuable data. The insights helped to accelerate the rollout of 1,000 e-scooters now used across the region and opened the door to pilot projects across Canada.
evolv1, Canada’s first net-positive energy office building, is another notable innovation in R+T Park. Designed with sustainability at its core, the building both reduces environmental impact and equips tenants with tools to track and enhance their sustainability efforts.
" We often talk about bringing innovation out of the lab and into the world. This is both the lab and the world. "
Mike Pereira
Director of Real Estate and R+T Park at the University of Waterloo
What does it mean for innovative businesses?
Located in the city of Waterloo, home to Canada’s largest robotics and automation cluster, R+T Park welcomes businesses in mobility tech, smart infrastructure, sustainable tech, agritech and any other innovation-focused fields that align with its capabilities.
“We’ve seen exciting applications in autonomous food delivery, mining, and farming – demonstrating how Waterloo supports diverse industries in testing and scaling their solutions,” shares Pereira.
By partnering with R+T Park, businesses gain access to pilot-ready spaces, innovation-driven environment, collaboration opportunities with world-class universities and a deep talent pool.
“Our goal is to move innovations along a pathway where they can actually create some real-world benefits, and we’re excited that we’re starting to see that payoff,” he adds.
Why bring your big ideas to R+T Park?
Because innovation moves faster when it’s grounded in the real world.
At R+T Park, you get access to a low-risk space with real world conditions to test your innovative ideas while becoming part of an ecosystem where research, talent and industry intersect.
You’ll also be rubbing elbows with tech giants like SAP, OpenText and Quantum Valley Investments, to name a few. The R+T Park Living Labs Initiative offers a unique path to validation and growth.
Innovation happens here
The Waterloo ecosystem is built on collaborative spirit and innovation, and the Living Labs Initiative is a perfect example.
For more details, check out the video below.
Ready to scale your innovation? Waterloo is the perfect place to test new ideas and accelerate your growth.