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SDG 9 Reports
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Research
Solid-State Sodium Battery Innovation
Western Engineering professor Yang Zhao and his research team developed a new solid-state sodium battery material that could offer a safer, more affordable and longer-lasting alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The team created a solid electrolyte containing sulfur and chlorine, then used advanced X-ray tools at the Canadian Light Source to examine how sodium ions move through the material. With strong ionic conductivity and improved thermal and mechanical stability, the research could support next-generation energy storage for electronics, transportation and other critical infrastructure.
Strengthening Storm-Resilient Infrastructure
Western researchers continued translating wind engineering research into safer and more resilient buildings in 2025. Working with Doug Tarry Homes and Western’s Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, research findings were incorporated into the construction of 100 homes designed to better withstand tornadoes, including stronger roof sheathing and improved connections between roofs and walls. Testing at Western’s advanced wind research facilities also supports the development of safer construction materials, improved building codes and infrastructure capable of responding to increasingly severe weather.
Teaching
Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Western opened its Certificate in Entrepreneurship to all undergraduate students across Western, with the first cohort beginning in fall 2025. The certificate combines coursework with practical exposure to venture development, helping students build the knowledge and skills needed to turn ideas into viable businesses. By strengthening entrepreneurship education across disciplines, the program prepares students to contribute to innovation and emerging industries.
RBC Design Thinking Program
Western’s RBC Design Thinking Program gives students hands-on experience using human-centred design to solve complex problems. Renewed funding announced in 2025 supports continued learning opportunities and scholarships, particularly for students in engineering, computer science and data science. The program strengthens technical, creative and collaborative skills that are increasingly important in technology-driven industries.
Automotive Innovation Challenge
Western Engineering partnered with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network and General Motors to host the 2025 Automotive Innovation Challenge. Students worked on real mobility-sector problems while developing practical engineering, teamwork and problem-solving skills. The challenge connects classroom learning with industry needs and helps prepare students for careers in automotive technology and advanced manufacturing. The experience encouraged innovation, strengthened career readiness and helped students better understand how engineering solutions move from concept to application. The challenge connects classroom learning with industry needs and helps prepare students for careers in automotive technology and advanced manufacturing.
Generative AI Teaching Fellows
Western launched its first Generative AI Teaching Fellows program in 2025 to support new approaches to teaching and learning with artificial intelligence. Faculty-led projects explore how AI can be responsibly incorporated into courses, including the development of realistic learning scenarios and new instructional tools. The initiative helps students build experience with emerging technologies while encouraging thoughtful and innovative teaching practices across the university.
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Outreach
NOVA Chemicals Discovery Summer Camp
In 2025, Western Engineering Outreach partnered with NOVA Chemicals to deliver a week-long Discovery Summer Camp for young learners. Through hands-on, screen-free STEM activities, participants explored engineering concepts while building confidence in problem-solving and creative thinking. The camp introduced children to the role of science and technology in addressing real-world challenges and helped make engineering more approachable at an early age. By working with an industry partner to expand community access to STEM learning, the initiative supports future participation in innovation-focused education and careers.
Frugal Biomedical Innovation Partnerships
Western’s Frugal Biomedical Innovations Program works with partners in remote and resource-limited communities to develop affordable medical technologies suited to local needs. In 2025, researchers and community partners shared projects designed for use in Northern Canada and parts of Africa, including practical systems for storing medication in challenging environments. Rather than developing technology without local input, the program brings engineering, health care and community knowledge together throughout the innovation process. This approach helps make medical infrastructure more accessible while supporting solutions that can be maintained and used effectively in the communities they are intended to serve.
Western Engineering Outreach
Western Engineering Outreach marked 35 years of introducing children and youth to science, technology, engineering and mathematics in 2025. Through partnerships with schools, libraries, museums and community organizations, the program delivers hands-on activities that help students explore engineering and understand how technology can be used to solve real-world problems. Programs such as Go ENG Girl, Go CODE Girl and EngSquad also work to make engineering more accessible to groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in the field. The initiative builds early interest in STEM, helps develop future skills and creates stronger pathways into innovation-focused education and careers.
Operations
Campus as a Living Lab for Smart Infrastructure
Western used its campus as a living laboratory in 2025 to test technologies for monitoring roads, buildings and environmental conditions. A university vehicle equipped with cameras, lidar and internet-connected sensors collected real-time information on pavement quality, air quality and other campus conditions. Developed with Facilities Management, the project gives operational staff better information for maintaining infrastructure while testing methods that could also support future planning in the City of London. It demonstrates how Western is integrating research technology directly into the management of its physical campus.
New Engineering Building
Construction progressed in 2025 on the Faculty of Engineering’s new building, a five-storey facility designed to expand the university’s capacity for engineering education and research. The 100,000-square-foot building will accommodate growth in areas including artificial intelligence and software engineering while creating stronger connections across the Engineering precinct. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification and includes open-loop geothermal wells, integrating lower-carbon technology into a major campus development. Once complete, the facility will provide modern infrastructure for future innovation and technical training.
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Research
Building Better Batteries
In September 2024, Western researchers, led by Dr. Yang Zhao, advanced the development of solid-state batteries—a safer, longer-lasting alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This work supports the emerging electric vehicle (EV) industry, especially in light of Volkswagen’s $7-billion EV battery gigafactory being built nearby in St. Thomas, Ontario. Western’s expertise in materials science, energy storage, and advanced manufacturing positions it as a key contributor to sustainable industrial innovation and infrastructure development.
Yang Zhao
Vancouver Seismic Mapping
Western University researchers, led by Sheri Molnar, are mapping seismic hazards across Metro Vancouver to improve infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness. The decade-long project uses seismometers and geological data to assess ground vibration patterns at over 17,000 sites. These findings inform land-use planning, retrofit priorities, and risk mitigation strategies. By advancing urban seismic microzonation, Western supports safer infrastructure development and disaster-ready communities—key contributions to sustainable, resilient cities and innovation in public safety systems.
Teaching
Ivey Certificate in Entrepreneurship at Western
Western University’s Ivey Certificate in Entrepreneurship equips undergraduate students with the skills to innovate and build ventures through interdisciplinary coursework and experiential learning. Open to students across faculties, the program encourages creative problem-solving, digital design, and venture development. With access to maker spaces, mentorship, and a capstone New Venture Project, it prepares students to contribute to sustainable industry and infrastructure. This initiative strengthens innovation capacity and supports inclusive economic development through education.
Maker Spaces
Western’s maker spaces empower students to explore hands-on innovation and design. Equipped with tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines, these spaces encourage creativity, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students from any faculty can access training and materials to prototype ideas, build projects, and develop entrepreneurial skills. By encouraging experimentation and practical learning, Western cultivates a culture of innovation and supports the development of future-ready graduates who can contribute to technological advancement and creative industries.
Industry Projects
Western’s Industry Projects program connects students with small- to medium-sized businesses to solve real-world challenges through course-based consulting. Students apply academic knowledge to practical scenarios, gaining experience in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Projects are designed in collaboration with industry partners and aligned with course learning outcomes, ensuring relevance and impact. This initiative cultivates innovation, supports local business development, and helps students build career-ready skills while contributing meaningfully to organizational goals.
Peer AI Training Program
Western’s Peer AI Training Program helps students build confidence and competence in using artificial intelligence through hands-on, peer-led workshops. Developed by the Students’ Council in collaboration with Western’s chief AI officer, the program features student instructors guiding participants in exploring AI tools and techniques. Sessions highlight real-world applications across disciplines, encouraging ethical and effective use of AI in academic and professional contexts. This initiative fosters collaborative learning and prepares students for an increasingly AI-integrated future.
Outreach
Engineering Community Partnerships
Western Engineering’s Community Partnerships extend STEM learning beyond campus by collaborating with local organizations to deliver inclusive, hands-on programming. Through initiatives with libraries, museums, resource centres, and youth clubs, Western brings engineering education to underserved communities, supporting curiosity, confidence, and skill-building. Programs are designed to complement existing efforts, not duplicate them, and include activities like robotics, design challenges, and science fairs. This outreach fosters innovation, strengthens community infrastructure, and builds pathways for youth to engage with engineering in meaningful, accessible ways.
Connector Suites at Western Discovery Park
The Connector Suites at Western Discovery Park support innovation outreach by providing a versatile, high-tech venue for collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, and community partners. Located within Western Research Parks, the space hosts conferences, workshops, and seminars that foster knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary engagement. With cutting-edge AV equipment, customizable layouts, and access to local art and catering, it creates an inclusive environment for idea-sharing and networking. Free bookings for community groups and academic affiliates further promote accessibility, helping bridge academia, industry, and the public in a shared pursuit of innovation and development.
Western Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
Operations
Research Commercialization
Through its Technology Transfer Office, Western supports researchers in transforming innovations into market-ready solutions via licensing, spin-offs, and strategic partnerships. The process includes invention disclosure, IP protection, market assessment, and business development. Programs like WE-Empower! and Graduate Student Innovation Scholars provide training and mentorship in entrepreneurship and commercialization. These services leverage institutional infrastructure to promote sustainable innovation, strengthen industry collaboration, and contribute to regional economic development.
Sustainable Impact Fund
Western’s Sustainable Impact Fund supports campus-based projects that use university operations as a platform for innovation and experiential learning. In 2024, initiatives included prototyping carbon capture devices using 3D printing and exploring circular textile systems through business-focused seminars. These projects integrate student research with operational infrastructure—such as labs, maker spaces, and recycling systems—to test and refine sustainable solutions. By leveraging existing campus resources and cross-disciplinary collaboration, Western fosters practical innovation, supports skill development, and strengthens its role as a living lab for environmental and technological advancement.
Campus as a Living Lab
Western’s Campus as a Living Lab program integrates operational infrastructure into academic learning and innovation. Facilities Management collaborates with faculty and students to turn campus systems—such as energy, biodiversity, and building performance—into real-world research and teaching opportunities. Projects include AI-enhanced building energy modeling, biodiversity inventories, and sustainable landscaping. These initiatives use Western’s built environment and operations as a testing ground for sustainable solutions, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous improvement in campus systems while engaging the broader community in experiential learning.