Concordia achieves highest-ever research ranking in Canada and leads in Quebec

Concordia University has solidified its status as a research leader, ranking first in Quebec among comprehensive universities and fifth in Canada in the 2024 Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities rankings by Research Infosource. This milestone also marks Concordia’s highest national placement at 21st overall, a remarkable leap from 34th in 2014.

"Our rise in the rankings demonstrates the excellence, creativity and determination of our researchers supported by a strong cast in our Office of Research. In many fields across multiple sectors Concordia has become a dynamic force in Canada’s research enterprise,” says Graham Carr, university president and vice-chancellor.

“Ten years ago, we set a strategic target to double our research. The extraordinary growth in our research income is just one measure of how the university has made good on that commitment. Building on this success, on the growth in our research graduate programs, our recruitment of outstanding new faculty, plus the multi-sectoral portfolio of partnerships we’ve developed, I’m convinced the best is yet to come."

This year, Concordia reported $129.1 million in sponsored research income, according to Research Infosource, reflecting a 47.6 per cent year-over-year increase, the second-highest growth among Canadian universities. This figure stands in stark contrast to the $43.9 million recorded in 2014, marking a near tripling of research income over a decade — a testament to the university’s strategic commitment to impactful research and innovation.

Comprehensive tier achievements

In the comprehensive university category, Concordia ranks 5th nationally for research income and faculty research intensity, with $143,900 per faculty member, and 10th in graduate student research intensity, at $16,800 per graduate student.

Additionally, the university placed third nationally in corporate research income, which grew by an extraordinary 111.1 per cent to $15.2 million. This highlights Concordia's strength in fostering partnerships with industry to address real-world challenges.

Strategic investments in research

Over the past decade, Concordia has emerged as a research leader, with significant growth in research funding and infrastructure investment. Supported by major Canadian funding agencies such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Concordia has secured substantial resources to advance its interdisciplinary initiatives.

Notable highlights include the $123 million Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) investment for the Volt-Age program. It aims to revolutionize sustainable energy systems by advancing electrification technologies, fostering innovation in intellectual property management, and creating impactful collaborations between academia, industry and society.

These investments reflect Concordia's commitment to building cutting-edge research infrastructure, such as facilities for smart building technologies and quantum research, and fostering collaborations that address global challenges.

Artificial intelligence and beyond

Concordia has also excelled in artificial intelligence (AI) research, ranking second in Canada for AI-related publications between 2018 and 2022. These 687 publications accounted for 9.4 per cent of the university’s total output — the highest percentage among Canadian universities.

For Effrosyni Diamantoudi, interim vice-president of research, innovation and impact these results emphasize the strength of Concordia’s research community.

"The numbers speak for themselves and reinforce Concordia as a rising research powerhouse in Quebec and across Canada. The university’s commitment to impactful collaborations and innovative approaches will ensure continued success on both national and global stages. I would like to emphasize that our growth is also driven by the essential support provided by many administrative units in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President, Research, Innovation and Impact, and the Office of Research."

Find out more about the Research Infosource 2024 rankings and research at Concordia.