The College also ranked 1st in Large College Research Income, 2nd in College Research Intensity Funds per Researcher and 3rd for Completed Research Projects.
Hamilton, ON – Mohawk College stands out as one of Canada’s top research colleges, ranking 2nd nationally in the 2025 Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges list by Re$earch Infosource.
This is the first time the college and its applied research division, IDEAWORKS has achieved 2nd in the annual rankings. The college has maintained a top-10 ranking for the past seven years, moving to the large college category in 2024.
“Being ranked second in applied research among Canada’s top research colleges reflects the commitment and expertise of our IDEAWORKS team. Through deep partnerships with nearly 200 employers and community partners, and by delivering more than 165 research projects in the last year, we are strengthening our regional economy, helping businesses compete, and shaping a more resilient and innovative future for our region.”
Paul Armstrong, President, Mohawk College
Research projects have spanned a wide range of topics, including additive manufacturing, digital health, climate action, drones, intelligent data capture, AI, sensor systems, energy & power, and nursing practice. Read case studies about some of IDEAWORKS’ projects.
In this year’s rankings, Mohawk College excelled in key categories among large colleges:
- 1st in Canada for Large College Research Income
- 2nd in Canada for College Research Intensity Funds per Researcher
- 3rd in Canada for Completed Projects– Successfully delivering 167 applied research projects.
- 4th in Canada for Research Partnerships – Collaborating with 192 partners across industries.
- 4th in Canada for Industry Research Income – Highlighting strong engagement and investment from industry partners.
- 5th in Canada for Student Researchers – Providing hands-on opportunities for 244 students, a 13% increase from last year.
“Achieving recognition on a national level really speaks to the strength and talent of our IDEAWORKS applied research team,” said Jeffrey McIsaac, Dean of Applied Research. “When we stay focused on our two core goals of supporting our partners through applied research and creating exceptional learning opportunities for students, we see the impact of that commitment. With a creative, dedicated team and with the College’s strong support for innovation, we help organizations find practical solutions that matter while giving students the experiences they need to succeed.”
The rankings reflect the extensive contributions of IDEAWORKS research centres, including:


