Lakehead University receives top honours in research and AI

Lakehead university students are pictured working in the lab.

Lakehead University in Orillia has been given top honours when it comes to undergraduate research universities.

The university sits at the number two spot on Research Infosource’s list of Top 50 Research Universities in 2025. It comes in at number 35 overall for Canadian research universities.

Lakehead continues to increase its funding for research and infrastructure each year.

“Our continued success reflects the exceptional talent, capacity, and research leadership at Lakehead University,” said President and Vice-Chancellor of Lakehead University, Dr. Gillian Siddall. “This recognition validates the university’s commitment to advancing discovery that matters, connecting knowledge to community, and preparing students to shape the future as we drive social and economic progress in our regions and beyond.”

Lakehead is also in the number one spot for not-for-profit research income, having accumulated $7.2 million in funding.

The university is making waves in Artificial Intelligence (AI) research ranking at the top spot in Cross-sector AI Collaboration Publications for undergraduate universities. It has around 150 international publications on the topic.

The Vice President of Research and Innovation for Lakehead, Dr. Langis Roy, says the launch of the Barrie STEM Hub can provide more hands-on experiences for students. The Hub is on Maple Street in downtown Barrie and is now accepting applications for fall 2026.

“Lakehead is leading the nation in AI publication growth, demonstrating our commitment to merging our deep expertise in areas such as health, environmental science, mining, and natural resources management, with new cutting-edge technologies,” said Dr. Roy. “We have an interdisciplinary, community-connected approach to advancing the innovation economy.”

Research Infosource is a Canadian company that offers rankings and analysis of research universities, hospitals, colleges, and companies.

Lakehead University for its strong focus on research in undergraduate studies, as well as small class sizes, programs in natural resources, environmental studies, and Indigenous studies.