McMaster has earned its reputation as a research powerhouse on the strength of our faculty and their ability to work collaboratively across the disciplines. Our multi-disciplinary approach to research has become synonymous with our name and is a hallmark of our research brand. Considered a strategic advantage in and of itself, McMaster’s size — large enough to attract some of the world’s best researchers, yet small enough to maintain a collaborative research environment — differentiates us from our peers and positions us to tackle some of the most complex challenges of our time.

Adhering to our Core Values and in the context of our paradigm-shifting researchers, McMaster has now identified strategic themes to galvanize our research efforts in the years ahead. In pursuing these themes, we recognize that generating new knowledge is neither simple nor straightforward.

To have a positive impact locally and globally, we’re building on our research successes and using our collective expertise — considering all aspects of, and approaches to, research knowledge across our disciplines — to ensure a multi-dimensional approach. We know the whole is greater than the sum of our parts and that stellar research, combined with, persistence, diligence and commitment, will deepen our shared understanding of the world and contribute to making a better society.

These following themes are both focused and broad: broad enough to engage researchers across all faculties, departments, schools, centres and institutes, yet focused enough on the institution’s existing research excellence in areas of established and developing strength.

McMaster is recognized globally for its vibrant enterprise — an enterprise that extends far beyond on campus boundaries and includes our partner hospitals throughout our region. This is a testament to the quality of our researchers and their unrelenting commitment to excellence.

To ensure we remain competitive, continue to innovated and positively impact the broader community of which we are a part, we need to make strategic investments in support of research and our researchers. To this purpose, we have developed the following enabling strategies: