Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a public research university in British Columbia serving 37,000+ students across Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver campuses, offering undergraduate, graduate, medical, and continuing education programs. Its research spans AI, quantum communications, clean energy, and health sciences, supported by 7,000+ staff.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersBurnaby, Canada
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Simon Fraser University does
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a public research university established in 1965 under the University Act of British Columbia, headquartered in Burnaby with two additional campuses in Surrey (opened 2006) and Vancouver (Harbour Centre, established 1989). The university serves more than 37,000 enrolled students (2023) including 8,290 international students from 133 countries, supported by over 7,000 faculty and staff and more than 1,000 faculty members (400+ international). Its core activity is post-secondary education across eight faculties - Applied Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Communication, Education, Environment, Health Sciences, and Science - alongside the new SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine launching in Surrey.
SFU's technology and research portfolio is anchored by large-scale infrastructure including the Cedar Supercomputing Centre and the Vancouver Quantum Network (QVaN), supported by 60+ research centres and institutes. The university has produced multiple proprietary AI systems with published performance advantages: the HALLO AI whale-movement forecaster, the Lean Finder semantic search engine (over 30% higher accuracy than GPT-4 on Lean theorem retrieval), and ShapeR (2.7x improvement on multimodal 3D reconstruction). Strategic research areas include quantum error correction (with novel continuous-variable schemes achieving over 20% infidelity suppression), clean hydrogen (joint MoU with Siemens Canada), biomanufacturing (via the CIEBH hub with UBC), AI and quantum communications for defence (PacifiCan-funded), and smart agritech (with Windset Farms and Wageningen University).
The revenue model is a hybrid of public funding, tuition, research grants, and philanthropic donations. Domestic undergraduate tuition is approximately CAD $7,673 per year, while international students pay approximately CAD $38,944 per year - a roughly 5x spread that materially subsidizes domestic education. The university also earns through residence and meal plans (CAD $15,014/year), co-op employer services (freemium), research grants from federal agencies (CIHR, NSERC, CFI, PacifiCan), provincial base operating grants tied to enrollment, and major philanthropic gifts (most recently a $40M Stephens family donation in June 2026, the largest in SFU history). The institution is governed by a Board of Governors and Senate under provincial legislation and is not a privately held or publicly traded entity.
Simon Fraser University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simon Fraser University
- Legal name
- Simon Fraser University
- Website
- https://sfu.ca
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Simon Fraser University is a public research university in British Columbia serving 37,000+ students across Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver campuses, offering undergraduate, graduate, medical, and continuing education programs. Its research spans AI, quantum communications, clean energy, and health sciences, supported by 7,000+ staff.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simon Fraser University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education and Research
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD), Quantum Education, Workforce Development & Academic Centers (HDAGAMAM), Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)
Keywords
Where Simon Fraser University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burnaby
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Simon Fraser University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Domestic Undergraduate Tuition: Tuition and fees for Canadian undergraduate students, approximately $7,673 per year for 10 courses plus additional fees including transit pass.
- International Student Tuition: Higher tuition rates for international students, approximately $38,944 per year for 10 courses, significantly subsidizing domestic education.
- Research Grants: Federal and provincial research funding through agencies like Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canada Foundation for Innovation, and Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) for defense innovation and infrastructure.
- Government Funding: Base operating funding from provincial and federal governments based on enrollment, research output, and institutional priorities.
- Philanthropic Donations: Major donations from individuals and families, such as the $40 million Stephens family donation for the medical school, representing significant capital contributions.
- Co-op Program Services: Free job posting and recruitment services for employers, with administrative costs absorbed as part of career services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Domestic undergraduate tuition and fees |
| Subscription | Annual | International undergraduate tuition and fees |
| Other | Annual | Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship (USES) |
| Other | Annual | Uggla Family Scholarship |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate Research Scholarship (SAR Lab) |
| Subscription | Annual | On-campus residence and meal plan |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Simon Fraser University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simon Fraser University is a public research university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across eight faculties, continuing education certificates, and a new medical school in Surrey, BC. The university also operates extensive research infrastructure (Cedar Supercomputing Centre, Vancouver Quantum Network, AI research tools) and industry partnership programs including co-op work-integrated learning for employers. Educational delivery is supported via the Canvas learning management system across three campuses in Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver.
Product overview
Simon Fraser University operates as a comprehensive research university offering educational programs across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels. The university's technology portfolio includes research tools and infrastructure such as the Vancouver Quantum Network (QVaN) for quantum communications, the HALLO AI system for whale movement forecasting, Lean Finder for mathematical theorem discovery, and ShapeR for 3D object reconstruction. SFU also maintains significant research infrastructure including the Cedar Supercomputing Centre and participates in national supercomputing initiatives. Educational delivery is supported through the Canvas learning management system. The institution recently launched the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine and the $20-million SFU Innovates Venture Fund to support spin-off companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SFU Beedie School of Business: Faculty of business education offering undergraduate and graduate business programs
- SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine
- SFU Surrey
- SFU Vancouver
- Segal Graduate School of Business
- VentureLabs
- UniverCity
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs across eight faculties for Canadian and international high school graduates, transfer students from colleges, and mature students.
- Graduate Degree Programs Master's and doctoral programs across all faculties, administered through the Faculty of Graduate Studies with program-specific admission requirements.
- Continuing Education and Professional Development
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #1 comprehensive university in Canada since 2008
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Simon Fraser University
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Simon Fraser University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability12 records
Feature5 records
Simon Fraser University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Cascade InstituteminorSeequent and the Cascade Institute announced collaboration to develop the Canadian Thermal Model, a national initiative to map Canada's deep geothermal resources. SFU is one of the research partners contributing to development using Seequent's Oasis montaj software.
- Siemens CanadacoreSFU signed a memorandum of understanding with Siemens Canada to collaborate on research and development of clean hydrogen technologies. The partnership aims to develop a hydrogen testing facility, enhance digital transformation in hydrogen production, and support Canada's energy transition goals.
- Queen s UniversitycoreSFU and Queen s University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly design and build a national supercomputing platform. The infrastructure will be made available to government and industry across Canada to support Canada's AI Sovereign Compute strategy and foster talent in high-performance computing and AI. If successful in securing funding, the partnership would deliver Canada's first top-10 leadership class supercomputing system at Queen's and a top-25 system at SFU in British Columbia.
- Moment EnergyminorVancouver-based battery repurposing company Moment Energy signed an MoU with SFU to deploy advanced energy storage solutions for SFU's data centers and research facilities, including a planned pilot project at the Cedar Supercomputing Centre. The collaboration focuses on clean-energy infrastructure development, R&D for AI and quantum computing storage applications, and student workforce development.
- CIRA (Canadian Internet Registration Authority)minorCIRA's Community Investment Program provided $1.25 million in grants supporting digital equity projects including those at SFU. The grants fund initiatives focused on digital literacy, infrastructure, and cybersecurity benefiting over 200 projects since 2014.
- Windset FarmsminorSmart farming initiative at Windset Farms Delta, B.C. facility combining real-time plant data, advanced analytics, and machine learning. Supported by B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation with academic partners SFU and Wageningen University & Research.
- Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands)minorInternational academic partnership in smart farming research collaboration with SFU and Windset Farms, funded by B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation.
- B.C. Centre for Agritech InnovationminorGovernment-funded center supporting agritech research partnerships including the smart farming initiative with SFU and industry partners.
- RegulateCPGminorRegulateCPG established Canadian headquarters in Vancouver with $25 million three-year AI innovation push, leveraging partnerships with UBC and SFU to enhance its IntelliSync platform for predictive factory automation.
- HETTASminorCanadian performance running shoe brand collaborating with SFU Run Lab on research into women's biomechanics. Studies demonstrate that women's feet require distinct anatomical considerations with findings showing HETTAS shoes produce lower peak impact accelerations at the sacrum. Company has secured a three-year NSERC Alliance grant (2023-2025) for further research.
- University of British ColumbiacoreBC government providing $33 million for research equipment and facilities at Canada's Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH), a national initiative led by UBC with four research projects across UBC and SFU.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Simon Fraser University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Calgary: UCalgary is a western-Canadian comprehensive research university with a medical school and growing tech/AI profile. Competes with SFU for federal funding and is a natural regional peer in the Prairie/Western Canadian research ecosystem.
- McMaster University: McMaster is a leading Canadian research-intensive university known for medical sciences and health research. Comparable to SFU in size and mission, and competes for federal health research grants (e.g., CIHR) and medical school talent.
- University of Toronto: Canada's largest research university and a direct comparator for SFU's research-intensive positioning. UofT competes for federal Tri-Council grants, international STEM talent, and national rankings, and shares a multi-campus structure with affiliated research hospitals similar to SFU's medical school ambitions.
- McGill University: McGill is a comparable comprehensive research university with strong international student enrollment, a major medical school, and leading research output in AI/quantum. McGill is co-leading the Gen(Z)AI youth assembly with SFU, indicating a partnership alongside direct competition for global research talent and brand prestige.
- University of Alberta: U of A is a large western-Canadian comprehensive research university with strengths in AI, quantum, and energy research that overlap SFU's portfolio. It competes with SFU for federal Tri-Council grants and Pan-Canadian research network funding in similar thematic areas.
- University of British Columbia (UBC): UBC is BC's other major public research university, headquartered in Vancouver with a similar comprehensive research portfolio (medical school, quantum/AI research, large international student base). It competes directly with SFU for faculty, federal research grants, and top student applicants within the same metro and provincial funding pool.
- University of Waterloo: Waterloo is Canada's leading STEM-focused public university, with the country's largest co-operative education program and deep tech commercialization track record. It is the closest comparator to SFU's co-op + venture + quantum strategy and competes for the same pool of technical students and federal research funding.
- Western University: Western is a comprehensive Canadian research university with comparable scale, including a medical school and broad graduate research portfolio. Competes with SFU in Maclean's rankings and for federal research dollars, making it a natural comparator for institutional performance benchmarks.
- Queen's University: Queen's is a comprehensive research university with a strong co-op program and is SFU's direct partner in the national sovereign supercomputing initiative. Comparable in size, structure, and emphasis on undergraduate research, making it both a competitor for STEM students and a strategic ally on the top-10 supercomputer bid.
Regional players
- University of Victoria: UVic is BC's other public research university, also with strong co-op and computer science programs. As a BC-only regional peer, it competes with SFU for in-province applicants and provincial operating grants but has a smaller research footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Simon Fraser University social profiles
Digital presenceSimon Fraser University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simon Fraser University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Simon Fraser University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Simon Fraser University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors7 records
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Simon Fraser University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Simon Fraser University
What does Simon Fraser University do?
Simon Fraser University is a public research university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across eight faculties, continuing education certificates, and a new medical school in Surrey, BC. The university also operates extensive research infrastructure (Cedar Supercomputing Centre, Vancouver Quantum Network, AI research tools) and industry partnership programs including co-op work-integrated learning for employers. Educational delivery is supported via the Canvas learning management system across three campuses in Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver.
Is Simon Fraser University a public or private company?
Simon Fraser University is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Simon Fraser University founded?
Simon Fraser University was founded in 1965. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Simon Fraser University based?
Simon Fraser University is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Simon Fraser University make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Domestic Undergraduate Tuition is the primary driver. The others are international Student Tuition, research Grants, government Funding, philanthropic Donations and co-op Program Services.
Who are Simon Fraser University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Calgary, McMaster University, University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Waterloo, Western University and Queen's University. University of Victoria is listed as a regional player.
Does Simon Fraser University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simon Fraser University.
What industry is Simon Fraser University in?
Simon Fraser University's product category is Higher Education and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAD, Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.