SDGs@UofT
SDGs@UofT is the University of Toronto's Institutional Strategic Initiative coordinating interdisciplinary research, student programs, and visiting scholar exchanges to advance the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals across U of T's three campuses and a global partner network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SDGs@UofT does
SDGs@UofT is an Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) of the University of Toronto, established to coordinate and advance interdisciplinary research on the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative operates across U of T's three campuses — St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga — and is administratively housed within the Division of the Vice-President Research & Innovation at the Scarborough campus (1265 Military Trail, Toronto). It is not a separately incorporated legal entity; it is fully funded through U of T institutional allocations and does not generate commercial revenue.
The initiative delivers an interconnected portfolio of academic programs in lieu of a unified software product. Core offerings include the SDGs Scholars Academy (a think tank of distinguished fellows, fellows, and over 100 faculty affiliates), the Student Advisory Committee and Student Hub for tri-campus engagement, the SDG-IECS Visiting Scholars Program for international research exchange, and the Mitacs Globalink-supported Student Mobility Training Program for graduate-level international research. Student-facing funding and development instruments include the Student Awards Program ($1,500 per 12-month period), the paid Sustainability Catalyst Internship Program (250-hour placements with Greater Toronto Area partners), the Catalyst and Synthesis Grant for faculty-led research, the CERC NEST student fellowship, and the Student Voices for Sustainability / SDG Publication series.
The business model is institutional: funding flows from the University of Toronto as the sole sponsor, with no paying customers, no commercial pricing, and no external venture or philanthropic funding rounds recorded. Distribution occurs through U of T's tri-campus network, public lectures and seminars, the sdg.utoronto.ca website, social channels (Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram), an email newsletter, and strategic partnerships with the United Nations, Mitacs, the Institute for Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability (IECS), and Hack the Valley. The core customer segments — U of T students, faculty researchers, visiting international scholars, and a global trainee community — are served free of charge.
SDGs@UofT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SDGs@UofT
- Legal name
- University of Toronto - SDGs@UofT (Sustainable Development Goals at the University of Toronto)
- Website
- https://sdg.utoronto.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SDGs@UofT is the University of Toronto's Institutional Strategic Initiative coordinating interdisciplinary research, student programs, and visiting scholar exchanges to advance the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals across U of T's three campuses and a global partner network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SDGs@UofT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Academic Research Initiative
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships) (EDALAOAE)
Keywords
Where SDGs@UofT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SDGs@UofT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- University Funding: As an Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) of the University of Toronto, SDGs@UofT receives institutional funding to support its research programs, student awards, and operational activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
SDGs@UofT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SDGs@UofT operates a university-based research coordination and student engagement platform organized around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It runs the SDGs Scholars Academy think tank, a Distinguished Fellows and Fellows membership program, the SDG-IECS Visiting Scholars Program, the Student Mobility Training Program, the Student Awards Program, the Sustainability Catalyst Internship Program, the Catalyst and Synthesis Grant, and the Student Voices for Sustainability publication to support interdisciplinary research, knowledge mobilization, and student leadership development.
Product overview
SDGs@UofT is an Institutional Strategic Initiative (ISI) at the University of Toronto that operates as a research coordination and student engagement platform rather than a technology product. The initiative is organized around the SDGs Scholars Academy, which includes distinguished fellows and fellows programs, and is supported by the Student Advisory Committee and Student Hub for student engagement. Key programs include the SDG-IECS Visiting Scholars Program for international research collaboration, the Student Mobility Training Program for international research exchanges, the Student Awards Program providing $1,500 grants, the Sustainability Catalyst Internship Program offering paid placements, and the Student Voices for Sustainability Publication. Additional offerings include student fellowships through CERC NEST, the Catalyst and Synthesis Grant for research funding, and the SDG Publication highlighting monthly SDG themes. The portfolio functions as an interconnected ecosystem of research facilitation, student development, and knowledge mobilization activities rather than a unified software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SDGs Scholars Academy A think tank that brings together leading researchers from across disciplines to pursue convergence research and knowledge mobilization on issues crucial to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and informing future global goals; intended for faculty researchers, fellows, and the broader academic community.
- Distinguished Fellows and Fellows Program A membership program within the SDGs Scholars Academy comprising distinguished fellows and fellows united by the breadth and depth of their expertise on SDG issues, engaging in open and transparent dialogue and research activities; intended for University of Toronto faculty researchers and affiliates.
- SDG-IECS Visiting Scholars Program Program that brings leading international researchers to the University of Toronto to advance interdisciplinary scholarship aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals through research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and public engagement, including a public lecture series; intended for senior international researchers and the U of T community.
- Student Mobility Training Program A competitive 12-week international research program for graduate students (May to August) supporting interdisciplinary research on the UN Sustainable Development Goals under the supervision of SDGs@UofT faculty affiliates; offered in partnership with the Mitacs Globalink Research Award.
- Student Awards Program A financial awards program providing $1,500 over 12-month periods to undergraduate and graduate students engaged in SDG-relevant research at the University of Toronto.
- Sustainability Catalyst Internship Program A paid internship program offering graduate students opportunities to work on real-world sustainability solutions with partners across the Greater Toronto Area, structured as defined projects of 250 hours each.
- Student Voices for Sustainability Publication A student-driven publication showcasing intersections between the UN Sustainable Development Goals through interdisciplinary, justice-focused perspectives, with each issue highlighting different SDG pairs; intended for the University of Toronto student community and broader sustainability audience.
- Student Hub A resource and gathering space connecting University of Toronto students passionate about sustainability, equity, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals across disciplines to transform research into action.
- Catalyst and Synthesis Grant Research funding program supporting interdisciplinary projects aligned with the four SDGs@UofT research themes and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduation rates for lowest income decile increased from 14% to nearly 70% through the Bihar Integrated Mobility Initiative (BIMI) intervention
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SDGs@UofT
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SDGs@UofT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SDGs@UofT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Hack the ValleyminorSDGs@UofT partnered with Hack the Valley hackathon to present a problem statement on improving food security for marginalized communities through equitable sustainable practices, engaging student innovators across Canadian post-secondary institutions.
- Mitacs Globalink Research AwardcorePartnership with Mitacs' Globalink Research Award to support the Student Mobility Training Program, enabling top graduate students to conduct interdisciplinary SDG research internationally under faculty supervision.
- Institute for Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability (IECS)coreJoint Visiting Scholars Program with IECS at University of Toronto Scarborough, bringing leading international researchers to advance interdisciplinary SDG scholarship through research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and public engagement.
- United NationsflagshipThe initiative is aligned with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, operating as part of the global SDG ecosystem. The Bihar project was developed and delivered to complete the UN International Project Programme at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SDGs@UofT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Resources Institute (WRI): A major global research organization producing data, analysis, and policy recommendations on sustainability and development, including the SDGs; comparable as a research-to-policy think tank in the same sustainability domain, though operating at much larger scale.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): The UN's primary development agency implementing SDG programs globally and partnering with academic institutions like SDGs@UofT; comparable as the ultimate convening body that the initiative's UN partnership aligns with.
- MIT Sustainability (Massachusetts Institute of Technology): A well-established sustainability initiative at a leading global research university, with broader funding, longer history, and deeper industry partnerships than SDGs@UofT; comparable as a competing university-based sustainability hub.
Direct peers
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): A Canadian-headquartered policy research institute working on sustainable development, including SDG-related research and publications; directly comparable as a research-driven organization advancing SDG scholarship with policy impact focus.
- Stockholm Resilience Centre: A university-affiliated research institute focusing on sustainability science, resilience, and SDG-relevant interdisciplinary scholarship; comparable as a globally-recognized academic hub for SDG and sustainability research collaboration.
- Earth Institute at Columbia University: A major research university initiative advancing interdisciplinary work on sustainable development and the SDGs; directly comparable to SDGs@UofT as a top-tier university-based sustainability research program with student engagement components.
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN): A global network coordinating SDG-related research and knowledge mobilization across universities and research institutions, including a Canadian national chapter; directly comparable as a multi-institutional platform advancing SDG scholarship, similar to SDGs@UofT.
- Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford): A major research university-based institute that coordinates interdisciplinary research on global challenges including sustainability, climate, and development; directly comparable as a university-anchored convergence research initiative.
Emerging players
- Cambridge Centre for Climate Science and Sustainability: A Cambridge University-based interdisciplinary research center focused on climate and sustainability science with global collaboration; comparable as a peer university-based convergence research center operating in adjacent SDG-relevant domains.
Regional players
- UBC Sustainability Initiative (University of British Columbia): A peer Canadian university-based sustainability initiative operating within a similar higher-education context and engaging Canadian faculty and students on SDG-aligned research; directly comparable in mission, though serving a different geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SDGs@UofT social profiles
Digital presenceSDGs@UofT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SDGs@UofT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SDGs@UofT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SDGs@UofT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SDGs@UofT
What does SDGs@UofT do?
SDGs@UofT operates a university-based research coordination and student engagement platform organized around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It runs the SDGs Scholars Academy think tank, a Distinguished Fellows and Fellows membership program, the SDG-IECS Visiting Scholars Program, the Student Mobility Training Program, the Student Awards Program, the Sustainability Catalyst Internship Program, the Catalyst and Synthesis Grant, and the Student Voices for Sustainability publication to support interdisciplinary research, knowledge mobilization, and student leadership development.
Is SDGs@UofT a public or private company?
SDGs@UofT is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was SDGs@UofT founded?
SDGs@UofT was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SDGs@UofT based?
SDGs@UofT is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does SDGs@UofT make money?
One revenue line is on record: university Funding.
Who are SDGs@UofT's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Resources Institute (WRI), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MIT Sustainability (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Direct peers are International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Stockholm Resilience Centre, Earth Institute at Columbia University, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford). Cambridge Centre for Climate Science and Sustainability is listed as an emerging player. UBC Sustainability Initiative (University of British Columbia) is listed as a regional player.
Does SDGs@UofT have an API?
No public API is recorded for SDGs@UofT.
What industry is SDGs@UofT in?
SDGs@UofT's product category is Academic Research Initiative. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAI, International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint), with a secondary code of EDAIABAC, Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships). Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8731.