At the outset, the founders of Perimeter recognized that the long-term success of our independent institute required developing deep and meaningful partnerships with all Canadian research universities to attract, retain and develop top talent.  A rapid example of such scientific synergy is the nearby Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. This top-flight centre, combined with Perimeter, has already established Waterloo Region as one of the best places in the world for the exciting new field of quantum computing.

Specific methods of interaction between Perimeter and Canadian universities include:

University Cross-Appointments and Adjunct Positions: In a deliberate effort to involve itself with the surrounding academic community, Perimeter Institute is motivated to facilitate a cross-appointment or adjunct position for any of its senior researchers with any relevant local university and welcomes the opportunity to explore all relationships with other leading centres across the country.

Associate Member Program: The Associate Member Program is specifically designed to enable the Institute to partner with similarly focused research universities throughout Canada to jointly recruit international-calibre scientists to their faculties with an associated residence commitment at Perimeter. The Institute is flexible with regards to the time-sharing and cost-sharing details of these relationships, with the understanding that monies committed by the Institute will be directly proportional to the time spent in residence at the Institute. Although this process is initiated at the behest of the host university, it should be noted that all Associate members must undergo the full and independent approval process of Perimeter Institute. It is not considered strictly necessary for Associate members to be specialists in the principal scientific activities of Perimeter, although a substantial research overlap is required. The Institute currently has eight Associate members.

Affiliate Member Program: The Affiliate Member Program enables select faculty at universities across Canada to be regularly involved in the Institute’s research activities. The Institute provides office space, accommodation in our visitor housing, a per diem and travel supplements to and from the Institute to its Affiliate members who are encouraged to come to the Institute on an informal, ongoing basis. The Institute currently has 52 affiliates.

Graduate Students: Perimeter was explicitly designed to involve graduate students in the lifeblood of the Institute and a strong aspect of our mandate is to partner with Canadian universities to both increase the numbers and quality of physics graduate students in Canada. Graduate students are currently associated with PI either through supervision by a cross-appointed PI researcher or through their direct participation in conferences, workshops and summer schools.

Memoranda of Understanding: The Institute has signed Memoranda of Understanding with 30 Canadian universities and institutions to further its goal of serving as a focal point for all relevant members of the Canadian theoretical physics establishment.

These include:

Additional Partnerships and Linkages: PI researchers are productively involved with a variety of Canadian universities and other organizations by way of scientific collaborations, publishing, joint-conferences, recruitment and a wide variety of other short and long-term relationships. Examples of these organizations include, but are not limited to:

• Institute for Quantum Computing
• Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
• Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics
• Fields Institute
• Institute for Particle Physics
• Centre de Recherche Mathematique
• Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences
• Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems research networks
• Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network