Catalyzing research through collaborative partnerships
We support research initiatives that further sustainable urban and peri-urban development in India, connecting UofT researchers with Indian partners including local governments, non-profit organizations, research centres, and academic institutions. Our work includes capacity-building workshops, conferences, research grants, and community-based projects.
The School of Cities
We work closely with the University of Toronto School of Cities, a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education, and engagement, creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive.
Our research pillar includes initiatives in three key formats
Research initiatives
We support research by enabling cross-border collaborations between scholars, offering grants, and more.
The Research Catalyst Grant
The UofT India Foundation provides seed funds that fuel collaborative, high-impact research initiatives that further the sustainability and resilience of Indian cities and city-regions. The Research Catalyst Grant establish and support partnerships between U of T faculty and Indian academic, research, and non-profit entities. Together, the partners co-create research yielding solutions, evidence, and insights that will build more sustainable Indian cities of all sizes.
A look at 2024-25 Research Catalyst Grant Awardees
A look at 2025-26 Research Catalyst Grant Awardees
A look at 2026-27 Research Catalyst Grants
International Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Program
The International Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Program is a year-long senior-level course at the University of Toronto where student teams collaborate to tackle urban challenges in India identified by Indian community partners.
Promoting Cooling and Thermal Comfort in Jalgaon, Maharashtra
The UofT India Foundation, with Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) and Jalgaon Municipal Corporation, is co-developing an evidence-backed Heat Action Plan (HAP) for Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Designed to strengthen resilience for nearly 600,000 residents against extreme heat, the two-year initiative uses participatory methods and vulnerability assessments to identify heat-vulnerable wards and pilot cooling interventions such as cool roofing and build institutional capacity for climate adaptation by equipping urban local bodies (ULBs). Supported by U of T faculty expertise in capacity building, training, monitoring, and evaluation, this project advances urban sustainability research and contributes to sustainable urban development in India, positioning Jalgaon as a model for community-led climate action.
Navigating Urban Water Management Challenges in Indian Cities through Climate Smart Informatics
UTIF in partnership with Development Alternatives, is implementing a project to strengthen urban water management systems in a Tier-II city in Odisha. Over three years, the project will develop a dashboard, use real-time monitoring, predictive analytics and policy insights to address systemic inefficiencies in urban water systems. It will equip urban local bodies with decision-support tools and training that enhance efficiency, reduce water losses, and strengthen resilience to climate risks. With U of T faculty contributing expertise in AI, baseline assessments, and the water–energy nexus, the initiative advances urban sustainability research in India while supporting sustainable urban development in India, positioning the pilot city as a model for climate-smart, citizen-centric governance.
Conference of Panchayats (CoP)
UTIF is working with Manjula Bharathy, Professor, School of Habitat Studies, TISS, Mumbai, Policy & Development Advisory Group, Asar Social Impact Advisors, and Waatavaran to strengthen the capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to lead climate action in Raigad district, Maharashtra. Over three years, the consortium is training local leaders, conducting vulnerability mapping and co-developing six climate-integrated Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs). It also convenes eight Conferences of Panchayats (CoPs) that, inspired by the global COP, bring climate dialogue to the grassroots and position PRIs as central actors in translating high-level climate goals into inclusive local development plans. With U of T faculty contributing research, training, and policy guidance, the project aims to embed climate priorities into governance and generate models of decentralised, community-led climate action that can inform policy in India and across the Global South.
Research Initiatives
We support research by enabling cross-border collaborations between scholars, offering grants, and more.
The 2024-25 Research Catalyst Grant Awardees
Project 1: Leveraging local knowledge and resources to improve the urban public realm by reimagining two urban disused sites in Hyderabad
- Investigator(s): Dr. Naomi Adiv, Dr. Harikrishnan (HUL)
- Indian Partner(s): HUL
- Study Site(s): Hyderabad
Project Brief
The project aims to conduct mid-build and post-build evaluations of three sites of HUL’s i’Local winning contest entries. Using frameworks of spatial ethnography – through methods of walking, behaviour mapping interviews, and photography – the project will consider how placemaking works in a contemporary Indian urban context. Findings will be developed to construct best practice bundles for further capacity building and improving governance mechanisms.
Project 2: Critical Action Learning Lab (CALL): Facilitating Students’ Critical Action on Urban Problems
- Investigator(s): Dr. James Slotta
- Indian Partner(s): Charan’s Public School
- Study Site(s): Bangalore
Project Brief
This project establishes a multimodal makerspace called the Critical Action Learning Lab (CALL) at Charans’ Public School, and aims to develop a curriculum focused on climate action and resilience. Students engage in embodied learning and collective inquiry. The project investigates how the design of the physical environment can facilitate students’ critical action toward socio-environmental issues.
Project 3: Feeding City Lab collaboration on traditional/heirloom food crops, seed conservation, and food sovereignty networks
- Investigator(s): Dr. Jayeeta Sharma
- Indian Partner(s): The Thanal Trust, The Women’s Collective.
- Study Site(s): Multiple farming districts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Project Brief
This project seeks to mobilize knowledge on heirloom rice, seed conservation, and best practices on food and farming from community-based networks who seek to advance local food sovereignty; it aims to help train and mentor future thinkers and doers in evidence-based research methods that help advance urban and rural communities toward sustainable development goals, and toward the building of urban-rural and local-global alliances on these issues.
Project 4: Sustaining & Scaling Safe, Continuous Water Supply across Odisha: Distilling and Disseminating Lessons from Recent Drink from Tap Successes
- Investigator(s): Dr. David Meyer, Dr. Kajri Mishra (XIM), Dr. S. Vedala (ASCI)
- Indian Partner(s): Water Corporation of Odisha, XIM
- Study Site(s): Puri, Bhubaneshwar
Project Brief
Access to piped water is vital and India’s central government prioritizes its expansion. Yet most piped networks in India operate intermittently, reducing water quality and perpetuating inequities. Attempted transitions to continuous supply usually fail, but the 2020 “Drink from Tap” initiative in Puri, Odisha, emerged as a success story, triggering replication efforts in dozens of cities. The precise factors that underpin Puri’s success remain elusive, threatening the viability of replication efforts; Dr. Meyer’s team has developed a plan for monitoring water metrics, with the goal of sustaining safe drinking water access.
Project 5: Children with disabilities in India: A Needs Analysis
- Investigators(s): Dr. Andrea Duncan
- Indian Partner(s): Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA) Tamil Nadu, MGM Aurangabad
- Study Site(s): Aurangabad, Kochi, Chennai
Project Brief
The project aims to create a prototype for pediatric walkers best suited to address the spectrum of disabilities experience by children in India. The research will investigate design features (e.g., lightweight, durable) and systemic societal factors including stigma and accessibility that affect uptake of these technologies as well.
Our Current Projects
For IMUCP 2024-2025, we partnered with Ashoka University to form a joint cohort of Canadian and Indian students, working together on sustainability projects in Pune. SWaCH and RannNITI are our community and field partners who are working closely with the student groups on their projects. Further, the students will receive technical guidance from Yutak- an LGBTQ+ charitable group and Center for Development Studies and Activities (CDSA) as subject matter experts.
Partners: SWaCH Waste Pickers Co-operative
Partners: RaNNniti and CDSA, Pune
This project will develop a multi-lingual resource guide (print and virtual) detailing welfare schemes and skilling avenues accessible to transgender communities.
For more information, Click Here
Conferences and Roundtables
We bring together diverse people across the ecosystem for insightful discussions, initiating and nurturing dialogue between important stakeholders for a more collaborative approach.
Conferences and Roundtables
We foster and sustain research-driven dialogue between Indian changemakers that will lead to more sustainable Indian cities and city-regions.
Cities of Care Conference
The Cities of Care Conference is to be co-hosted by UTIF, IIT Madras and School of Cities, University of Toronto on January 30-31, 2026 at IIT Madras, Chennai. The convening will examine how the water-food-waste nexus shapes urban resilience, equity, and sustainability. Bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, it aims to bridge disciplines and generate actionable insights for just and regenerative urban futures.
CRUSH (Climate Resilient Urban Sustainable Habitats) Roundtable
The CRUSH roundtable, held in Delhi in July 2024, brought together Indian researchers, urban planners, civil society, and government representatives to explore climate-resilient urban solutions. It was hosted with U of T’s School of Cities and IIT Delhi’s Electrical Engineering Department.
AI and the City Conference
In partnership with IIIT-Bangalore and the University of Toronto School of Cities, we hosted the first annual ‘AI and the City’ conference in Bangalore in January 2025. Featuring 35+ speakers from India, Canada, Australia, and the U.S., the conference explored AI’s role in shaping smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable cities.
Capacity building initiatives
We co-create workshops and capacity-building initiatives for Indian changemakers, focusing on enhancing the skills, knowledge, and competencies that are most needed to build more sustainable Indian cities. Sessions are led by leading experts from the University of Toronto, and audiences include UTIF partners such as TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), PSI (People’s Science Institute) and NIAS (National Institute of Advanced Sciences), as well as Indian urban local bodies.
Urban Mixed Methods Workshop
UTIF supports exceptional Indian PhD students to attend the annual Urban Mixed Methods Workshop hosted by U of T’s School of Cities, where learners master urban research methodologies, refine their city-building research, and build interdisciplinary networks of city-builders.
The School of Cities India Academic Lecture series (SOCIAL)
The School of Cities India Academic Lecture series (SOCIAL) is an online lecture series featuring academic experts from across India discussing their latest research on sustainability issues in Indian cities today.
Qualitative Research Workshop on Equitable Cities
UTIF and the School of Cities at U of T hosted a qualitative research workshop led by U of T’s Prof. Aditi Mehta in Mumbai. Conducted in May 2025, the session introduced participants from grassroots organizations to research design, methodology and analysis by crafting meaningful research questions, conducting effective interviews and organizing data using coding techniques, thus equipping them to explore social dynamics and strengthen pathways to equitable urban development.
Development & Climate Vulnerability Assessment Nexus Workshop
UTIF, the School of Cities at U of T and Dasra hosted a workshop in Mumbai led by Dr. Nidhi Subramanyam in August 2025. Through participatory activities, case studies, and group discussions, participants from community-based organizations explored tools for mapping climate vulnerabilities and local capacities, helping integrate climate perspectives into sustainable inclusive development practice.
From Data to Decision Workshop Series on Urban Data Visualization
UTIF collaborated with School of Cities at U of T, PSI (Dehradun), Manjula Bharathy, Professor, School of Habitat Studies, TISS, (Mumbai) and NIAS (Bangalore) to conduct a 1.5-day workshop series with Dr. Jeff Allen, U of T Researcher on urban data visualization, where participants were trained in mapping, visualization approaches, data storytelling, and Q-GIS applications. Emphasis was placed on translating complex datasets into actionable insights, enabling urban data to inform decision-making across disciplines and support more resilient, inclusive urban futures.
Creative Techniques for Visual Representation Workshop
A session on creative visual representation was conducted at IIT Madras in January 2025 by Dr. Karan Singh, Associate Director, School of Cities India at U of T, where students were introduced to innovative approaches for using graphics to enhance communication, perception, and storytelling. The focus was on balancing technical tools with creativity to achieve impactful visual narratives.
Data-driven Storytelling and Visualization Workshop
A workshop on data-driven storytelling and visualization was conducted in January 2025 at the School of Habitat Studies, TISS Mumbai by Dr. Karan Singh, Associate Director, School of Cities India at U of T. Master’s students were introduced to storytelling strategies and visualization techniques, with emphasis on aesthetic design and effective communication of research insights to diverse stakeholders.
Capacity building initiatives
We co-create workshops and capacity building initiatives across diverse sectors, focusing on strategies to enhance skills, knowledge, and competencies.
Engaging with us
Academic Institutions & Research Centers
We collaborate with Indian universities and research institutions enabling knowledge exchange and joint research projects in india to foster evidence-based research on critical sustainability challenges.
Not-for-profit organizations
We partner with grassroots organizations to research and pilot community-driven solutions, leveraging U of T expertise to enhance local skills and drive sustainable development.
Think Tanks & Policy Organizations
Industry & Research Ecosystem
Engaging with us
Get in touch with us
If you’re interested in collaborating with us, or just want to learn more about us, drop us a ‘hey’ and we’ll get back to you!
- Ministry of New, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, IN
- contactus@uoftindiafoundation.com