On the morning of September 27, faculty members and industry came together to discuss nanotechnology.
Supported by NSERC and co-hosted by MITACS, the NSERC Nanotechnology Connector Breakfast was a chance for U of T researchers – particularly engineering researchers – to connect with industry, and explore collaborative funding opportunities.
“It is a pleasure to be part of one of the first NSERC Connector events at U of T,” said Professor Peter Lewis, U of T’s Associate Vice-President (Research), who opened the event. “Nanotechnology is a research priority at U of T, and especially in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The University strongly encourages new partnerships with industry, as it leverages new and successful ventures.”
Professor Stewart Aitchison (ECE), Vice-Dean, Research, and Director, Emerging Communications Technology Institute (ECTI), then gave an overview of the cutting-edge micro- and nano-fabrication facilities available at U of T’s ECTI – a workspace that makes nanotechnology-related research possible.
The guests – more than 20 industry representatives and 25 faculty members – were treated to presentations on Surface Interface Ontario’s facilities and services, NSERC’s Engage program, and its Collaborative Research and Development program, Mitacs’ industrial partnership programs, and more.
Professors Nazir Kherani (ECE, MSE), Joyce Poon (ECE) and Paul Santerre (Director, IBBME) touched on the impact nanotechnology has on their research areas – from energy, to information and communications technologies, to biology and biomedicine.
“I’m very pleased with the enthusiasm we saw for this event – from my colleagues in Engineering and from our industry contacts. They see the value of increased collaboration, and this event was designed to help make those connections,” said Professor Aitchison, “Sometimes there are specific technical problems that a university researcher can shed new light on, and sometimes there are commercialization prospects to explore. This was an opportunity to explore the beginnings of potentially fruitful collaborations.”
