Caroline Cao has been impressed by many aspects of uOttawa’s Faculty of Engineering since being appointed dean in August. But it was after the faculty’s recent Design Day – a showcase of student technology projects for real-world clients – that she says she fully appreciated the true scale of the faculty’s potential.
“We had over 1,000 students pitching and presenting their work to 110 judges from industry and our alumni community,” she recalls, adding that the first Design Day a decade ago featured only eight students.
“The atmosphere on campus was electric. And these exchanges between students and the business community help foster the dynamic environment that brings about new possibilities.”
As a former startup founder and Fulbright Scholar with 25 years of academic experience in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, Cao plans to harness that energy to guide the faculty into a new era defined by innovation, inclusion, and an accelerating entrepreneurial spirit.
“I’m continually struck by the depth and breadth of expertise in the faculty,” she adds. “That includes our students, whose talent and dedication shine through. Together, they embody the entrepreneurial spirit and the energy of the Faculty of Engineering. They relentlessly tackle the difficult challenges of our time, creating solutions that help everyone.”
Bringing entrepreneurial experience to the dean’s office
After earning a Ph.D. in mechanical and industrial engineering from the University of Toronto, Cao’s entrepreneurial experience took root in the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)’s I-Corps program.
The program trains academics to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and to appreciate and navigate the journey of technology translation and commercialization.
Just a few years later, as a professor at Ohio’s Wright State University, Cao launched her own medical technology startup.
“After going through that program my mindset completely changed,” she explains. She realized that technology development and engineering doesn’t matter if people don’t benefit from it. “Not only did it change the way I approach problems and my research, it also changed how I mentor and advise students.
“So, I’ve been through the process of customer discovery. Using the lean business model. Talking to end users,” Cao adds. “Understanding what it takes to get funding, to translate technology, and to scale it. I think that allows me to bring a different perspective to how we can move our Faculty, the business community, and the country forward.”
Building on a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation
Cao says her mission for the faculty includes doubling down on its already existing entrepreneurial ecosystem – including the Kanata North Campus, MakerLaunch Startup Accelerator, Engineering Pitch Competition, and Simon Nehme Summer Entrepreneurship School – along with strengths in AI, quantum photonics, and cybersecurity.
“My vision is that the Faculty of Engineering will become pre-eminent in these specific areas of research and innovation,” she says, adding that she has set a series of tangible goals:
- Connecting more faculty members and researchers to industry partners. “Because our technology, our research, is very translatable to the marketplace.”
- Engaging with communities. “A big way we can serve society is through technological improvement. Having that end goal in mind, as opposed to technology for technology’s sake, is going to help us serve society at large.”
- Developing more innovative teaching methodologies: “We can be online. We can be hybrid. We can use virtual reality. We can use augmented reality. We can infuse teaching with AI. We can have virtual coaches. Being online gives us freedom to innovate.”
- Improving the student experience: “We want to design our curriculum, our delivery methodology, and our assessment methodology in a way that is inclusive.”
- Smoothing the path of technology translation. “There are ways we can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of that translation,” including more flexibility around IP protection, licensing, and open access.
That last point, she says, is key for the Faculty to make its biggest impact. “My objective is to encourage our colleagues to have an open mind and be flexible in terms of how we translate our research to the marketplace.”
‘We’re open for business’
Above all, Cao says that a rising tide helps lift all boats – and that uOttawa’s Faculty of Engineering is open to exploring any and all industry and governmental partnerships, as well as with communities and organizations across the city, province, and country.
“The future for us is not only about interdisciplinary research, but also collaboration with industry and government,” she says.
“And this future is not only for us, but for Canada to ensure our sovereignty in security, the economy, and technology. We’re part of this, and more than ever, we are open for business.”
