Building success through partnerships

At Lassonde, success is built through collaboration. Together with partners across industry, government, academia and community — and with the generosity of philanthropic supporters who fuel possibility — we are expanding opportunities for students and advancing solutions that improve lives.  

Work-Integrated Learning & Employer Partnerships 

One example is our Digital Technologies program, Canada’s first fully work-integrated degree program, co-developed with employers in the ICT sector to strengthen talent pipelines and address skills shortages. Students learn while contributing in real revenue-generating roles, building the practical experience, confidence and competencies employers need — while earning their degree and a full-time salary. 

Our network of employer partners continues to expand, representing leading organizations including Alstom, BDO, BMO, Cisco, CoLab, Dayforce, HTS Engineering, IBM, Intact, KPM Power Inc., NGF Europe (NSG Group), Ontario Power Generation, Quanser, Shopify, Softchoice, TierOne and TMX Group. This year also marked the addition of AMD, reflecting increasing alignment with employers advancing cutting-edge work in microelectronics, intelligent systems and next-generation computing.

Research, Innovation & Industry Collaboration 

Partnerships at Lassonde focus on advancing research and innovation that enhance products, services and processes across sectors. One example is our collaboration with Printerra, alongside Norseman and Constructions-3D, advancing 3D-printed, low-carbon concrete housing as a scalable solution to sustainability and affordability challenges.  

Partnership-driven events also strengthen connections between industry and students. CHIPS Month, hosted with semiconductor leaders, sparked conversations about the future of chip and hardware innovation. Industry Night: Computing & Mechanics and alumni-led sessions like Alumni Talks: Exploring Space Engineering demonstrate the full cycle of engagement — linking students, alumni and employers from early learning to career and partnership. 

We are also building pathways for applied research through medtech industry networking events held twice a year with the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), VentureLab, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Health and the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI). These events bring small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with faculty to tackle real technical challenges. More than 25 SMEs have participated so far, leading to multiple funded collaborative research projects, including one valued at $300,000.

Lassonde also contributes expertise across the wider innovation ecosystem through initiatives such as SmartTO, supporting Ontario-based startups developing smart, sustainable mobility technologies and prototype testing. 

Advancing Innovation Through Industry–Academic Collaboration

This past year, Lassonde also convened two exclusive industry roundtables designed to accelerate innovation and bring senior leaders into direct dialogue with faculty, researchers and students. These sessions created space for co-developing real-world solutions, shaping how tomorrow’s engineering leaders are trained and deepening employer access to emerging talent.

The first event — Additive & Smart Construction: Talent and Tech — held in June 2025 at the Bergeron Centre and Lassonde’s Climate Data Driven Design (CD3) facility, brought together leaders from across the construction and infrastructure sectors, including Aecon Group Inc., BPA, EllisDon, Get-Tech Innovative Solutions, Lafarge, the National Research Council’s IRAP program, the Ontario Centre of Innovation, Printerra, the Toronto Business Development Centre and representatives from York Region. Together, participants explored how climate resilience, labour shortages, digital twinning and additive construction technologies are reshaping the future of Canada’s built environment, while also identifying opportunities for industry demonstration projects and talent development through the CD3 facility.

The second event focused on the launch of our new Mechatronics Engineering program and the growing national need for talent in robotics, automation, aerospace, AI and advanced manufacturing. Senior technical leaders from organizations such as AMD, Argo Transit Corporation, Celestica, the cities of Mississauga and Vaughan, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems, Festo Didactic, FGF Brands, Martinrea International, MDA Space, Mecsmart Systems, Metrolinx, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Quanser Consulting, Siemens Canada, the TTC and the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce joined faculty and students to discuss how this next-generation program can help address Canada’s engineering talent gap. The conversation highlighted shared opportunities to expand applied research partnerships, enrich co-op and work-integrated learning pathways and strengthen innovation ecosystems across sectors.

Philanthropy & Impact 

Philanthropic leadership continues to shape what’s possible at Lassonde. Pierre Lassonde and the Lassonde Family Foundation — whose founding investment established the School and continues to support students and access initiatives — and Doug Bergeron, whose gift created the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence and entrepreneurship opportunities, exemplify the power of long-term partnership in advancing education and innovation. 

Partnerships like those with Benson Steel — supporting research in structural steel fire safety, scholarships and a Steel Tree learning installation — demonstrate how philanthropy strengthens student experience and real-world impact across our community.