The University of Ottawa is taking action to expand its industry partnerships to strengthen its impact on Canada's sovereignty and resilience.
Indeed, President and vice-chancellor Marie-Eve Sylvestre is sending a deliberate and intentional signal that uOttawa is open for business by naming Blair Patacairk, an expert in investment attraction who has contributed to many of the National Capital Region's greatest economic successes over the past 20 years, as her Special Advisor on Relationships with Industry.
As a leading executive, Patacairk has advanced numerous critical projects with governments, economic development organizations, SMEs, and Fortune 500 companies. His leadership has been recognized by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade's Forty Under 40 business award and North America's Top 50 award for economic development.
A noted national leader in research intensity, commercialization, and startup creation, the University of Ottawa has emerged in recent years as a powerful catalyst for collaboration at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and policy leadership in Canada's capital.
Now, as new threats and challenges continue to emerge with shifts in geopolitical alliances and uncharted technological advances, the University is moving to deepen industry relationships to drive real-world innovation that supports the resilience of Canada's economy and sovereignty.
"The University of Ottawa wouldn't be the critical place of power, leadership and socio-economic transformation that we have become without the innovative partnerships that we have brokered with industry leaders at each milestone of our growth," said Marie-Eve Sylvestre, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Ottawa. "At a time when Canada's economy and its very sovereignty are threatened, Blair Patacairk's trusted leadership will enhance and elevate our relationships in key sectors to help to chart resilient paths forward."
"Industry increasingly requires access to advanced research, specialized infrastructure, and highly skilled talent to remain competitive in fast-moving global markets."
Blair Patacairk, President's Special Advisor on Relationships with Industry
As Special Advisor on Relationships with Industry, Patacairk has a mandate to engage directly engage with business leaders on behalf of President Sylvestre to multiply partnerships in the University's dynamic ecosystem, which includes national economic institutions and federal agencies, research councils and funding, and thriving industries, including Canada's epicenter of tech entrepreneurship in Kanata North.
Patacairk will ensure uOttawa's research, talent, and capabilities are directly connected to industry needs, commercialization pathways, and opportunities for scale.
"Innovation is no longer a simple linear process. Across sectors, research and technology development have become more complex, more capital-intensive, and more dependent on deep collaboration between academia, industry, and government," said Patacairk. "Industry increasingly requires access to advanced research, specialized infrastructure, and highly skilled talent to remain competitive in fast-moving global markets. At the same time, governments rely on both industry and academia to help solve complex challenges, drive economic growth, and advance priorities like sovereignty and resilience."
Patacairk's new role adds to and builds on his existing responsibilities as Executive Advisor, Innovation and Business Development Strategy within the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation. Notably, he has collaborated on advancing key uOttawa initiatives, including the Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC), strengthening the University's position in quantum science, technology, semiconductors and photonics, and expanding engagement in defence, cybersecurity, and emerging technology ecosystems.
POWERED BY ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION
The University of Ottawa is powered by its vibrant research partnership ecosystem that features over 700 industry partners, and is bolstered by the addition of more than 200 collaboration agreements annually. It generates more than 35 patents each year, and its "Core facilities" self-contained laboratory program is designed to spur entrepreneurship and commercialization breakthroughs through a model that is unique in the U15.
The focus on entrepreneurship and innovation is woven into uOttawa's culture. Indeed, a remarkable 86 per cent of students participate in experiential learning activities that include interdisciplinary challenges, the Co-op Program, self-directed courses, international exchanges and the CityStudio partnership with the City of Ottawa.
To continue elevating its innovation successes, the University of Ottawa has made the largest investment in its history to build the Advanced Medical Research Centre, set to open next year. This discovery and commercialization hub will help speed up the journey from bench to bedside, leveraging the region's strengths in smart health and biotherapeutics to expand Canada's biomanufacturing capacity, enhance patient care, and support the creation of new companies that transform therapies into economic growth.
At its Kanata-North campus - Canada's largest tech park - the University helps foster mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships and collaborations with the private sector community, uniting researchers, founders and industry experts to generate fresh ideas and build new ventures. Additionally, uOttawa has cultivated an entrepreneurial mindset across its faculties and has supported, through initiatives like the Startup Garage, over 200 start-ups that have successfully commercialized their homegrown' business ideas.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Before joining the University of Ottawa, Patacairk held the titles of President, Consider Canada City Alliance; Vice President Global Expansion for Invest Ottawa; President and CEO of Telecom Gateway Services Inc, a full-service international business development consulting firm; and co-founder of the Centre for Next Generation Networks.
