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Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

At Conestoga College, research is about pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Our team of innovators, problem solvers, and industry experts are driven by a shared passion to make a meaningful impact on our society. By collaborating with industry and community partners, we are able to create new solutions that have a lasting influence on our community, and we are proud to be a leader in research.

In 2024, Conestoga ranked as one of the top 20 research colleges in Canada by engaging with 175 industry and community partners, 177 active projects, and hiring 251 students. 

Work with us

Centres, labs & institutes 

Research impact

VG Meats logo

Digital simulations for meat plant safety training

The Virtual & Augmented Reality Lab and the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab worked with VG Meats to create digital simulations for meat plant safety training.
A woman looking sideways

Fabbulist connects melanin women with beauty services

Melanin women are significant consumers of beauty services, but the industry isn't built for their specific needs. It is difficult, and at times, almost impossible, to find appropriate hair, make-up and skincare services nearby. Enter Fabbulist, an online platform that helps melanin women find beauty stylists that truly get their hair type and skin tone
Erin Pickles

Erin Pickles leans into tech sales

Taking a leap of faith, Erin joined the first Sales Lab cohort despite some reluctance as to whether sales was the right path for her. She was a dedicated single mom with experience in customer service, but tech sales would be a whole new world.

Research & Innovation leadership

Ignac Kolenko

Ignac Kolenko, P. Eng.

Director, innovation special projects

Rose Mastnak headshot

Rose Mastnak, MBA

Director, Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective

Jeff Dukes

Jeff Dukes, P.Eng.

Director, SMART Centre

Amin Yazdani, PhD, CSP

Amin Yazdani, PhD, CSP

Executive director, Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance

Linda Sheiban Taucar headshot

Linda Sheiban Taucar, RN, B.Sc., B.Sc.N, M.Sc.

Director, Centre for Health Care Research & Innovation

Alla Darwish

Alla Darwish, PhD, MBA

Director, commercialization & IP mobilization

Nicole Detlor

Nicole Detlor, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Director, Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab

Anthony Piscitelli

Anthony Piscitelli, PhD

Director, Conestoga Social Innovation Lab

Sherri Steele

Sherri Steele, PhD

Director, SoTL, Teaching Innovation & Assessment

Michelle Chrétien, PhD

Michelle Chrétien, PhD

Vice president, Research & Innovation

Sal Jiddawi

Saleh Jiddawi, MBA

Director, research operations

Tim Gibbins

Tim Gibbins, MBA

Director, research engagement

By the numbers (2023) 

In funding
Active projects
Industry & community partners engaged

Contact us

See how Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship can help you access faculty expertise, student employees, and the college's innovative lab spaces and equipment.

 Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship logo

96 Grand Avenue South. 
Cambridge, Ontario, N1S 2L9, Canada

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