Chairs in Design Engineering (CDEs) were established by NSERC to improve the level and quality of design engineering activity within Canadian universities. NSERC encourages a multidisciplinary view of design engineering and encourages applications from all engineering disciplines. Funded Chairs are expected to:

• increase design education and training for all engineering students;
• design and develop innovative products, processes and technologies;
• establish productive and effective collaborations between industry, design faculty and professional staff within the university and other CDE Chairholders, faculty and experts across Canada;
• advance design engineering knowledge through publications and presentations in both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed vehicles;
• integrate research activities into the CDE action plan
• actively participate in the Canadian Engineering Education Association;
• establish effective multidisciplinary design partnerships, teams and networks; and
• act as advocates for design engineering, generating an increased awareness and appreciation in both the research and outside communities for all aspects of design engineering.

NSERC/Quanser Chair in Design Engineer, Professor Alex Czekanski