Savvas Chamberlain
Waterloo Electrical Engineering Professor
1969 – 1994
Founder of DALSA Corporation
Savvas Chamberlain is many things including a scientist, inventor, entrepreneur and professor.
As a Waterloo electrical engineering faculty member, Chamberlain invented many silicon image sensors, introduced new technology and devices, and developed some fundamental theories. With the support of the University of Waterloo, he founded DALSA Corporation, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of high-performance digital imaging and semiconductors.
He is currently the CEO of EXEL Research Inc.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Born in Cyprus, Chamberlain couldn’t finish his high school education due to the struggle of Cyprus trying to gain independence from the United Kingdom.
Because he was a British citizen by birth, Chamberlain was able to travel to London, England where after a year of studying he was able to pass the entrance exams for university. He successfully completed a professional designation, which at the time was equivalent to a BSc.
After receiving a scholarship from the London County Council, he went to Southhampton University for a master’s degree followed by a PhD in electronics and biology. After Chamberlain finished his doctorate, he had the opportunity to work in biomedical research but turned it down.
WATERLOO ENGINEERING ACADEMIC CAREER
In 1969, Chamberlain joined the University of Waterloo as an electrical engineering professorand performed research in the field of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits for over 25 years.
In the 1970s, Chamberlain helped modernize the curriculum by developing new undergraduate and graduate Waterloo electrical engineering courses and launchingundergraduate laboratories.
His industrial experience includes research work with IBM and other companies. He has published more than 150 papers in scientific journals focusing on CCDs and semiconductor devices and has authored and co-authored more than 20 patents in the area of image sensors.
Chamberlain was honoured as a distinguished professor emeritus of the University of Waterloo in 1999 and was awarded a Doctor of Engineering (DEng) from the University in 2007. He became a member of the Order of Canada in 2009.
LEGACY AND INFLUENCE
Inventor and company founder
While at Waterloo, Chamberlain invented many silicon image sensors, introduced new technology on MOSFET and charge-coupled devices, and developed some fundamental theories.
Using technology that he developed at Waterloo, Chamberlain founded DALSA Corporation in 1980 (now Teledyne DALSA). While he was the CEO, the corporation became a leading international corporation in the digital imaging sector. He remained CEO until August 2007 and resigned as chairman of the corporation in 2011.
Investing in Canadian tech companies
As the current CEO and chairman of EXEL Research Inc., Chamberlain is involved in investing in technology companies and helping move them to a profitable and lasting growth stage.
He is passionate about identifying innovations in the high-tech sector area and believes that commercializing them in Canada will lead to the creation of high-quality jobs and wealth that will benefit society.
Savvas Chamberlain Family Foundation
In December 2010, Chamberlain founded and funded the Savvas Chamberlain Family Foundation, a charitable organization that provides funding for projects to support education, health, arts and culture, the disadvantaged, and the preservation of the environment.
Chamberlain and his family back a variety of scholarships for Waterloo Engineering undergraduate and graduate students and donated $3 million towards the building of Engineering 5. Their generosity was recognized with the designation of the Savvas Chamberlain Family Floor in Engineering 5.