AIMDay logo and text, 'One question. One hour. Endless possibilities'

AIMday at Waterloo

Academic Industry Meeting day, or AIMdayTM, is a unique, highly effective program for university-based researchers and organizations to connect and bring world-class research to life. By matching organizations’ need for new knowledge with academic expertise, AIMday furthers understanding and enables new perspectives on real-world problems.

The AIMday program centres on small group discussions where a question raised by an organization is examined during a one-hour workshop with researchers and experts from several different disciplines. AIMday has proven successful in helping organizations find valuable contacts and collaborations and initiating paths to developing solutions.

Background

Established in 2008 at Uppsala University, Sweden, AIMday has been implemented and refined by 20+ universities in seven countries, including the U.K. (Newcastle University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford), Brazil (Federal University of Pernambuco, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, University of São Paulo), Sweden (Umeå University) and Canada (Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Saskatchewan). In 2023, the University of Waterloo has become an official practitioner of AIMday.

Upcoming events

Past events

AIMday Process

Step 1: Organizations pose questions

  • Organizations are invited to submit their industry challenges in the form of one or more questions and provide background information related to their question.
  • One question submitted (or up to five) becomes the entrance ticket for an organization to attend, free of charge.

Step 2: Researchers sign up for questions

  • Questions are gathered and presented to researchers. The researchers decide which questions they would like to take part in discussing. Each question or challenge submitted by an organization is tackled by a group of academics across university disciplines, with the aim of finding a pathway to a solution.

Step 3: Matchmaking and formation of groups

  • The AIMday event organizer oversees the logistics and develops the day’s schedule, ensuring multidisciplinary expertise in each discussion group. For a question to be workshopped, a minimum number of researchers must be identified for the discussion. 

Step 4: Workshops

  • Each question is discussed for one hour − no more, no less. The size of each workshop group is generally seven to 12 people. There is the option to participate in more than one workshop.

Step 5: Follow-up

  • Approximately a month after the AIMday event, organizers will follow up and offer organizations with assistance to get projects or other forms of collaborations started.

AIMday Frequently asked questions

What is the format of AIMday?

  • AIMday will consist of one-hour, moderated workshop discussions with designated research panels based around each question submitted. 
  • The final schedule will be circulated approximately one week prior to the event, along with links for each registered participant to access their session(s).
  • Organizations will also be invited to a welcome session. We encourage all participants to attend this session in addition to their scheduled workshop(s). 
  • Networking opportunities will be available and encouraged throughout the day. 

Who can pose questions at an AIMday event?

We welcome questions from companies and organizations.

What kind of questions can an organization ask?

The questions can be wide or narrow in scope. We don’t put any restrictions on the question formulation, and it’s you and your organization who decide the character of the question.

How many questions can an organization ask?

A maximum of five questions per organization can be asked. Experience has shown that the best results are yielded when at least two representatives from an organization attend the workshop discussions.

How does organization registration work?

  1. Organizations register their intent to participate through the AIMday portal. They may submit a research question at this point but it is not a necessity. The contact who completes the initial registration becomes the primary AIMday contact. 
  2. Once registered, primary contacts will be contacted to start the process of developing or fine-tuning the organization’s research question. Questions will be tailored to target optimal discussion. 
  3. Organizations register up to two people to participate in AIMday, which can (but does not have to) include the primary contact. Additional registrants may be added as observers at the discretion of the organization.
  4. At any time, if it is necessary to change any registration information, organizations should contact Ashley Hannon, Associate Director, Research Partnerships at the University of Waterloo.

How can I find out about an upcoming AIMday?

To find out about upcoming AIMdays in Canada, visit the AIMday event page or contact Ashley Hannon, Associate Director, Research Partnerships at the University of Waterloo.

Who can host an AIMday?

AIMdays are hosted by universities that are approved AIMday practitioners. If you are interested in becoming an AIMday practitioner, please contact Ashley Hannon, Associate Director, Research Partnerships at the University of Waterloo. 

Can I attend AIMday if my organization isn't participating?

Participation in AIMday requires the submission of a research question. If you need help developing a research question, please contact Ashley Hannon, Associate Director, Research Partnerships at the University of Waterloo. 

What happens after AIMday?

After the event, the AIMday organizing team will follow up with the organization’s representatives to share any expression of interest forms submitted by faculty experts, as well as set up any meetings to facilitate further discussions and foster collaborations.

Contact Us

For more information on AIMday, please contact:

Caitlin Wagg

Project Manager, Research Partnerships and Project Management Office, University of Waterloo

caitlin.wagg@uwaterloo.ca