Monday, June 21, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

A presentation by Peter R. Frise

Scientific Director and CEO – AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence
Professor of Automotive Engineering and Executive Director of Automotive Research & Studies – University of Windsor

The automotive industry is Canada’s largest single business sector providing high value employment to over 300,000 people across the country. Join Peter R. Frise as he describes the present status and future trends of automotive-related research globally and in Canada. This research will be examined to show how Canada can benefit from more innovation in key areas of the economic and social fabric of our country. This talk is leading up to the Canada Science and Technology Museum’s opening of the exhibition In Search of the Canadian Car on Wednesday, June 23.

Please RSVP by Friday, June 18, 2010 at rsvp@technomuses.ca or by calling 613-998-7486.

Abstract:

The Future of the Automobile and Collaborative Automotive
Research & Education in Canada

Peter R. Frise, Ph.D., FCAE, FEC, P.Eng.

Scientific Director and CEO – AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence
Professor of Automotive Engineering and Executive Director
of Automotive Research & Studies – University of Windsor

The automotive industry is Canada’s largest single business sector providing high value employment to over 300,000 people across the country including more than 135,000 direct jobs mainly in Ontario and Quebec. In addition, this $110B business provides nearly a quarter of Ontario’s trade and is the largest source of exports in our economy as well as being a key component of Canada’s transportation sector.

Automotive manufacturing is one of the largest consumers of materials in our economy and present and future automobiles are extremely high technology articles which represent one of the largest purchases for most Canadians. The North American automotive sector is presently under significant competitive pressures and so we must innovate to continue to provide these benefits to Canada.

The presentation will describe the present status and future trends of automotive-related research globally and in Canada and will illustrate with examples in vehicle safety, advanced materials and manufacturing and cleaner powertrains, how R&D in this sector is a critical asset to Canada’s largest manufacturing sector and to Canada’s overall economic well-being.

In addition, the whole spectrum of academic applied research will be examined to show how Canada can benefit from more innovation in key areas of the economic and social fabric of our country.

Bio:

Dr. Peter Frise is currently the Scientific Director and Chief Executive Officer of AUTO21, a federal Network of Centres of Excellence, and the Executive Director of Automotive Research and Studies at the University of Windsor.

Prior to this, Dr. Frise was a professor in mechanical design as well as the Daimler Chrysler Canada/NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair in Mechanical Design at the University of Windsor. He has also held the position of Associate Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University, in Ottawa.

Dr. Frise has also served on the Council for Professional Engineers Ontario. He was appointed to Council of the National Research Council in December 2006.