Concordia University’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science in Montreal and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Samueli School of Engineering have entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish bilateral research collaborations, student mobility opportunities, and joint academic initiatives across engineering, computer science, and software engineering disciplines.
Gina Cody School Dean Mourad Debbabi and Ah-Hyung “Alissa” Park, the Ronald and Valerie Sugar Dean of Engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, executed the partnership agreement during Debbabi’s official visit to Los Angeles. The accord provides a structural foundation for cross-institutional research projects, co-supervised graduate theses, and reciprocal academic exchanges designed to give students direct exposure to leading microelectronics and computing ecosystems in both Canada and the United States.
Advancing Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence and Semiconductor Hardware
The bilateral partnership closely aligns with priority research clusters at both institutions, notably in artificial intelligence architectures, energy-efficient computing, and semiconductor fabrication. UCLA Samueli recently established a 25 million USD research consortium known as the Semiconductor Hub, funded across five years to accelerate AI-native hardware and software integration, power management solutions, and advanced microchip packaging alongside prominent industry members including Broadcom, Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries, Meta, and Synopsys.
Industry linkages underpinning this initiative demonstrate strong ties to Canadian engineering talent. Two founding corporate members of the UCLA Semiconductor Hub are led by distinguished Gina Cody School alumni: Charlie Kawwas (BEng 1993, MASc 1999, PhD 2007), President of Broadcom, and Vincent Di Caprio (BEng 1989), Corporate Vice-President of Technology Pathfinding and Business Development in the Advanced Packaging Business Unit at Applied Materials.
Expanded Academic Pathways and Global Training for Engineering Students
Through this collaboration, undergraduate and graduate engineering scholars will benefit from cross-border research placements, access to specialized cleanrooms, and collaborative design projects tackling critical supply chain resilience and high-performance computing hurdles. Faculty researchers from both institutions will also coordinate joint symposia, collaborative grant proposals, and curricular workshops linking Montreal’s artificial intelligence hub with Southern California’s deep-tech engineering corridors.
About the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University
The Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University educates more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students in Montreal, Quebec, driving internationally recognized research across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software systems, and civil infrastructure. Prospective undergraduate and graduate students are invited to connect with our education advisory team to explore study options and international academic opportunities.