Cooperation between UTS and Ontario Tech University has taken its next step with the signing of an agreement to establish the Joint Research Centre in AI for Health and Wellness.
On 21 August, Ontario Tech hosted delegates from UTS, the Australian Consulate General and Austrade for a campus visit and JRC signing ceremony.
Under the JRC, academics from both universities will cooperate on research in the areas of data analytics and artificial intelligence; IoT and computing for real-time analytics; and serious games – all with a focus on better understanding and improving community health and wellness.
The JRC is the result of many years of research collaboration and strong researcher linkages, and a joint commitment by both young universities to impact-driven research.
The JRC co-Directors are excited about the joint research and the positive influence the research can have on society.
Co-directors of the new Joint Research Centre in AI for Health and Wellness Professor Paul Kennedy and Professor Carolyn McGregor AM. Image: Ontario Tech
From Ontario Tech, Professor Carolyn McGregor AM, Research Excellence Chair in Health Informatics and Professor in Ontario Tech’s Faculty of Business and Information, will lead the JRC. Professor McGregor is also a luminary alumna of UTS.
Professor Paul Kennedy is the JRC co-Director from UTS and Director of the Biomedical Data Science Laboratory in the UTS Centre for Artificial Intelligence.
The JRC in AI for Health and Wellness is a fantastic initiative linking two universities of technology: UTS and Ontario Tech University. The research led by Professor Carolyn McGregor and myself involves the development of AI and machine learning in areas such as improving the training of student nurses and emergency services personnel by understanding the stress in training simulations and in streaming the health data from hospitals and space - Professor Paul Kennedy
Professor Michael Blumenstein, UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT’s Associate Dean Research Strategy and Management, says he is very pleased about the years of focused joint research ahead.
Ontario Tech and UTS already have a strong track record of research in the areas of artificial intelligence and data analytics in the area of health and biomedical. It’s exciting to now formalise our research cooperation via this JRC agreement, which will enable more researchers and students from both institutions to work together. The JRC will be in excellent hands under the leadership of Prof McGregor and Prof Kennedy. For our Faculty, the JRC is also a promising step in terms of research cooperation between both our countries and we look forward to shared positive outcomes of the joint research.
Following the signing of the JRC, UTS and Ontario Tech will next look at increasing opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate student collaboration and internships.