CAS is a system of engagement for academic collaboration with IBM. We connect IBMers with students, educators and researchers applying IBM technology to business and societal challenges. We host research and education projects, and an annual conference.

About Us

The Founding of CAS

Collaboration is the key to our success

The IBM Center for Advanced Studies (CAS) was established in 1990 at the IBM Toronto Software Laboratory. The primary aim of CAS is to facilitate the transfer of research ideas into the products and services in IBM. The first CASCON was held in November 1991 at IBM Toronto Lab, which grew to become the premiere conference in computer science and software engineering in Canada. Today it is one of the most important international conferences in the world in areas such as software engineering, database technology, and the smart internet. Under the founding leadership of CAS Director Jacob Slonim and Associate Director Arthur Ryman, CAS sought out university professors to partner with IBM developers and researchers in a relationship that was unique in the world at the time. Collaborations of a different CAS’ success rapidly became visible world-wide, and other companies and universities began to use the CAS model as a template for successful university-industry relationships.

COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION

Honouring 25 Years of IBM CAS and CASCON Paperback - 2015

In 2015, to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of IBM Center for Advanced Studies (CAS) and CASCON (its annual conference), CAS solicited short chapters for a book to document and highlight the importance and influence of CAS within IBM, academia, and Canada. Through the chapters of the book, readers can trace the history of CAS and read stories of early CASCON experiences and large-scale CAS projects. The breadth of perspectives in this book articulates the full scope and influence of CAS and CASCON, describing significant research resulting from CAS collaborations and documenting the impact of CAS and CASCON on individuals and institutions. The authors have illustrated how CAS was initiated within IBM Canada and how it has changed the IBM research and development landscape, the Canadian computer science and software engineering communities, the Canadian software industry, and the lives of the people in the CAS ecosystem.

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INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

2006 NSERC Leo Derikx
Synergy Award for Innovation

Innovation paves the road to success in the new global economy. The Synergy Awards for Innovation were launched in 1995 by NSERC to recognize partnerships in natural sciences and engineering research and development (R&D) between universities and Canadian industry. By working together, effective partnerships enrich the academic and research programs within Canadian post-secondary institutions while providing tangible benefits to Canadians. In 2006, CAS and 12 universities received an NSERC Leo Derikx Synergy Award at the awards ceremony in Winnipeg during CASCON. Research students, funded by CAS, worked together during the summer at IBM on their prototypes and the integration of their prototypes which allowed for rapid refinements and validation. Our partnership opened opportunities for faculty members to visit IBM and interact with students, other faculty and IBMers.

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2017 IEEE Computer Society Technical Council on Software Engineering (TCSE) Synergy Award

The TCSE Distinguished Synergy Award is presented annually to a team for outstanding and/or sustained contributions that stand as a model in the software engineering community of effective partnership between industry and universities. IBM CAS has initiated and sustained software engineering research partnerships for over 25 years. Our steady efforts with the CASCON annual conference fostered a large, diverse, and vibrant research community, leading to collaborative projects, innovative technology, joint publications, and influential consortia. This collaboration model influenced not only the Canadian software research and industrial landscape, but has been adopted in many CAS centers around the world.

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BADGES @ IBM CAS

IBM's Digital Badge Program

IBM Digital Badges are reinventing how credentials are used to recognized achievement and contribution. IBM can provide you with learning paths to progress your skills and to be recognized for your effors. IBM Canada Advanced Studies is excited to offer a Machine Learning and IOT Foundations badge!

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ADVANCED STUDIES LEADERSHIP

Marcellus Mindel

HEAD OF CENTER OF ADVANCED STUDIES

As head of CAS, Marcellus' mission is to deliver applied research experiences - for employees, faculty, students and clients - by facilitating the participation of IBM R&D staff in joint academic-industry research.

Jennifer Collins

COMMUNITY STRATEGIST/USER EXPERIENCE MANAGER

Jenn facilitates Enterprise Design Thinking workshops and also supervising the team's interns. Jenn works to connect undergrads to IBM technology so they can learn and use it in projects involving non-for-profit organizations!

Maria Gallaher

OPERATIONS LEAD

Maria assists with collaborators which includes onboarding new students for research projects, administrative agreements, fellowship payments, and access to the internal IBM Network. She also works on CAS Administrative (payments, submit Purchase Orders).

Tinny Ng

PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT

Tinny as the CAS SWAT Team Principal Architect works on things like CASApp, the website, CASCON, and any technical related matter that requires development.

Lila Adamec

PRINCIPAL EDUCATION STRATEGIST

Lila as the CAS Principal Education Strategist looks at ways to equip post-secondary students to apply IBM technology to meaningful challenges.

Vio Onut

PRINCIPAL R&D STRATEGIST

Vio oversees R&D Projects that CAS has with IBM Product teams and universities. Vio is also the Conference Chair for our annual conference CASCON x EVOKE. He looks after CAS' recognition of top talent involved in our research projects.

Dennis Buttera

TECHNOLOGY ADVOCATE

Dennis works on curriculum design and implementation with universities and colleges, as well as faculty training, workshop design and the PTECH initiative. Additionally, Dennis delivers technical learning internally and at Higher Education institutions

ADVANCED STUDIES INTERNS

Mark Joseph Villar

SWAT COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT

Daniel Cho

SWAT DEVELOPER

Jawad Hossain

SWAT DEVELOPER

Michael Caira

SWAT DEVELOPER

Ansh Sharma

SWAT DEVELOPER

Manraj Pannu

SWAT DEVELOPER

Michael Scantlebury

SWAT DEVELOPER

Charlie Zhao

SWAT DEVELOPER

Fabian de la Fuente

UI/UX DESIGNER

Shila Rahman

UI/UX DESIGNER

Caroline McKenzie

UI/UX DESIGNER

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

For IBMers to connect with CAS and discuss topics that are relevant to design, technologies, and research and for radical collaboration with CAS Communities including academic and clients

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