Kinaxis: Advancing Innovation in the Supply Chain Sector

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Kinaxis has formed a five-year collaboration with the University of Ottawa. Picture: Ottawa
Kinaxis has formed a five-year collaboration with the University of Ottawa aimed at advancing technology innovation within the supply chain sector

Kinaxis continues to power complex global supply chains and support the people who manage them.

But, away from its day-to-day activities, the global leader in supply chain orchestration is also committed to educate the next generation of supply chain and technology professionals. 

Its newly-established, five-year collaboration with the University of Ottawa (uOttawa), for example, is aimed at advancing technology innovation within the supply chain sector, with a focus on developing solutions in AI, machine learning (ML), optimisation and next-generation user interfaces.

The strategic partnership brings together Kinaxis and uOttawa researchers, including students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, to work on both new and existing projects. Ultimately, the objective is to foster groundbreaking solutions and equip future industry leaders with essential skills and hands-on experience.

Kinaxis is a global leader in modern supply chain orchestration. Picture: Kinaxis

A thriving tech hub

Recognised for its vibrant technology ecosystem, Ottawa, where Kinaxis is headquartered, provides a fertile environment for innovation.

Together, uOttawa and Kinaxis are well positioned to leverage immense research strengths and decades of industry expertise to push the boundaries of supply chain technology.

Gelu Ticala, Chief Technology Officer at Kinaxis, highlights the company's pride in collaborating with one of Canada's leading academic institutions.

He says: “We're so lucky to be headquartered in Ottawa, which has such a world-class tech community as well as prestigious universities like uOttawa that are excited to collaborate with industry on such important projects.

"We're thrilled to partner with uOttawa and looking forward to all the learning, innovation and positive impacts that can come out of this – for the students, the university and for supply chains.”

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Driving research with real-world impact

Kinaxis, which has been shaping the supply chain industry for more than four decades, is no stranger to innovation. In the 1980s, the company developed one of the first in-memory material requirements planning (MRP) engines, cutting processing times from days to mere minutes.

Kinaxis also pioneered the adoption of software-as-a-service (SaaS) long before it became mainstream.

Dr. Julie St-Pierre, Vice-President of Research and Innovation at uOttawa, emphasises the importance of the collaboration for students and the broader supply chain landscape: “We're proud to partner with Kinaxis, a leader in supply chain innovation, as it marks another significant step in our commitment to advancing research and innovation alongside local industry.

"By working closely with Kinaxis, we're not only providing our students with invaluable hands-on industry experience but also contributing to the development of solutions that will have a lasting impact on global supply chains. Together, we are empowering the next generation of innovators to drive transformative change.”

The University of Ottawa is one of Canada's leading academic institutions. Picture: University of Ottawa

Supporting future innovators

Kinaxis' partnership with uOttawa builds on its academic programme, which has engaged more than 12,000 students since its launch in 2020. The initiative aims to ensure that the next generation of professionals is equipped with the knowledge and ideas necessary to navigate the complexities of modern supply chains.

The collaboration also reinforces uOttawa's role as one of Canada’s top research institutions. The university, recognised as the largest bilingual (English and French) higher education institution in the world, is home to 10 faculties, 24 research institutes and 17 research centres.

With a strong focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, uOttawa continues to make significant strides in fields such as photonics, health sciences, social justice and next-generation networks.

As Kinaxis and uOttawa look to the future, the partnership promises to drive meaningful advancements in supply chain technology while creating valuable learning opportunities for students.


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