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Marzio Pozzuoli, founder and former president and chief executive officer of RuggedCom Inc., has been appointed entrepreneur-in-residence at the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) at Ryerson University.

A graduate of Ryerson’s electrical engineering program in 1987, Pozzuoli is a successful entrepreneur, having recently sold his company to Siemens. Pozzuoli founded RuggedCom more than 10 years ago after he saw a gap in the marketplace for communications equipment capable of being placed in harsh outdoor and industrial environments.

“Ryerson University is proud to welcome Marzio Pozzuoli back to campus,” said John Isbister, interim provost and vice president academic. “A Ryerson alumnus and one of Canada’s most successful cleantech entrepreneurs, his appointment reflects the excellence in research and innovation currently being fueled by Ryerson students and faculty.”

“We are delighted that Marzio will be joining us as an entrepreneur-in-residence,” said Mohamed Lachemi, dean of FEAS. “Marzio is an outstanding example of how far education and determination can take you. He will be an excellent role model and mentor for our students.”

In his new role, Pozzuoli will advise FEAS students on their entrepreneurial activities and deliver guest lectures on entrepreneurship at various university events. He will also mentor budding entrepreneurs in the Centre for Urban Energy’s (CUE) newly launched business incubator and accelerator known as the i-CUE.

In addition, Pozzuoli will work with CUE to establish an investment fund for start-up businesses focused on intelligent infrastructure, such as smart grid, transportation and water systems. He will serve on the fund’s investment committee and play a crucial role in getting participation from entrepreneurs, high-net worth individuals, corporations and financial institutions.

“We are very fortunate to have the expertise that Marzio will bring to the table,” said Dan McGillivray, executive director of CUE. “He will be a great resource for the companies currently being incubated in the i-CUE as well as recruiting investors for the intelligent infrastructure fund.”

“I look forward to working with Ryerson University,” said Pozzuoli. “I hope to inspire more entrepreneurs and investors to get involved in the exciting and profitable energy industry.” 

Pozzuoli will reside at CUE during this one-year appointment.

Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education and a university clearly on the move. With a mission to serve societal need, and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community, Ryerson offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Distinctly urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 38,000 students, including 2,300 master's and PhD students, nearly 2,700 faculty and staff, and more than 140,000 alumni worldwide. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth: externally funded research has doubled in the past four years. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca.

The Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) inspires innovation. The Faculty’s students, graduates and researchers are catalysts for change who work constantly to serve societal need and ultimately improve the quality of lives around the globe. Home to English Canada’s first and only stand-alone accredited program in biomedical engineering, the Faculty also houses seven additional fully accredited engineering programs, and a fully accredited program in architecture. As the university moves forward, FEAS remains committed to excellence in education and research. Ready to be inspired? Visit www.ryerson.ca/feas.

The Centre for Urban Energy (CUE) is an academic-industry partnership that is exploring and developing solutions to urban energy issues, such as the advancement of clean energy technologies, energy conservation and demand management, energy storage and smart grids. CUE was founded by Ryerson with sponsorships from Hydro One, Toronto Hydro and the Ontario Power Authority. For more information, visit www.cue.ryerson.ca.

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Media Contacts:

Karen Parucha
Centre for Urban Energy, Ryerson University
Office: 416-979-5000 x 2988
Cell: 416-898-4336
kparucha@ryerson.ca

Johanna VanderMaas
Public Affairs, Ryerson University
Office: 416-979-5000 x 4630
johanna.vandermaas@ryerson.ca

If you require this in another format, please contact Ryerson University Public Affairs at 416-979-5000 x 7134.