This workshop will introduce the fundamental tool of Industry Analysis which companies use for strategy development. For startups, understanding the industry is a critical step in determining market entry and market positioning. The Five Forces Framework will be presented and applied to during an exercise.
Date: Sep. 23rd, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: in-person @ Engine Seminar Room - FDA 3 (Accessibility Map)
This workshop will demystify and explain the various form of intellectual property (IP), namely, patents, industrial designs, copyright, trademarks, and trade secrets. We will then do some actual patent searching using the DERWENT worldwide patent database.
Date: Sep. 30th, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: in-person @ Engine Seminar Room - FDA 3 (Accessibility Map)
This workshop will provide an overview of the different types of market research, how to analyze the competition, and the resources available at McGill to perform market research. Our market research librarian will walk us through some of those resources using a new market research canvas tool.
Date: Oct. 7th, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: in-person @ Engine Seminar Room - FDA 3 (Accessibility Map)
First annual professional development retreat for AES graduate students in MSc (thesis) and PhD programs! Preliminary agenda: Opening address with refreshments, alumni career panel, reflection activities, thesis writing activities. Catered lunch with closing address. Nature walk in Arboretum and other possible activities.
Register here
This workshop will provide an overview on the customer discovery process and then delve deeper into how to conduct customer interviews and how to iterate on your business model canvas.
Date: Oct. 21st, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: in-person @ Engine Seminar Room - FDA 3 (Accessibility Map)