Kazuhiro Saitou
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Engineering Design
Dr. Kazuhiro Saitou is a visionary leader in computational design for mechanical products and systems. Combining human creativity with mathematical models, optimization and artificial intelligence (AI), his work advances the science and practice of engineering design, reshaping how the world conceives, optimizes, and manufactures innovative products with meaningful impact for society and humanity.
Dr. Saitou’s expertise in computational design and artificial intelligence, as well as manufacturing and assembly, provides new opportunities for the creation of efficient, lightweight, high-performance and sustainable engineering solutions with broad applications in fields such as aerospace, transportation, biomanufacturing and clean technology.
What is the main challenge your Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada program is addressing, and how are you approaching it?
My research aims to tackle the grand challenges of engineering design: efficiently creating innovative, sustainable engineering products that benefit humanity by cohesively blending human creativity and artificial intelligence (AI). The research program combines Design Thinking, which focuses on understanding people’s needs and generating innovative ideas, with Systems Thinking, which looks at the broader context and how all parts connect.
My research program aims to utilize AI to spark creative thinking and problem solving for designers while automating routine tasks. It will also generate new digital tools that help bring together different perspectives and enhance collaboration. What makes this program truly unique is its balanced approach: it harnesses technology but always keeps people — especially designers and the communities they serve — at the centre of the process.
As I am also being appointed the Patrick David Campbell Chair in Mechanical Engineering Design, I hope this creates a focal point for multi-disciplinary research. Bringing together students, researchers, practitioners, industry and community partners, I look forward to setting new standards for ethical, AI-boosted design while creating a culture of fairness, creativity and global impact. I am grateful the Patrick and Beryl Campbell Charitable trust is making this possible.
What is the main thing you would like to achieve as an Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada, and what are the potential impacts of your work?
As an Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada, I would like to establish a novel engineering design framework and supporting tools that seamlessly augment human decision-making with artificial intelligence. This work will deliver three key impacts: first, it will yield dual-use technologies that catalyze innovation cycles and accelerate time-to-market across the manufacturing and defence industries; second, it will enable the rapid, cost-effective production of superior, more sustainable products; and third, it will train a next-generation engineering workforce deeply equipped with the technical skills and ethical values required for AI-aided design.
What is your primary motivation behind the research you do? What drew you to this work?
For decades, computational design research has remained polarized: split between abstract conceptual models that lack industrial utility, and narrow optimization frameworks limited to highly specific problems. This has left a profound gap in holistic computational support spanning the entire engineering workflow from concept to production. Drawing on my decades of experience in the field, my primary motivation is to bridge this divide. I am compelled to explore the transformative potential of generative AI as the catalyst for a truly integrated, end-to-end computational design, while keeping designers, end-users and communities at the centre of the process.
What drew you to UBC to do this work, and what are you most looking forward to about coming here?
What drew me to the University of British Columbia is its internationally renowned research and education programs housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, which deeply value the balance between core engineering fundamentals and practical design applications. This academic excellence is further amplified by the Wayne and William White Engineering Design Centre, the Applied Science Digital Design Studio, and Vancouver's vibrant innovation ecosystem, offering a fertile ground for impactful engineering advances. I am particularly drawn to UBC’s collegial culture of multidisciplinary collaboration, which breaks down academic silos and fosters creative problem-solving. Looking ahead, I am most excited about collaborating with a diverse range of faculty members across the university around design — an environment that perfectly aligns with my passion for driving forward-thinking design and collaborative innovation.
What does it mean to you to have been appointed as an Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada, and how is it going to help you advance your already internationally recognized research?
Being appointed as the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada is a profound honour. At this pivotal stage of my career, this appointment provides an invaluable opportunity to expand my horizons and dedicate my focus to a transformative, long-term research vision. I am incredibly excited to leverage this platform and the Patrick David Campbell Chair in Mechanical Engineering Design to further enhance and solidify the international recognition of engineering design research and education here at the University of British Columbia, driving global impact from our campus.
