Fabrice Matulic is a senior researcher at Preferred Networks, Inc., a technology company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. He is also a former postdoctoral researcher in the Cheriton School of Computer Science, where he worked in the field of human–computer interaction.
After leaving Waterloo, Fabrice maintained a productive working relationship with researchers at the University of Waterloo, and specifically with Daniel Vogel, an Associate Professor and Cheriton Faculty Fellow at the Cheriton School of Computer Science.
In recent years, their industry–academic partnership has resulted in a flourishing of research, providing enormous value to both the University of Waterloo and Preferred Networks. The collaboration is a case study for how such partnerships can drive innovation.
L to R: Fabrice Matulic, Senior Researcher at Preferred Networks, Inc. and an Assistant Professor at the Cheriton School of Computer Science, and Daniel Vogel, Associate Professor and Cheriton Faculty Fellow at the Cheriton School of Computer Science
“When I was looking at doing the postdoc, I knew Dan’s work and I knew we had a shared affinity for HCI,” Fabrice said. “We both had this tendency toward creative projects combining technology, arts and science, so right away it was clear we could work well together. I always had an interest to work in industry, but I knew that even if I went to industry, I would like to continue working with Dan.”
Preferred Networks is a company that values research and was co-founded by a researcher. Its main business is currently in the development and sales of software, hardware and network technologies that incorporate deep learning and other advanced technologies.
“Preferred Networks is a cutting-edge technology company that places a significant value on enabling and supporting future-forward research,” Professor Vogel said. “Their values perfectly echo the values of UWaterloo, so this partnership is quite natural and makes a great deal of sense.”
It is also a company that offered the perfect opportunity for Fabrice to combine his passions for creativity, research and business.
“We have a substantial research focus,” Fabrice said. “But we are also a business that needs to be self-sufficient and generate revenue. The research isn’t a side project, though. It’s actively helping grow the business and engage with the tech community. For me, it’s a happy balance.”
Win-win situation
Because of the extent of his work with Waterloo and the value he brings, since the beginning of 2022 Fabrice has officially been made an assistant professor at the Cheriton School of Computer Science.
“We’re excited that a world-class HCI researcher like Fabrice is now officially part of UWaterloo computer science and the HCI Lab in particular,” said Professor Vogel. “His expertise and experience will be extremely valuable for graduate thesis committees, and this will no doubt lead to even more exciting research collaborations.”
This appointment makes things easier administratively, but the professorship is also a respectful mark of distinction for a researcher who has done so much to foster collaboration and build bridges between industry and academia.
The research partnership is a boon for Preferred Networks, not just in the form of developing technologies, patents and intellectual property, but also because of the publications and awards Fabrice and Professor Vogel’s collaboration is bringing in.
“It’s a win-win situation both for the university and the company,” Fabrice said. “Look at the results of the collaboration. It’s a model that works for my company and it’s a model that works for the university. And it’s breaking new ground in HCI and other fields. This is incredibly valuable.”