Laleh Khodaparast
Biography
As Director, Research and Innovation, Laleh Khodaparast leads the development and implementation of Georgian College’s applied research and innovation strategy. With more than two decades of experience spanning engineering, applied research, research and development strategy, project management, and innovation management, she works across academic, industry, government, and community sectors to build partnerships, secure research investment, and translate emerging technologies and ideas into practical applications.
Laleh has led the development of major applied research initiatives at Georgian, including the Center of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping (CrISP), advanced manufacturing and digital transformation programs, and expanded capacity for community-partnered social innovation research. Her work focuses on connecting industry and community needs with multidisciplinary research expertise, infrastructure, and student talent. She has led successful applications securing more than $15 million in research funding and has supported significant growth in industry projects and student and faculty participation in applied research. Her approach emphasizes strategic partnerships, effective project delivery, technology adoption, talent development, and building sustainable research capacity that generates measurable economic and community impact.
Research interests and areas of expertise
- Applied research strategy and innovation management
- Advanced manufacturing and Industry 5.0
- Digital transformation and technology adoption
- Artificial intelligence, digital twins, robotics, and extended reality
- Industrial simulation and prototyping
- Research and development strategy and commercialization
- Industry-academic partnerships and collaborative research
- Project management and multidisciplinary research delivery
- Innovation ecosystems and regional economic development
- Research capacity building and talent development
- Social innovation and community-partnered research