Savvas Chamberlain - A Short Bio

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Savvas Chamberlain, C.M., FRSC, M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Eng., FIEEE, FCAE, FEIC

Member of the Order of Canada

Savvas Chamberlain can be characterized as a scientist, inventor, academic and entrepreneur. He was a Professor at the University of Waterloo for more than 25 years where he developed new technology on MOSFET and CCD devices. He introduced fundamental theories and also invented a number of silicon image sensors.

Dr. Chamberlain transferred this technology, from research carried out at the University of Waterloo, to successful commercialization in Canada. Using his technology, Dr. Chamberlain founded DALSA Corporation in 1980 where he was the CEO from its inception until August 2007.

Under his leadership, DALSA became a leading international corporation in Digital Imaging and grew from just a few employees to 1,100 people in the company. DALSA revenues at the end of December 2010 were $212 million. During his tenure as CEO, he was responsible for corporate strategy, strategic technology direction, long-term planning, and setting the direction of the company’s culture. He resigned as Chairman of DALSA Corp on February 12, 2011.

In June 2010 Dr. Chamberlain was inducted as a member of the Order of Canada. In July 2012, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He has been awarded many other honors, including the AIA lifetime achievement award and election as a Fellow of IEEE. In June 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree by the University of Waterloo for his industrial contributions and in April 2007 he was awarded the Ontario Premier’s Catalyst award for life time achievement in innovation. In May 2008, he was elected a Fellow of The Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Savvas is a Canadian of Greek Cypriot heritage. He was educated in England and holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Southampton University. He is highly regarded as a pioneer in the field of digital imaging. He is a distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, where he taught and conducted research for over 25 years in the field of Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits. His industrial experience includes research work with IBM and other companies. He has published more than 150 papers in scientific journals in the area of CCDs and semiconductor devices and has authored and co-authored more than 20 patents in the area of image sensors.

Savvas is presently the CEO and Chairman of EXEL Research Inc. He is involved in investing in technology companies and also helping Canadian start-up technology companies to move to a profitable and lasting growth stage. He has an interest in the identification of significant innovations resulting from research and their Canadian commercialization. EXEL Research Inc. is involved in the management of investments in high-tech companies, other investments and in the management of vacation and industrial properties. Savvas can be reached at

Savvas cares for the Canadian society; in 2011, he established The Savvas Chamberlain Family Foundation for philanthropy. He likes gardening, loves the outdoors, nature, walking, hiking and listening to classical music. He also enjoys Greek music and literature, live theatre and international current affairs.

Click Here for Savvas Chamberlain’s complete CV.

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