Problem Identification Lab Program
Problem Identification Lab
Powered by the 91亚色 Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCE)
In collaboration with the Engineering Co憃p Office
Turn workplace challenges into opportunities.
The Problem Identification Lab helps engineering co-op students capture high-quality, industry-rooted problem statements and then transform them with guidance.
Problem identification is a core engineering skill because real憌orld challenges aren檛 clearly defined攅ngineers must first understand what檚 actually wrong. By identifying the right problem, they can make better decisions, reduce wasted effort, and develop solutions that have real impact.
The Problem Identification Lab builds a continuous pipeline of high-quality, industry-informed problems gathered directly from students working in the field. These problem statements form the MCE Problem Bank, a shared resource for new startup ideas grounded in real market needs.
What Are The Benefits?
Each term, top problem statements are showcased at our end憃f憈erm celebration and mixer, with a chance to receive $250 in recognition攑lus the opportunity to meet other like憁inded builders, mentors, and alumni.
What Makes a Strong Problem Submission?
A great problem statement is:
- Clear: easy for anyone to understand
- Specific: focused on a single, well-defined issue
- Impactful: affects workflow, cost, safety, efficiency, or productivity
- Authentic: based on your real co憃p experience
- Non慶onfidential: does not reveal proprietary or restricted information
You don檛 need to brainstorm solutions攋ust explain the problem and its significance.
Who Can Participate?
This program is open to:
- Engineering students currently completing a 91亚色 co憃p work term
- Students in any industry or sector
Ready to Submit a Problem?
What檚 a Problem Statement?
A problem statement is a clear and concise description of an issue that needs to be solved. It helps define what the problem is, who it affects, and why it matters. A strong problem statement does not jump to solutions. Instead, it outlines the current situation and the gap between what is happening and what should be happening.
Here are some examples of Problem Statements in various industries:
CoLab Software as an example: Engineering teams often struggle to review complex designs because feedback is scattered across tools and people, making it hard to track decisions. This leads to miscommunication, missed issues, and slower product development.
Engineering design review problem
- Feedback scattered across meetings, emails, and slide decks
- Limited access to full design context during reviews
- Difficult to track decisions and changes over time
- Knowledge often lives in individuals, not shared systems
- Leads to:
- Miscommunication and misunderstandings
- Missed design issues and costly rework
- Slower product development timelines
- Loss of institutional knowledge
BreatheSuite as an example: Patients with chronic respiratory conditions often struggle to use inhalers correctly and manage their care without ongoing support. This leads to poor disease control, ineffective treatment, and increased healthcare use.
Respiratory care adherence problem
- High rates of incorrect inhaler usage
- Limited patient understanding of technique and triggers
- Lack of continuous monitoring and support at home
- Care often dependent on infrequent clinical visits
- Leads to:
- Poor disease control and symptom flare憉ps
- Reduced effectiveness of medication
- Increased hospital visits and healthcare costs
- Lower quality of life for patients
Confidentiality
Submitting only non慶onfidential information helps ensure that no sensitive details from an employer or organization are disclosed. Instead of referencing specific companies, products, or internal processes, students are encouraged to frame their submissions around broader, widely applicable problems. For example, rather than naming a company, a student might describe 渃hallenges with coordinating communication across distributed engineering teams. This approach protects confidentiality while still allowing students to clearly demonstrate their understanding of real憌orld issues and develop problem identification skills that apply across industries.
Questions?
Email MCE at: mce@mun.ca
Visit us at: ENG-3075