How Nature Redefines Safety: Prof. Alain Bujold Featured on NASA’s Ecosystemic Futures
Monarch Business School Switzerland is proud to spotlight the groundbreaking work of Professor Alain Bujold, doctoral candidate in the PhD–DBA dual program, who was recently featured as a guest on the Ecosystemic Futures podcast—an initiative led by NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project in collaboration with Shoshin Works.
In this globally recognized forum, Prof. Bujold shares insights from his doctoral research on biomimicry-inspired helmet innovation—a critical initiative addressing the alarming prevalence of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in military, industrial, and sports sectors. With over 27 years of R&D experience, 140+ projects, and 18 patents, Bujold explores how lessons from woodpeckers, whales, and bighorn sheep can lead to safer, more adaptive protective systems.
“Professor Bujold’s research exemplifies Monarch’s model of applied doctoral innovation. His work stands at the intersection of engineering, biology, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how a doctoral journey at Monarch can contribute directly to global challenges. We are proud to support researchers whose vision extends beyond the lab and into the world.”
About The Research
Professor Bujold’s dissertation, titled “Traumatic Brain Injury: A Critical Analysis of How to Effectively Develop and Commercialize a Groundbreaking Innovation to Reduce the Risk of TBI,” explores the intersection of biomimicry, innovation management, and public safety. Drawing on nature’s evolved mechanisms—such as the shock-resistant anatomy of woodpeckers, the cranial geometry of dolphins, and the horn structure of bighorn sheep—his research proposes a new paradigm in helmet design focused not on energy absorption, but on geometric energy redirection. The work challenges conventional helmet testing protocols by emphasizing rotational and sub-concussive forces, which remain underrepresented in both regulation and product development. Through grounded theory and qualitative interviews with entrepreneurs, engineers, and TBI survivors, the study identifies critical barriers to innovation and proposes a replicable roadmap for translating biologically inspired concepts into commercial protective systems.
His proposed framework addresses the lack of disruptive innovation in the helmet industry and bridges gaps between science, design, and commercialization. As explained on the podcast, the key insight is this: nature doesn’t absorb impact—it redirects it.
The research goes beyond theoretical modeling to offer an applied framework for innovation, particularly in high-failure hardware categories such as personal protective equipment (PPE). It addresses key commercialization challenges—such as regulatory lag, investor misalignment, and the so-called “valley of death” between TRL 4–7—by integrating insights from product lifecycle strategy, startup dynamics, and biomechanical science. The result is a four-phase model that guides entrepreneurs from ideation through validation and growth, all while preserving scientific integrity and user-centered design. Bujold’s contribution lies not only in redefining helmet performance through the lens of nature, but in bridging the silos of research, engineering, and commercialization to reduce one of the most persistent and costly injuries in society today.
Global Relevance
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a leading cause of disability and mortality across the globe, with over 2.8 million cases annually in the United States and an estimated $76.5 billion USD in economic burden. In Canada, approximately 165,000 individuals experience a TBI each year, often with long-term cognitive, physical, and emotional consequences. Alarmingly, nearly 400,000 children in the U.S. are hospitalized annually for head trauma—many of whom were wearing helmets at the time of injury. These figures highlight the limitations of current helmet technologies, which are primarily designed for linear impacts and fail to account for rotational acceleration, sub-concussive shocks, and multi-directional resonance—all of which contribute to diffuse axonal injury and long-term neurodegeneration.
Professor Bujold’s research directly addresses these systemic shortcomings by proposing a new generation of biomimicry-informed helmet systems—capable of redirecting, rather than merely absorbing, impact energy. His work holds promise not only for military and law enforcement applications, but also for high-risk civilian sectors such as construction, industrial labor, cycling, motor sports, and contact sports like American football and hockey. The potential impact of this research extends even further into aerospace, where similar geometric principles could be applied to spacecraft hulls to mitigate debris impacts, and architecture, where building designs could better resist seismic forces. In advancing both safety science and innovation theory, Bujold’s doctoral work contributes meaningfully to the public good—supporting global efforts to reduce injury, lower health system burdens, and transform protective technologies across industries. Professor Bujold’s ability to combine entrepreneurial thinking, deep field research, and system-wide design exemplifies Monarch’s commitment to real-world, doctoral-level impact.
From Monarch To NASA
Professor Bujold’s invitation to speak on the Ecosystemic Futures podcast—produced in collaboration with the NASA Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project—is a powerful endorsement of both the originality and global relevance of his doctoral research. The podcast, hosted by innovation leaders including NASA Lead Futurist Vikram Shyam and Shoshin Works CEO Dyan Finkhousen, is recognized as a thought leadership platform for next-generation systems thinking, technology design, and planetary resilience. Prof. Bujold’s inclusion in this series places his work in direct dialogue with global aerospace pioneers and highlights the depth of expertise emerging from Monarch’s doctoral programs. His research was not only featured—it was showcased as a model of ecosystemic innovation that challenges the status quo in engineering, product development, and public safety. That a Monarch candidate would be called upon to contribute at this level affirms the School’s commitment to advancing research that is visionary, socially impactful, and institutionally rigorous. It also reflects Monarch’s growing reputation as a doctoral institution that prepares scholars to shape critical conversations on the international stage.
Professor Bujold’s appearance alongside leading voices from NASA is a testament to the global caliber of doctoral research conducted at Monarch. His doctoral journey illustrates how Monarch’s applied research ethos—integrating academic depth with practical implementation—can lead to global visibility and societal relevance. His work is not just academically rigorous; it is profoundly human-centered, aligning with Monarch’s core mission to foster innovation that serves people, communities, and ecosystems.
You may listen to the full podcast by clicking here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/97-ecosystemic-design-how-nature-redirects-1-200-g-forces/id1675146725?i=1000717557624
Prof. Alain Bujold
-Professor-
Innovation & Design
About Professor Bujold
Professor Alain Bujold is a world-recognized innovation strategist and doctoral researcher in the dual PhD–DBA program at Monarch Business School Switzerland. With over 27 years of applied research and development experience, he has led more than 140 advanced technology projects across defense, law enforcement, and industrial sectors. His portfolio includes 18 patents and numerous globally deployed innovations, including military-grade exoskeletons and next-generation helmet technologies. He is currently completing his doctoral dissertation focused on biomimicry-driven helmet design for traumatic brain injury (TBI) mitigation—a body of work that has earned international recognition, including a featured interview on NASA’s Ecosystemic Futures podcast.
Throughout his career, Professor Bujold has demonstrated a unique ability to translate complex scientific insights into commercially viable, human-centered solutions. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Mawashi Science & Technology for two decades, where he oversaw multimillion-dollar R&D portfolios and collaborated closely with NATO, USSOCOM, and the Canadian Armed Forces. A passionate advocate for cross-disciplinary innovation, he has been a voting member of the Canadian Standards Association and has served as a scientific advisor to the University of Manitoba. His research methodology blends TRL (Technology Readiness Levels), Stage-Gate decision models, and grounded theory inquiry to create replicable frameworks for disruptive innovation.
At Monarch, Professor Bujold teaches and mentors across domains of biomimicry, human factors, and entrepreneurial innovation. His work is anchored in system-level thinking and a strong commitment to practical application—embodying Monarch’s mission to foster globally relevant research that creates measurable social and technological impact. His recent doctoral findings propose a radical departure from conventional materials-based helmet design, instead focusing on ecosystemic energy redirection—drawing lessons from nature to address one of today’s most urgent public health and safety challenges.