Problem Identification Lab Program
Problem Identification Lab
Powered by the Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCE)
In collaboration with the Engineering Co‑op Office
Turn workplace challenges into opportunities.
The Problem Identification Lab helps Engineering co‑op students capture high‑quality, industry‑rooted problem statements, then transform them with guidance.
Why This Program Exists
Strong startups don’t begin with ideas.
They begin with problems worth solving.
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 aspiring entrepreneurs to explore as they develop new startup ideas grounded in real market needs. The problem you identify might help someone else start a company, or it could be the start of your new business!
What Are The Benefits?
Participants receive up to $2,000 of optional in‑kind support, including:
- Access to MCE programs, space, and founder resources
- 1:1 time with startup coaches to move from problem clarity → customer discovery → early solution hypotheses
- Industry‑backed feedback from MUN alumni working in relevant sectors
Each term, top problem statements are showcased at our end‑of‑term celebration and mixer, with a chance to receive $250 in recognition—plus the opportunity to meet other like‑minded builders, mentors, and alumni.
How It Works
1. Observe, Evaluate & Identify (on co‑op)
Spot recurring pain points, inefficiencies, safety or compliance risks, and costly workarounds.
Keep all details non‑confidential.
2. Apply for PIL Support
Submit a clear, concise problem statement.
3. Decide How You Want to Move Forward
After working with MCE and clarifying your problem, you can choose:
Option A — Contribute to the Problem Bank
Share your problem publicly to help other students explore it.
Option B — Continue Exploring It Yourself
If you’re excited to run with it, you can keep your problem private while you dig deeper with the support you’ve already received.
There’s no wrong choice — some students want to contribute to the community, others want to build. Both are supported.
4. Alumni‑Backed Review & Guidance
A rotating panel of MUN alumni with relevant industry experience provides structured feedback on clarity, evidence of pain, and market potential — helping you understand what makes a high‑growth opportunity.
5. Showcase & Recognition
At the end of the term, we celebrate the strongest problem statements at a showcase + mixer featuring students, mentors, and alumni.
How Problem Statements Are Evaluated
Every problem submitted to the Problem Identification Lab undergoes a structured review process to ensure it is meaningful, industry‑relevant, and valuable to future entrepreneurs.
A Review Panel of Industry‑Experienced MUN Alumni
To maintain credibility and real‑world relevance, MCE relies on MUN alumni with professional experience in the sector your problem relates to. These reviewers use their industry insight to determine whether a submission is “worthy enough” for inclusion in the Problem Bank.
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‑op experience
- Non‑confidential: does not reveal proprietary or restricted information
You don’t need to brainstorm solutions—just explain the problem and its significance.
Who Can Participate?
This program is open to:
- Engineering students currently completing a Memorial University co‑op work term
- Students in any industry or sector
Ready to Submit a Problem?
Turning workplace challenges into opportunities starts here.
What’s 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:
E.g A growing production plant problem
Production plants which are increasing their output struggle to forecast material and component demand and manage output because they rely on manual, spreadsheet‑based tracking across multiple production lines and suppliers. This leads to frequent shortages or excess inventory, causing unplanned downtime, rushed procurement at premium costs, inflated storage expenses, and operational inefficiencies that scale with production volume.
Questions?
Email MCE at: mce@mun.ca
Visit us at: ENG-3075