Engineering Versus Science...Or, More Aptly, Engineering and Science

At Northpond Ventures, we pride ourselves on being science-driven innovators. Yet, every time I utter these words, I hesitate. My bachelor’s degree is in electrical engineering. When I graduated, I was picked to be the student speaker at our commencement ceremony. As I was crafting my speech, the school dean urged me to be very explicit about the fact that as we students embarked on our futures, we were not just applying scientific principles; we were learning and applying engineering principles.

I think about this distinction often. Science refers to the system of quantitatively understanding the natural universe through broadly accepted principles. Engineering, by contrast, refers more to the act of building something, of applying that scientific understanding to create a product that has real-world applications. The reality is that our work in the science-driven venture and entrepreneurial ecosystem may be better termed an “engineering venture.” At the end of the day, we’re developing impactful technologies through principles of design, through tenets of engineering.  

Yes, all engineering is undergirded by science. But when the intent becomes more about invention than discovery—more about practical delivery than novel creation—engineering is a more accurate term for the process. An engineer designs and then builds, tests, and iterates on those designs. They are ultimately responsible not only for the output but also for providing some way to ensure the output will be effective and efficient. This is often done through assessing and predicting a number of different parameters, including cost, accessibility, and durability.

Science-driven progress is inherently about discovering new things, about building upon what we know to push into the unknown. Engineering is about the application of those discoveries toward solving real-world problems. This shift in focus from generating new knowledge to using knowledge to create usable products is at the core of true innovation—and at the heart of our work as partners to science and engineering-driven startups.

Why is this distinction important? Reminiscent of James Joyce’s Stephen Daedalus, who distinguished a “tundish” from a “funnel,” the lexicon we choose matters. We in the venture capital world—and the broader world—need more classically trained engineers willing to apply engineering principles toward innovation and entrepreneurship. Far too often, what we label as scientific discovery is really engineering innovation. 

For the sake of fostering true discovery and innovation-driven economic growth, we need more engineers working at the intersection of disciplines and leading the charge at the frontier of scientific knowledge. I have no doubt the most successful businesses of the next ten years will grow out of this convergence, and the most successful entrepreneurs will understand the way that the principles of science intersect with the realities of engineering. 

Through my work with both Harvard and MIT, I’m well aware of the fact that the number of undergraduate bioengineering majors is just a tiny fraction of all biology majors. This is not an indictment of the critically important field of biology. Instead, it’s a realization that the field of bioengineering is both underexposed and underappreciated. This is true even though the bioengineers we do produce, either through formal education or through career development, have a staggering impact on human health and wellbeing. 

If we want to develop more bioengineers who can make bold and revolutionary discoveries, then we need to change the way we talk about and advocate for engineering. Rather than perpetuate the existing narrative about a conflict between the two fields, we must create an understanding of how engineering and biology can work together in ways that revolutionize almost every industry. The world has much to gain from this convergence, from truly integrated bioengineering programs. Bioengineering is a central hub in a much broader revolution that is enabling us to understand and shape the inner workings of living organisms, including our own bodies. This knowledge, in turn, inspires constantly evolving innovations that can treat and prevent disease, enhance performance, and even extend the human lifespan. 

Due to this realization, we intentionally named our lab at Harvard, The Laboratory for Bioengineering Research and Innovation. Similarly, we launched a new collaborative MIT-Northpond Program within the Department of Bioengineering.

Perhaps as you build, invest in, or support businesses that are better described as engineering-driven, label them as such. The world is mindful of the words we choose. And the next generation is listening. This new generation, after all, will comprise the bioengineering leaders we’ll rely on to design, develop, and build a better future.