We often receive questions from customers asking why “Descartes” was chosen for a software company specializing in logistics and supply chain solutions.
Descartes was first formed in 1981 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The original founders were math and computer science graduates from the University of Waterloo – one of the top mathematics universities in Canada. The University of Waterloo has a strong affinity for internationally famous mathematician René Descartes. The Faculty of Math and Computer Science at the University has Descartes entrance scholarships, runs a society to recognize influential math teachers and runs the René Descartes Foundation for the Advancement of Mathematics.
In short, the original founders of our company were fans of René Descartes and his Cartesian mathematics. This is even reflected in our original corporate logo, where every letter in Descartes is represented in the triad.
