Innovative Projects Realized

Explore thousands of successful projects resulting from collaboration between organizations and post-secondary talent.

13270 Completed Projects

1072
AB
2795
BC
430
MB
106
NF
348
SK
4184
ON
2671
QC
43
PE
209
NB
474
NS

Projects by Category

10%
Computer science
9%
Engineering
1%
Engineering - biomedical
4%
Engineering - chemical / biological

Feasibility of Pelletizing Sludge Product for Burning and Agricultural Uses from Paper Mill Process Effluent

Domestic demand for wood pellets in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia has dramatically increased in recent years. Consumer angst resulted in one retailer trucking three tractor trailer loads of bagged pellets last winter (2014-2015) from British Columbia, which sold out in a few days. Port Hawkesbury Paper LP (PHP) has an opportunity to both solve a waste product issue at their Point Tupper mill location, but also tap into this international and domestic market through investigating the feasibility of pelletizing sludge (comprised largely of isolated softwood fibers) produced on site as a component of their waste stream. Currently, a portion of this PHP sludge is dried to appropriate moisture content and sold to Nova Scotia Power to augment their biomass burner, although a surplus remains that could be converted into a value-added product such as wood pellets for consumer or industrial applications.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Michelle Adams

Student:

Brittany MacDonald

Partner:

Port Hawkesbury Paper LP

Discipline:

Environmental sciences

Sector:

Alternative energy

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Accelerate

Pilot Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Different Potencies of Vaporized Marijuana Participants with Chronic, Treatment-Resistant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This study is among the first studies examining the effects of whole plant herbal cannabis on a variety of outcomes, including mental health conditions, anxiety, mood, and sleep quality. The interns will gain valuable experience in the field of medical cannabis, and will collect important data on the effects of varying strains of cannabis on anxiety, mood, sleep, and general well-being. The benefits of this
program of research are expected to be far-reaching, to both Canadians suffering from mental health conditions and to the partner organization. Indeed, as use and acceptance of medical cannabis increases, the public are hungry for basic research to help inform their decisions on whether the therapeutic effects of cannabis can help them. Moreover, Tilray will gain immense benefit from the results of this study to better market and recommend specific strains for specific conditions.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Zachary Walsh

Student:

Kim Crosby

Partner:

Tilray

Discipline:

Psychology

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Scale-up of Bioaugmentation Cultures and Development of Delivery Strategies and Monitoring Tools for Anaerobic Benzene and Alkylbenzene Bioremediation

The overall objective of this project is to scale up and demonstrate the utility of novel bioaugmentation cultures for BTEX compounds, and associated diagnostic tools to properly deploy the technology. The intern will lead the project team to develop gene-based biomarker tools applicable to the bioaugmentation cultures and apply these tools to samples submitted from bench scale treatability testing and real world field samples. Additional the intern will determine the applicable regulatory approvals required from Environment Canada New Substance notification program and collect and compile data required for a regulatory application.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Elizabeth Edwards

Student:

Fei Luo

Partner:

SiREM

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Accelerate

Learning Analytics Visualizations to Motivate Students in Online Discussion Activities

Learning Analytics is the collection and analysis of data traces related to learning in order to inform and improve learning processes and/or their outcomes. In digital environments, this data can be easily captured. Hence, there is a particularly great opportunity to visualize these traces and put them in the hands of students to support their learning. This can help address the longknown problems of students not consistently receiving relevant, personalized and timely feedback on their learning and as a consequence not engaging as active agents of their own learning. This project is an endeavor to investigate the role of Learning Analytics Visualizations to motivate students with individual differences in online discussion activities. This can help inform tool developers how to design effective Learning Analytics Visualization which is aligned with partner organization’s goal in leveraging Learning Analytics to provide their users with tailored insights that could potentially improve their learning.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Marek Hatala

Student:

Seyedeh Sanam Shirazi Beheshtiha

Partner:

Prollster

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Digital media

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

Multi-Hazard Performance Based Design Guideline for Wood-Based High-Rise Buildings

In order to satisfy the housing demand in major Canadian cities, there is a renaissance in the use of tall wood-based buildings. Timber is the most sustainable and environmental friendly construction material with higher seismic resistance. In April 2009, the British Columbia Building Code was amended to increase the height limit of wood-frame buildings from 4 to 6 story. In the current 2015 NBCC, the height limit was increased for entire Canada. With the use of mass timber, timber-based high-rise buildings are constructed around the world. However, there is no design guideline for mass timber buildings. The aim of this project is to develop a multi-hazard performance based design guideline for wood-based highrise buildings. The multi-hazard risk considered are strong winds and destructive earthquakes. This research will be the first to combine these two hazards within the performance based engineering context. Last year, FPInnovations released the first technical guideline to assist the design and construction of tall timber buildings. The guideline pointed out research challenges and technical gaps related to the need for proper multi-hazard performance based design approaches for tall timber buildings. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Solomon Tesfamariam

Student:

Matiyas Bezabeh

Partner:

FPInnovations

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Forestry

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Effect of rumen protected vitamin B complex supplementation on ovarian dynamics and uterine gene expression on day 15 of the cycle or pregnancy

Lactating dairy cows have extensive embryonic loss, but the mechanisms that lead to this failure to maintain pregnancy are not clearly understood. It is suggested that high-producing dairy cows are marginally deficient in nutrients such as Vitamin B complex molecules, selenium etc., which are positively associated with health and reproduction. The goals of the project are to determine the effect of a rumen-protected vitamin B complex supplementation (VIT) compared with control diet containing no supplement (CON) on: milk production and plasma levels of BHBA, NEFA and acute phase proteins; ovarian follicle growth and plasma levels of major steroids; and uterine gene expression of target transcripts related to embryo development, immune function and cellular adhesion on day 15 of cycle or pregnancy. We hypothesize that supplementing vitamin B molecules will improve follicle growth and ovarian
steroid synthesis as well as improving the make-up of expression of key transcripts pivotal to pre-attachment embryonic development.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ronaldo Cerri

Student:

Manveen Kaur

Partner:

JEFO Nutrition Inc

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Intestinal Inflammasomes: Defining Their Role in IBD

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is thought to develop in people when their gut bacteria leak out of their intestines, and cause chronic gut inflammation. We recently found that the cells that line the guts of healthy people possess a specialized defense system called an inflammasome.
In preliminary studies, the inflammasome seems to prevent the gut from becoming leaky, and helps it fight bacteria. Interestingly, some people with IBD are known to be missing inflammasomes. We want to better define how these gut lining inflammasomes work, and whether they are missing in many of the people who develop IBD. Using several different models, including growing gut lining cells in the lab to form mini-guts, we will test how these inflammasomes prevent gut leakiness and how they fight bacteria. The data provided by these studies will also be beneficial for ongoing research, while the interns will learn cutting edge techniques. The partner organizations will benefit from an increased understanding of the
causes of IBD, as well as new technologies (growing mini-guts) that can be used for many health related studies.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Bruce Vallance

Student:

Else Bosman

Partner:

Qu Biologics Inc

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Pharmaceuticals

University:

University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Translating knowledge about mental health and addiction issues into a video game – Debris

The aim of this Mitacs proposed project is to gather information on the process of creating an animated, adventure video game, Debris (copyright Moonray Studios Inc.), aimed at helping youths recognize the symptoms and triggers of psychosis and overcome mental health stigma. This project uses an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach to facilitate youths’ and community agencies’ involvement in the video-game process. Dr. Ferrari, Post-Doctoral Fellow
at McMaster University, will facilitate the interaction between academic, youths, community collaborators, and the industry partner in the development of the game.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Suzanne Archie

Student:

Manuela Ferrari

Partner:

Moonray Studios Inc

Discipline:

Psychology

Sector:

Information and communications technologies

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

Analysis of Visual Language for a Novel Gesture-Based Interface that Supports Improved Cross-Functional Development

The following document explores the impact of visual language and new gesture-based tools to create prototypes that can be used in the final stages of production. With the contemporary ample use of different prototyping tools to create iOS applications, the interaction between designers and programmers is evolving based on what these tools allow. Small cross-function teams observe a disconnection between what the designer initially animates with what the
developer programs at the end of the pipeline. Is it possible to develop a visual language that supports a gesture-based tool that can be used by both designers and software developers? This research will provide the analysis and information to build such a novel tool, aiming to solve the relevant challenge designers and developers face when working in small multidisciplinary teams

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Faculty Supervisor:

David Fracchia

Student:

David Gutierrez

Partner:

Slant Design & Marketing Inc

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Information and communications technologies

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

High Impedance Fault Detection System

A High Impedance fault (HIF) occurs when an energized primary conductor comes in contact with a semi-insulated object such as tree, structure or equipment, or falls to the ground. HIFs on distribution systems are extremely difficult to detect because they do not generate enough fault current to be detectable by conventional overcurrent relays or fuses. HIFs do not pose imminent danger to power system equipment because they have very little fault current. However, they are a considerable threat to public safety. A common detection algorithm applied to HIFs devices is to observe the fault currents’ third harmonic and the change in angle, but this algorithm is difficult to differentiate between HIFs and low nonlinear loads. A new detection algorithm based on impedance measurement has been put forward by Dr. Jose Marti’s research group in University of British Columbia (UBC). We are going to apply this new method in HIFs detection to differentiate between HIFs and the non-fault state of an open circuit or normal load conditions. We will program this new algorithm in BC Hydro’s distribution system protective devices with sufficient embedded computing capabilities, and verify this new detection algorithm. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jose Marti

Student:

Zhibang Liang

Partner:

BC Hydro

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Marine mammal behavioural responses to tidal turbine sound

The coastal marine regions of Canada are an excellent source of renewable energy. Tides and currents are predictable in space and time so ideal for tidal energy. Coastal areas with strong currents are also popular with marine mammals often providing good feeding opportunities. However little is known about how marine mammals will be affected by the presence of tidal energy developments in their habitats and because marine mammals are dependent of sound to feed and navigate the impacts of introduced sound are of particular concern. This project proposes to investigate how marine mammals behave in the presence of an operating tidal turbine and will allow SMRU Canada to provide much needed data and advice on how to develop good environmental management programs for managers in Canada and elsewhere that will allow successful tidal energy project to develop.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Isabelle Cote

Student:

Frances Robertson

Partner:

Sea Mammal Research Unit Canada Ltd.

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

The effect of fire cycle and fire severity on the presence of black spruce, jack pine, and trembling aspen in the boreal forest of Canada in the context of climate change

Projected climate change is expected to alter fire regimes across the boreal forest, which in turn will affect forest community structure, composition and diversity. The intern will examine the effects of changes in climate, and by extension, fire cycle, on the presence of three most common tree species in the boreal forest of Canada. Specifically, he will be tasked with developing a model capable of simulating the presence of black spruce, jack pine, and trembling aspen under varying fire cycles. Since these three tree species are so widespread, and the main targets of forest industry, it is essential that we increase our understanding of how a changing climate might affect their abundance and presence. This project fits very well into the two main research themes of the partner organization: Climate Science and Vulnerabilities, and Impacts & Adaptation. Expected results, and potential publications arising from this work will further bolster the company’s already extensive academic record.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Yves Bergeron

Student:

Tadeusz Bartek Splawinski

Partner:

Ouranos Inc

Discipline:

Forestry

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

Program:

Accelerate

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