Projets novateurs réalisés

Development of Low Smoke Zero Halogen Green Polymer Compounds for Wire and Cable Industry

Currently halogen-based flame retardant is widely used as cable covering material in various industries including oil and gas, transit and industrial utilities. Studies have concluded that these materials will produce toxic gases and acidic fumes, and also persistent against degradation in landfill. These negative consequences resulted in a progressive regulatory restriction on use of halogen-based flame retardant. This project is a direct response to the increased regulation and pending Canadian ban banby developing new low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) flame retardant without the aforementioned problems. New LSZH additives developed by Shawcor will first be characterized to determine its flame retardancy and other properties. Next, innovative nano-additives will be studied and characterized. Possible interactions between multiple additives will then be investigated in order to further improve performance. Finally, the fabrication process will be optimized to make the new composite suitable for mass production. The outcome of this project will offer Shawcor a solution to replace halogen-based flame retardant in its product lineup in response to the increased regulation and pending Canadian ban.

Optimisation du rendement de location d’espace et du taux d’occupation dans un centre de congrès

Avec ses 113 espaces d’une superficie combinée de 51 208 mètres carrés, le Palais des congrès de Montréal est l’un des centres de congrès et d’exposition les plus réputés en Amérique du Nord. Depuis 1983, le site a accueilli plus de 7 700 événements et 19 millions de visiteurs. Le projet de recherche proposé vise à optimiser le taux d’occupation des salles du Palais des congrès de Montréal ainsi que le rendement de location de ses installations en fonction de plusieurs facteurs opérationnels et commerciaux de façon à mieux prévoir les besoins futurs en ressources humaines et physiques. Ce projet permettra au Palais de congrès de Montréal de mettre en place des outils d’intelligence d’affaires s’appuyant sur plusieurs sources de données ainsi que des ratios de référence de l’industrie.

Confection d’un modèle de référence permettant l’optimisation des trajectoires de soins en pneumologie par l’infusion d’innovations technologiques, cliniques, organisationnelles et sociales à l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec – Université Laval (IUCPQ-UL)

On estime à 4 000 le manque d’infirmières dans le système de santé québécois. Le manque de personnel est tout aussi endémique chez les autres professionnels de santé. Par ailleurs, il est démontré qu’environ 30% du temps de travail des professionnels de la santé est consacré à diverses tâches administratives.
Notre projet vise la confection d’un modèle de référence pour une transformation significative des trajectoires de soins afin d’augmenter le temps alloué aux pratiques cliniques. Différentes innovations seront mises de l’avant, notamment le recours aux outils informatiques, l’automatisation de certains processus, la création d’outils facilitant les interactions entre les patients et les soignants et la mise en place des meilleures pratiques cliniques. Ces innovations sont d’autant plus pertinentes en contexte pandémique, compte tenu des bénéfices et améliorations apportées à l’organisation, la rendant plus agile et flexible et entraînant, de fait, une amélioration de sa capacité d’adaptation aux changements de contexte.

High-throughput linguistic content comparison and sentiment analysis

Scrawlr is a platform for unconstrained, global interaction with all internet content and users. Scrawlr allows
for user evaluation and unconstrained classification of any Scrawlr-hosted or non-Scrawlr content. For non-
Scrawlr content, this evaluation and classification allowance will be first at the URL level but will subsequently
be provided at the individual content component level. Scrawlr will require the capacity to, in multiple
languages, identify equivalent and similar content. This will enable several key internal functions, including
rapid detection of spam, identification of trending topics in multiple languages, and the automatic
identification of plagiarism in multiple languages. Scrawlr also intends to provide automated sentiment
analysis of the contents. This requires expansion in capacity related to high-throughput multi-language
sentiment analysis and classification. This will enable several key internal functions including determination
of sentiment in multiple languages and comparison of this sentiment in relation to evaluation and
classification metrics. This research project is a critical aspect for the company to ensure automated
protection of unique content on its platform, and in particular content that is protected content, from
duplication and reproduction.

Financial control and reporting systems for robotics deployments

Copperstone Technologies Ltd, is an Edmonton based engineering firm that designs, builds and deploys
its own unique robotic platform. In the past 2 years Copperstone experienced a three-fold growth and
faced several challenges through this high growth period. Copperstone needs to invest in developing new
financial control policies and reporting procedures for better cost awareness and control.

The project will build out the accounting processes and best practices for a rapidly growing company. As
a start-up company, Copperstone created systems and tools that have been outgrown. The MITACS intern
will be a key member in developing the next phase of business growth by developing accounting policies,
improving financial tracking systems and researching and implementing an inventory control system.

Objective 1: On boarding to Copperstone’s financial system.
Objective 2: Developing internal financial reporting tools.
Objective 3: Research inventory control system.

Application of Short-Reach Optical Interconnects to Information and Communications Technology Systems

This project will allow the research group at Ericsson Canada Inc. to produce in less time more R&D results and proof of concept related to short-reach optical interconnects applied to ICT systems. This will keep the interest of the mother company in Sweden and help us attract other interesting R&D mandates in Ericsson Montreal to eventually create new local employment positions.

Commercialization of Medical Devices

Mach32 Inc. is an Edmonton based health technology company that designs and manufactures innovative products for healthcare and service workers. Our culture is built to create niche solutions for big picture problems.

MACH32 is currently developing IMSAFE, a drug-delivery system for the pre-hospital treatment of hemorrhage; IMSAFE, is a rescue autoinjector that delivers a drug called tranexamic acid to help control bleeding in trauma patients. In 2020, MACH32 sucessfully developed and launched the Aerosol Containment Tent (ACT), a portable negative pressure device in Canada. The ACT was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MACH32 is looking for a business and marketing intern who can support the development of a commercialization strategy for these MACH32 products by collecting customer feedback, developing customer service engagement processes, and developing, implementing, optimizing and executing marketing tactics based on the commercialization strategy. We believe this will be an excellent experience for an intern, working alongside our team members in a critical role that enhances our capacity.

ESG Framework for Effective Reporting

The market has been building momentum in its demand for ESG reporting from businesses. Regulation is on the verge of being introduced (i.e. recent announcements from the SEC) that will require this reporting from businesses.
The project will gather information in order to define and educate about ESG at an introductory level for educational and practical use, and the material will be used for operational and practical use in our business. The business is a supplier of resin based products. With the upcoming increase in demand for ESG reporting from input suppliers into the supply chain, we as an organization must build the capacity to provide this information to our customers / stakeholders.

Neuroptek – Mobile Application

Neuroptek is hopeful that this fourth iteration will be the last to complete the mobile application. Neuroptek will be hiring an experienced mobile application consultation company to help guide its employees and interns.

QDoc Scheduler Project Continuation

QDoc is seeking to engage a team of three software developers who will focus on building an online patient scheduling request system. The interns will use a variety of programming softwares to design, test, and implement this software. When completed, this project will equip QDoc in preparation for its anticipated growth to be able to schedule appointments with physicians, both virtually and in an associated clinic. This new scheduling feature will likely become an essential tool upon the recruitment of specialist physicians who are high demand or are unable to meet with patients immediately. The physician/specialist will be able to assign days of availability in which they can schedule numerous virtual appointments. This groundbreaking medical software will allow patients living in remote communities to access the care they need without commuting to a hospital or clinic. This project will also provide the interns with the opportunity to engage with a start-up business and build a product that will hugely benefit their community.

GovLab.ai for the creation of government solutions powered by AI/ML – AltaML

This application is focused on GovLab.ai which includes a talent accelerator for public service professionals, post-secondary students and recent graduates. GovLab.ai’s mission is to set a global example of how to transform the public sector through applied AI, and is designed to encourage the growth of machine learning and AI skill sets that are in high demand across Alberta and around the world. Within GovLab, students and graduates gain real-world, hands-on experience developing solutions, including those designed for the public service.

Development of Antibacterial/Antiwear Polymer Based Nano-composite Coating for Circulation Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint is a world-class producer of circulation and non-circulation coins for Canada and other countries and aggressively conducting and supporting research and development to meet customer requirements and social/environmental wellbeing. One of future strategies at The Royal Canadian Mint is to produce antibacterial Canadian circulation coins, reducing the potential spread of bacterial through coins exchange. Researchers at Carleton will joint force with RCM to develop antibacterial coatings and also to evaluate the coating adhesion and wear resistance. The coating materials consist of polymer base with anti bacterial nano Ag particles. A solvent free UV curing process is proposed here. The bacterial test will be carried out to evaluate the broad-spectrum of bacterial types by placing the coated coins on frequent human contact surfaces (cell phones for example). This work will also create both industrial and economic benefits as well as social benefits.