Projets novateurs réalisés

Fireweed Food Co-op Process Evaluation and Implementation

The Fireweed Food Co-op is a non-profit community service cooperative whose mission is to reduce barriers to, and increase participation in the local food system for all people from producers to eaters. In early 2020, Fireweed Food Co-op initiated their pilot year for the Food Hub (a social enterprise project of theirs), which was also the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This pilot year saw lower sales to restaurants than anticipated due to COVID-19’s impacts on that sector. To adapt, we focused more on supplying to retailers who have seen increases in sales due to COVID-19, and to community organizations, many of whom have received additional funding to provide meals to vulnerable individuals impacted by the pandemic. This has helped to bolster sales for our farmer producer members for the majority of whom the food hub was an additional source of revenue during COVID-19.

However, our findings from operating a pilot food distribution project through a pandemic have also shown us the instability of our market and globalized food systems, and the need to reinvest in our local food supply chain infrastructure.

Blockchain-based solutions for fast, convenient and secure authentication and notarization

DocuSafe Systems Inc. is a Canadian-based company that provides document processing services including document authentication and notarization. This project explores the use of a blockchain-based platform in order to make the traditional document authentication faster, less costly, more convenient, and more secure. A major benefit of a blockchain-based solution is that it is tamper-proof, because any document and data placed on blockchain cannot be altered or removed. Therefore a blockchain-based platform is a great candidate for authenticating digital documents, which otherwise can be easily modified, forged, altered, and tampered.

Marketing Strategy for Radon Sniffers

Environmental Instruments Canada Inc. (EIC) develops, manufactures, and sells innovative radiation safety equipment. Our current flagship product is an extremely fast radon detector – an essential tool used by radon mitigation contractors to locate the optimal point to install radon mitigation systems. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium breaks down in the soil. It is invisible and odourless, making it a concern when it accumulates to high levels. When radon is inhaled it is absorbed into the lung tissue, damaging the surrounding cells. Exposure to high levels of radon results in an increased risk for developing lung cancer. The advantages of EIC’s radon sniffers streamline the process so that mitigation contractors can efficiently locate the source of the radon and choose an appropriate mitigation method.

The current marketing strategy undertaken by Environmental Instruments Canada (EIC) Inc. involves demonstrating products at trade shows and conferences. However, the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic was followed by non-essential business closure, resulting in distancing regulations and the cancellation of large events. therefore, EIC needs to shift its marketing practices to align with current market needs.

Why businesses fail

A large proportion of start-ups fail within the first ten years of their inception, yet most studies focus on those companies that are successful. In Ontario, we have a unique system of Regional Innovation Centers that exist to help start-ups succeed. Historically, data has not been collected once a company is no longer actively engaged in a program. This means there is no clear indication of which companies have not succeeded over time. In this project, we aim at identifying the former clients of Innovation Guelph with a focus on those companies that do not exist anymore or are about to cease existence. Then, we intend to find out why these companies failed.

Evaluating acquisition target for a retail interior design manufacturer

The intern will support Apex Advisory, a capital advisory firm, in servicing a Canadian retail interior design client seeking a Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM). Although Apex Advisory has performed similar deliverables in the past, they have been few and far between, as it has primarily engaged in diligencing venture and private equity investors. Thus, this mandate presents an opportunity for Apex Advisory to expand upon the M&A vertical within its business model. Moreover, developing this CIM would carry positive economic and social implications because it supports the entry of a Canadian business into new domestic markets.

Identification de mélanges de plantes réduisant les coûts d’entretien dans les fosses de plantation urbaines et évaluation de l’acceptabilité sociale des choix

Plus de la moitié de la population mondiale vit actuellement dans des zones urbaines, et il est estimé que cette proportion atteindra au moins 60% d’ici 2030. Cette urbanisation entraine une panoplie de problématiques environnementales et sociétales. Par exemple, elle cause la pollution, la destruction et la fragmentation des milieux naturels, une diminution de la diversité biologique et favorise la formation d’îlots de chaleur. Face à l’urgence climatique actuelle et à la perte de biodiversité mondiale, la Ville de Montréal a mis en place de nombreuses initiatives visant une hausse du verdissement. Elle a, entre autres, au cours des dernières années, créé ou agrandi de nombreuses fosses de plantation à même les trottoirs en plus de créer de nouvelles plates-bandes ou terre-pleins le long des axes routiers. L’aménagement de telles infrastructures entrainent toutefois plusieurs défis logistiques, notamment en matière de coûts d’entretien ainsi que de la sélection des végétaux résistants aux conditions urbaines tout en maximisant la biodiversité et les services écosystémiques rendus.

Développement d’une stratégie et d’outils de communication en appui à une transformation organisationnelle majeure

Cintech se transforme de façon considérable et créer un engouement substantiel (croissance d’environ 60% en terme d’emplois et revenus générés). C’est pourquoi il est impératif d’apporter plusieurs changements et améliorations aux processus, outils, standards et pratiques en place ou non pour valoriser pleinement cette croissance et servir de façon efficiente l’écosystème agroalimentaire. Afin de bien couvrir les changements liés aux communications l’étudiant sera appelé à jouer un rôle critique et significatif dans cette transformation car il est impossible pour les ressources en place d’être en mesure de répondre à tous les besoins de transformation ciblés. Un objectif majeur du stage sera d’établir une nouvelle image adéquate par rapport à ce que l’entreprise souhaite véhiculer et ainsi, avoir une meilleure perception de la part de ses clients permettant d’avoir potentiellement plus de ventes de ses services. D’autre part une mise à jour complète de la stratégie de communication sera réalisée et aidera à avoir plus de visibilité avec les projets auprès des médias et dans les différents canaux de communication.

Beyond Cadaver Lab: Virtual reality as a tool for aerodigestive tract anatomy and physiology instruction

The human body is a highly complicated set of structures, which are connected and move in very complex ways. Understanding the how our body is connected and moves during different daily tasks is challenging for most people; particularly for tasks that are often taking for granted, like eating and drinking. This project will develop and test a virtual reality environment that will help students learn about the structures of the head and neck specifically those that are used for eating and drinking (swallowing). This 3D virtual reality environment will enable learners to immerse themselves in the structures of swallowing and outline how they interact. The benefit to the partner will be a working prototype which demonstrate the capabilities of their proprietary software and interface.

Safety and Integration of Novel Collaborative Robots

Industrial robots are known for their speed and power. Collaborative robots, by their definition, require more delicate movement to work alongside human workers. We propose work that will support future product launches by combining advanced trajectory generation for smooth operation and increasing component life by minimizing acceleration and jerk, while also reducing operation cycle times. In parallel, we will develop appropriate and certifiable collision detection algorithms to improve worker safety when moving around the robot. Last, we will investigate different calibration algorithms and make one production-ready, to simplify robot integration in manufacturing lines. Together, these will move the state-of-the-art high level robot controls as integrated in industrial and collaborative robots.

AR-IoT Sales and Marketing

We are looking for a student to assist us with the identification of use cases for AR and IoT in Canadian industry. The goal is to identify where AR and IoT can be used effectively to improve a business and solve existing challenges. The student would take the use cases and develop technology demos that would be used to explain the technology and the solution to industry. The development of the demos would use the PTC Vuforia software suite. The work would involve:
1.      Create a series of AR demos and experiences

2.      Help us research and understand the buying triggers for augmented reality in the industrial Canadian market

3.      Help us demonstrate to prospects why AR should be a senior executive priority today

4.      Assist us in identifying and creating the correct assets to support an AR sales strategy 

5.      Assist us in presenting simulated IoT data for visualization in AR

6.      Draft sample work instructions for the equipment and infrastructure demoed

The outcomes Neurostrategy is hoping to achieve with this student work are an increase in industry engagement and industry-specific demos of AR and IoT technology. Neurostrategy will work with the student to identify relevant industries and develop use cases.

Strategic thinking and emergent approaches for Indigenous-led wildlife management

In 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada declared 1700 km2 as Aboriginal Title Land to the Tsilhqot’in Nation. The Title Lands are set within the Caretaker Area of Xeni Gwet’in First Nation (XGFN)- one of six Tsilhqot’in communities. The Tsilhqot’in decision has created a range of immediate management and planning needs, and new opportunities for XGFN. Re-establishing control of wildlife management within the Title Lands in a manner which addresses a legacy of provincial land management and associated impacts to habitat and wildlife is a priority. To do so, XGFN is exploring options for a wildlife management strategy for the Title Lands, which will be used to drive successful outcomes for both wildlife conservation and Tsilhqot’in well-being. To support XGFN in the planning for their wildlife management strategy, this project has been collaboratively developed by XGFN and UBC to aid the identification of a vision, goals, and priorities for wildlife management; in the creation of a land inventory highlighting the current state of the environment; and with technical writing and communications support for the composition and implementation of the wildlife management strategy.

Member Engagement Coordinator

The Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association (SRA) merged the local and provincial membership associations together as of January 1, 2020. A global pandemic hit just two months later, forcing our organization (like many others) to shift quickly for our members. However, between the pandemic and merging of associations, SRA struggles with low engagement with its members, and it’s why REALTOR® Engagement has become one of the strategic pillars in our Strategic Plan. There are several goals, specific to this project, that will help SRA increase REALTOR® engagement:
– Developing a culture of red-carpet service
– Providing REALTORS® information critical to their business
– Enhancing the REALTOR® brand through the promotion of their contributions in their local community

By having an individual on staff who is dedicated to advancing REALTOR® engagement, we will be in a better position to unify the membership and engage them. This role will develop and implement marketing and communication efforts as they relate to education, events and other professional opportunities. They will implement fundraising initiatives to help REALTORS® give back to their communities. They will learn about the real estate industry so they can communicate valuable information to REALTORS®.