Projets novateurs réalisés

Preliminary Design of Distributed Hydroponic Grow Systems in Residential Buildings as a Means of Addressing Market Interest and Food Supply Chain Disruption Due to COVID19

Hydroponics is a farming method that does not require soil, but rather utilizes a porous medium to hold plants so that waste of irrigation solution is minimized. This type of farming is considered more expensive than traditional open-field agriculture. However, it has been found to function well in enclosed spaces with a controlled environment, especially in cold climates where open-field agriculture is challenging. This project aims to assess the feasibility to perform such farming inside of residential units by having all of the necessary equipment, such as the utility elements of a system reservoir, fertigation, and irrigation components, be located with other household utility equipment (e.g. laundry, furnace, central vacuum). Meanwhile, the medium or components for growing, tending, or aesthetics would be located within living areas (e.g. kitchen, foyer, breakfast nook).

Dynamic Deep Generative Graph Models for Financial Forecasting

Borealis AI has access to a huge amount of financial data related to the stock market and is interested in leveraging recent developments in machine learning to better understand this data. Some potential questions emerging from this data are: (1) Given the closing price of a stock in the recent months, can we predict the stock returns within the next month? (2) If a stock crisis occurs, can we predict and control the spread of the crisis? (3) Given the current stock’s history, can we help reduce the risk of investment?. To answer such questions, we propose a network of related stocks based on their correlated returns. Multivariate statistical models that use tabular representations of time series can capture basic correlative structure, but we believe that innovations in machine learning known as Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) will be able to exploit this with more explicit network representation. We propose to develop a novel GNN-based algorithm on network-structured data to efficiently capture its complex structure.

Effet de l’agilité et de l’Industrie 4.0 sur la performance des PME manufacturières au Québec : Étude de cas

Dans le contexte actuel, de plus en plus de nouvelles technologies voient le jour toujours plus rapidement. Les entreprises doivent réagir face à la demande en constante variation, autant au niveau de la quantité qu’au niveau de la conception du produit demandé. L’agilité des petites et moyennes entreprises manufacturières du Québec est mise à rude épreuve alors qu’elle est un élément important pour assurer leur pérennité. L’augmentation de l’agilité réalisée grâce à des outils de l’Industrie 4.0 est certainement bénéfique pour celles-ci. Mais, quels sont les bénéfices de l’augmentation de l’agilité et de ces solutions technologiques sur la rentabilité, la flexibilité et la productivité de ces entreprises? L’utilisation des cellules dynamiques et d’une conception de produit par modules agencée à des technologies connectées entre elles sont des moyens d’augmenter l’agilité d’une entreprise. Les impacts de ces solutions seront mesurés afin de déterminer quels sont les bénéfices de l’augmentation de l’agilité.

Structural and thermal performance of optimum 3D printed parts from continuous carbon fiber-Poly Ether Ether Ketone composites

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, of composites can manufacture final parts with high strength and stiffness. In this project, carbon fiber composites with a high temperature polymer
are used for 3D printing. A custom 3D printing head installed on a robotic arm is used for manufacturing. Specimens are 3D printed to evaluate structural and thermal properties of final parts. Automated manufacturing of composites using robotic 3D printing is efficient for fabricating small-scale parts with low volume and can open new opportunities for composites. In addition, robotic 3D printing can simplify and shorten the research and development activities on raw material optimization for automated manufacturing.

Assessing the Scope and Cost of Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Across the Continuum of Care

This project focuses on identifying models of care that improve patient outcomes while reducing costs on the system. The project, in partnership with a large pharmaceutical company, evaluates the economic burden of Alzheimer’s in Ontario, looking at the current utilization, costs and scope of home care services, the gaps in service, the reliance on alternative sources (privately or NGO funded) of support for individuals, budget planning and home care management related to Alzheimer’s care from the perspective of families and the health system more broadly.

The Adoption of Electronic Personal Health Records and Ontario Healthcare Practice Environments

The Centre is working with a health industry-funded global start-up company in the Health ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Sector to empirically examine innovation adoption during the implementation of the company’s personal health record application into different health systems and practices within Canada. This comprehensive study will enable a detailed examination of the utility and impact of the company’s personal health record application in advancing health professional practice, in actively engaging distinct patient or health consumer populations more directly in managing their own health and wellness, and in strengthening the dynamic of the patient-health provider relationship. With key analyses being performed across distinct health care systems and patient-consumer populations, the findings of this project will create and offer to the global start-up company, and the Health ICT Sector more broadly, the evidence of the processes and factors necessary for the adoption of personal health record applications.

Seals and Sealing Network

The Seals and Sealing Network is a non-profit organization which brings together Canada’s sealing industry harvesters, processors, manufacturers, retailers, and Indigenous Peoples of Canada to promote and market high quality and sustainable Canadian seal products.
This work is conducted with the leadership from the Seals and Sealing Network (SSN) administered by the Fur Institute of Canada (FIC) through the Institute’s Sealing Committee. The Sealing Committee is made up of 17 individuals working in different spheres of the industry. The Sealing Committee is continuing to solicit participants to support the work of different Sub-Committees (Seal Oil, Seal Fur, Seal Meat, Branding, Animal Welfare and Indigenous sub-committees).
I will work as a marketing and communication intern in the organization to expand its business and online presence to the Chinese market.

OceansAdvance Business Co-op Student

The Newfoundland and Labrador Ocean Technology sector is comprised of companies, institutions, and organizations dedicated to ocean and marine-related technology, education, training, research and development, promotion, delivery and application. The technology is used to deliver solutions and generate efficiencies through safe and sustainable exploration, development, monitoring and use of ocean resources. Today, women comprise only 2 percent of this global sector. To enable and accelerate Canadian innovation, research and technology development, market and export leadership in the marine and ocean tech sector, it is critical to attract, develop and retain a robust, diverse and inclusive talent pipeline that includes women from every walk of life. The proposed Canadian Women in Ocean Industries Leadership initiative and emerging long-term action plan, will directly address this goal, increasing Canada’s leadership, competitiveness and contribution to ocean industries. It will foster an ocean talent pipeline with women from every walk of life, including equity seeking groups: 2SLGBTQ+ community; Indigenous communities; persons with disabilities; and racialized people, increasing the competitiveness of this industry. This project will help develop a strategy and carry out related actions to achieve this goal.

LIAM First – Accounting Assistant

We lost all of our paper documentation in the floods and are now setting up an electronic system to prevent future loss and to enable staff to work remotely and efficiently with new processes. We will need someone to look at how our processes were /are setup and find new ways for us to work given the new situation we are in with COVID-19. In particular, the way we are receiving invoices, approving and paying them. We need someone who can also audit and analyze our processes to make recommendations on where things can be improved or changed.

Streamline processes, Implement and audit new systems, Help convert the office into a paperless model, Aid with project accounting and looking at budget vs costs.
Challenges:
Finding skilled employees looking for work in Fort McMurray: This will allow us to spread our workforce out to Calgary where there is a bigger employment pool to choose from.
Inefficiency with processes: There will be clearly defined processes that are communicated to all employees to follow. With these processes, efficiencies will be created and communication will become better within the organization.

Alta Genetics Inc. (URUS) – Cybersecurity Framework Specialist

They key activities that woudl be performed in this role woudl include:
1 – Reviewing existing security frameworks and analyze applicability to our environment
2 – Project Lead on the implementation of a framework within URUS. This would involve working with both IT and business management to identify assets, existing protection strategies, and gaps in security and policy
3 – Development of internal documentation around systems and cyber security, including staff awareness and training protocols, and incident response plan

These activities would be directly applicable to our new remote worker paradigm. As staff have migrated out of offices where protection from certain cyber risk were in palce – to home offices that are outside the control and oversite of central IT, we need to adapt our processes and technologies to mitigate potential risks. There are two significant divisions within URUS that are based in Canada – Alta Genetics inc., and Saskatoon Colostrum Company Ltd. These two entities account for a significant portion of URUS’ revenue and profitiablity. Furthermore, we are an essential service witin the Agricultrual industry – as primariy suppliers to milk and beef producers within Canada and around the globe.

Consultant, Education Jurisdiction

The goals of the project will be to assist the Indigenous Community Learning Centres in Nanaimo, BC, which are co-administered by the Indigenous Partners, to obtain sustainable funding and an appropriate level of Indigenous independent governance in keeping with the UNDRIP, the BC UNDRIP Act, and the TRC’s Calls to Action. To achieve this, the project will focus on building a business case to keep the Learning Centres open, and a guide for a legislative amendment which would reclassify the Learning Centres into a class where they would receive and retain 100% public education funding. In addition, incorporating Indigenous values into the institutional framework of the Learning Centres would be a major part of the project, and ensuring the project is sensitive to existing community relationships while creating a sustainable educational system for Indigenous students off-reserve and in urban areas.

Maple Leaf Angels – Business Strategy Internship

This project will provide MLA with the operational support necessary to continue growing the brand. The project will help to attract the right entrepreneurs/start-ups and angel investors to join the organization. Through investments, MLA members will have the opportunity to mentor and guide entrepreneurs in Canada as they navigate the challenges and opportunities surrounding the development of their company. The project will also benefit Canada through the investment of human and financial capital in Canadian entrepreneurs and early stage companies. Successful investments will support the growth and business development of local emerging technology start-ups and inspire entrepreneurship in Canada.