Projets novateurs réalisés

Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Lower Gas Permeability for Liner Polyethylene in Fiber Reinforced Pipes (FRPs) – Year two

Permeation of CO2 gas through the inner layer in multi-layer fiber reinforced pipes (FRPs) destructively reduces pipe
durability. FRPs generally consist of three or more layers of polymer and reinforcing fibers. Gas permeation thorough
the polymer layer and its accumulation in reinforcing layer leads to pipe failure during depressurizing cycles. Using clay
nano-platelet can lead to decrease gas permeability in polymer layers. Good dispersion and good adhesion between
clay nano-layers and polymer are key features for optimization of gas permeability. This study will focus on optimizing
polyethylene (PE)/clay composites to reduce gas permeability in PE-liner. Other objectives of this research study are
using polymer blends and cross-linked PE for developing composite pipes with enhanced mechanical properties at
elevated temperatures and high pressures. Polymer modification and optimization of processing condition will be
further investigated in this research study.

“Summer of History” New Brunswick Museums and Heritage Places Marketing Project

With the support and supervision of the Executive Director and several Board Members, the intern will be carrying out a marketing campaign that highlights NB’s unique museums and heritage places. They will be asked to organize a calendar of posts and to create the content and post it in accordance with optimal posting times. They will be tracking data to better organize the campaign and ensure maximum success. They will also be helping to plan and coordinate a launch event. The benefit to AHNB will be that the successful campaign will be a great service to our members, we will see an increase in our social media following, and we expect to gain knowledge from the intern’s education and experience.

Scale-up to semi-industrial cultivated fat production

Main Activities
Genuine Taste is an innovative biotechnology company focused on producing cultivated fat, a scalable and customizable ingredient for the growing alternative protein industry. We provide high-quality, structured fats that enhance the flavor, texture, aroma, and nutritional profile of plant-based and cultivated meat. Our technology offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional animal fats and synthetic flavor additives.
Challenge We Aim to Solve
Genuine Taste is developing a scalable, cost-effective solution for producing cultivated fat, a critical ingredient for enhancing the sensory and nutritional properties of alternative meats. The challenge we face is scaling our production
process from benchtop to demonstration scale, which is necessary to validate the unit economics and product quality for customers and investors. Achieving a price point of $10/kg is key to secure customer interest, but scaling to this level requires addressing new technical challenges such as optimizing yield, maintaining consistency, and ensuring product quality at a larger scale. Without this proof of scalability, it will be difficult to move forward with customer acquisition and pilot projects. The primary hurdle is scaling the production process to demonstration scale (10L bioreactor) while maintaining product quality and yield. The increased scale introduces complexities such as shear stress, contamination risks, and oxidation, which need to be addressed to ensure a consistent, high-quality product. This project will enable us to hire an experienced bioprocess engineer to refine our process and optimize production at this scale.
Anticipated Benefits to Genuine Taste
• Successful completion of this project will generate critical data proving the unit economics of our cultivated fat
production at demonstration scale (10L), a key milestone for commercialization.
• We will expand our in-house expertise in process engineering, strengthening our ability to scale production.
• We expect to file two new provisional patent applications, reinforcing our intellectual property portfolio.
• Our project will generate at least $50,000 in revenue from sample sales, with a portion coming from exports to
customers in the U.S. and the Netherlands.
• Meeting key technical milestones—such as three successful runs in a 10L bioreactor—will enable us to engage
with large food corporations, many of which require this validation before entering formal collaboration
agreements.

Security Analyst I

Bulletproof, specializes in cybersecurity, providing security operations center (SOC) services to monitor, detect, and mitigate security threats. Their main activities include real-time monitoring of security events, investigating incidents, and ensuring a robust security posture for their clients. The innovation challenge they face involves enhancing their ability to identify and respond to evolving cybersecurity threats, including hardware and software failures, security breaches, and network connectivity issues. This project aims to strengthen Bulletproof’s security operations beyond routine monitoring by leveraging advanced threat intelligence, improving incident response strategies, and enhancing security configurations. By integrating proactive analysis, custom detection logic, and intelligence gathering, the initiative will provide deeper insights into potential threats, reducing response time and improving overall security resilience. To achieve this, expertise in cybersecurity operations, threat analysis, digital forensics, network security, security policy development, and the use of advanced testing tools and security event management platforms is required. The project will go beyond day-to-day operations by creating a more adaptive and intelligent security framework, ensuring Bulletproof remains at the forefront of cybersecurity defense.

Vibrancy Ambassador

Downtown Fredericton Inc. is committed to enhancing downtown vibrancy through urban design, beautification initiatives, and community engagement, ensuring the area remains attractive, dynamic, and welcoming for residents and visitors. Its main activities include improving outdoor dining spaces, overseeing decorative elements, managing storefront aesthetics, and implementing accessibility projects in collaboration with property owners, tenants, and local stakeholders. The key challenge lies in sustaining and enhancing these efforts in a way that goes beyond routine maintenance, requiring a strategic and research-driven approach. The organization aims to implement innovative solutions that integrate digital and in-person promotional initiatives, elevate public art and urban design, and foster stronger community collaboration. By identifying opportunities to enhance public spaces, developing creative marketing strategies, and prioritizing accessibility improvements, this project will support long-term urban renewal and economic vitality. To achieve these goals, expertise in urban design, community engagement, digital marketing, and strategic planning is essential, ensuring a holistic approach to downtown revitalization.

Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Lower Gas Permeability for Liner Polyethylene in Fiber Reinforced Pipes (FRPs)

Permeation of CO2 gas through the inner layer in multi-layer fiber reinforced pipes (FRPs) destructively reduces pipe
durability. FRPs generally consist of three or more layers of polymer and reinforcing fibers. Gas permeation thorough
the polymer layer and its accumulation in reinforcing layer leads to pipe failure during depressurizing cycles. Using clay
nano-platelet can lead to decrease gas permeability in polymer layers. Good dispersion and good adhesion between
clay nano-layers and polymer are key features for optimization of gas permeability. This study will focus on optimizing
polyethylene (PE)/clay composites to reduce gas permeability in PE-liner. Other objectives of this research study are
using polymer blends and cross-linked PE for developing composite pipes with enhanced mechanical properties at
elevated temperatures and high pressures. Polymer modification and optimization of processing condition will be
further investigated in this research study.

Ispiciwin Project – UNB Catalyst

The Ispiciwin Project (I???????, the Project) is an outreach and awareness project that explores the way in which we travel in our modern age to promote the progressive transition our society is making towards zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). Ispiciwin (I???????), in nêhiyawêwin, means to travel, and this Project focuses on the journey we are taking as a society towards more sustainable and affordable transportation solutions. The Project, at its core, is a public and industry education undertaking that seeks to promote knowledge around ZEVs and their adoption. This challenge will be addressed head on through the deliverables that form the main structure of Project.

The Project will be built on three (3) main deliverables structured in the form of outreach and awareness (O&A) initiatives. These O&A initiatives involve the development and publishing of informative and educational content through web and social media platforms (including written content and various multimedia), the development and delivery of an industry-based awareness and research program, and the development and delivery of a test drive partner program.

The Project requires input from a diverse set of experts because the issues at the heart of sustainability and new technology adoption are multi-faceted and interconnected. Each field—sustainability, business, marketing, and education—brings essential perspectives and tools to the table, which can increase the project’s effectiveness and impact. The Project is seeking interested candidates to assist with the development and delivery of industry outreach and research, program management, and web and social media content management. This opportunity will provide hands-on experience in a variety of professional disciplines, excellent networking opportunities, and collaboration with a group of exceptional multi-disciplinary specialists.

Strengthening Advocacy and Capacity in Manitoba’s Community Living Sector

This project will support Abilities Manitoba, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for people with intellectual disabilities. The intern will assist in developing tools, resources, and processes that strengthen advocacy and build capacity within the community living sector. The project will help the organization communicate better, improve collaboration, and gather feedback from member agencies. These efforts will support Abilities Manitoba in its goal to create a stronger, more inclusive network of support for people with intellectual disabilities across the province.

AI Adoption and Its Barriers

Understanding Barriers to AI Adoption in Canada

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, yet Canada faces significant barriers to widespread adoption. This C.D. Howe Institute policy paper will examine the current state of AI adoption in Canada, assess its economic, social, and productivity implications, and identify key challenges hindering broader implementation. These challenges include regulatory uncertainty, workforce skill gaps, limited access to capital for AI-driven businesses, infrastructure limitations, data accessibility and interoperability issues, privacy and security risks, AI bias concerns, and a lack of understanding of AI’s capabilities. While Canada has made progress through initiatives like the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, gaps remain in translating research leadership into tangible economic benefits and productivity gains. Understanding where these gaps exist and how to bridge them is crucial to ensuring that AI adoption drives efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness across industries.

To provide a deeper analytical foundation, this paper will also examine historical patterns of technology diffusion, highlighting why some countries and industries embraced new technologies faster than others. These insights will inform targeted policy recommendations to accelerate AI adoption while ensuring responsible development. Solutions will focus on regulatory clarity, AI investment incentives, workforce upskilling, and integration into public and private sectors. Informed by industry trends, government policies, and international best practices, this paper will outline key policy levers to strengthen Canada’s AI ecosystem and competitiveness.

Nickel Bros Canada

Nickel Bros Canada is one of North America’s largest house-moving companies, recognized for its expertise in structural relocation, heavy lifting, and transportation. As a leader in unsubsidized recycling, the company specializes in upcycling buildings across the Pacific Northwest, aligning with its core values of safety, precision, and integrity. However, as the company continues to scale its operations, it faces challenges in streamlining administrative processes, improving internal coordination, and enhancing health and safety compliance. The complexity of managing cross-border transportation paperwork, project permitting, and crew scheduling requires a more efficient and systematic approach to administrative support. This project aims to introduce innovative process improvements by optimizing administrative workflows, implementing digital solutions for documentation and permitting, and enhancing internal coordination strategies. By integrating new efficiencies, Nickel Bros can reduce processing times, improve data accuracy, and enhance overall operational effectiveness. Solving these challenges requires expertise in business administration, transportation logistics, and health and safety compliance, along with strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills to develop and implement innovative solutions that go beyond routine administrative tasks. The Office Assistant Intern will play a critical role in identifying bottlenecks, designing streamlined processes, and supporting the transition to more efficient administrative systems, ultimately contributing to Nickel Bros’ long-term operational sustainability.

Process Engineering Internship

This project’s goals include optimizing and documenting the development of zwitterionic hydrogels that will be used as injectable hydrogels to substitute current hyaluronic acid-based viscosupplements to treat osteoarthritis. During this internship, the intern will be able to work on the synthesis, characterization, purification, and packaging of zwitterionic hydrogels and document these protocols by establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs). These SOPs will establish protocols for the company (Trillium Meditec) and allow us to share them with manufacturing companies. The intern will also collaborate with manufacturers to optimize the scale-up according to the manufacturing capabilities.

L2M – Carbon Capture in Breweries using Adsorption-Based Technology

This project will support the commercialization of TurnCO2, a clean technology startup developing a low-cost carbon capture system designed specifically for craft and mid-sized breweries. Breweries produce large amounts of CO2 during fermentation, but most of it is released into the air while they continue to buy expensive, externally sourced CO2 for packaging and carbonation. TurnCO2’s system captures this waste CO2 and makes it reusable on-site, helping breweries save money, reduce emissions, and become more self-sufficient. Through this project, the team will carry out market research, talk to breweries, test pricing models, and prepare for manufacturing. The goal is to move the system from a successful prototype to a market-ready product, supporting TurnCO2’s growth and the brewing industry’s shift toward sustainability.