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

Integrated computational intelligence for forecasting import and export volumes of commodities

The global seaborne trade is growing rapidly and being supported by shipping, one of the major transportation tools around the world. With the satellite and terrestrial AIS (Automatic Identification System) data, it is possible to track the trajectories of vessels carrying commodities. The capability to accurately forecast the import and export volumes and types of commodities will potentially enable the maximization of business trading profits. This research aims to develop forecasting algorithms to predict the trading in the business with the vessel tracking and cargo inspection data. Integrated with industry data analytic platform, the outcome from this research will enhance Canadian business’ competency in the global market.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Zheng Liu

Student:

Usama Ansari

Partner:

Spire Luxembourg

Discipline:

Engineering - other

Sector:

Other

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Optimized Non-invasive Cuff-less Continuous Blood Pressure Measurement Technique Using Machine Learning

Continuous blood pressure (BP) monitor is highly beneficial for detection and prevention of stroke and cardiovascular disease. The most common BP monitor technique still relies on using a cuff that obstructs the blood flow, which is both uncomfortable and makes continuous monitoring impossible. Furthermore, research has shown that due to the numerous artifacts, the existing cuff-less BP monitoring technologies such as pulse transit time (PTT) and tonometry are not sufficiently accurate. The purpose of this study is to introduce a low-cost, non-invasive, and continuous BP monitoring technique which is capable of estimating BP from dilation and retraction of the wrist radial artery. The mentioned approach utilizes two small optical sensors which can be integrated to any wristband or smartwatch. After calibration, the proposed approach may be used for months to estimate blood pressure in an accurate, easy-to-use and low-cost fashion.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Hilmi Dajani

Student:

Zahra Zangenehmadar

Partner:

VitalTracer Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Investigating polysomnography parameters and screening for obstructive sleep apnea using breathing sound analysis during wakefulness

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is still an underdiagnosed common disorder. Undiagnosed OSA, in particular, increases the perioperative morbidity and mortality risks for OSA patients undergoing surgery requiring full anesthesia. OSA screening using the gold standard Polysomnography (PSG) is expensive and time-consuming. This proposal presents three research projects/points to apply advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques on breathing sounds’ signals for screening OSA disorder during wakefulness. This proposal will investigate the pathology of the OSA using breathing sounds analysis, correlate the signals with PSG parameters, and finally enhance the current OSA screening algorithm during wakefulness (AWakeOSA). The two main expected outcomes of this work will be a non-invasive methodology to understand the OSA disorder pathology using only breathing sounds, and enhancing the performance of the AWakeOSA algorithm as an objective, accurate, reliable, inexpensive, and quick OSA screening tool with a high classification power during wakefulness.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Zahra Kazem-Moussavi

Student:

Ahmed Elwali

Partner:

X-Bioanalysis

Discipline:

Engineering - biomedical

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Dissecting fibroblast-macrophage-T-regulatory cell communication in the fibrotic niche

Idiopathic pulmonary (lung) fibrosis (IPF) affects 5 million people with a mean survival time of 2-3 years after diagnosis. In lung fibrosis, connective tissue fibroblasts excessively produce and stiffen collagen matrix. The resulting scar destroys the delicate lung architecture, decreases lung compliance and gas exchange, ultimately rendering patients unable to breathe. The only effective treatment for IPF patients is a lung transplant. Typical of lung fibrosis is the chronic co-existence of fibroblasts, innate immune macrophages, and adaptive immune T-cells. Hinz has shown that cell-cell contacts establish proximity between macrophages and fibroblasts, which allows efficient exchange of signaling factors. This study used elaborate co-culture systems that are difficult to analyze with conventional methods – in particular, in industry-scale drug screening. Here, the Hinz lab will team with up with Phenomic AI who developed an artificial intelligence analysis platform that is able to interpret even the most complex experimental outcomes. This combination will enable to use triple cell-cultures for anti-fibrosis drug screening and help to identify novel therapeutic targets in IPF.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Boris Hinz

Student:

Ronen Schuster

Partner:

Phenomic AI Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - biomedical

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Edge Response of Understorey Plants, Lichenivorous Gastropods and Their Grazing Impact on At-Risk Lichens in Mixedwood Swamps

Clearcut logging and acid deposition affect plants, lichens and slugs (lichen consumers) and may facilitate the introduction and spread of alien invasive slugs, which can increase grazing pressures on at-risk lichens. The main research goal of this project is to improve our understanding of how clearcutting practices affect herbs and slugs and facilitate both the introduction of alien slugs and increased grazing on endangered lichens. We will: (i) identify slugs that feed on at-risk lichens in swamps; (ii) determine whether slug communities change with distance from the clearcut edges; and (iii) determine how these communities relate to acidity levels on bark. Such information will allow estimating the extension of clearcut impacts and will aid forest managers to define strategies and remediation methods for the conservation of at-risk lichens.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Karen Harper

Student:

Hugo Reis Medeiros

Partner:

Port Hawkesbury Paper LP

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Forestry

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Evaluating the Co-Translational Framework for systematic translation of scientific knowledge towards implementation

The University of Toronto’s Translational Research Program (TRP) is a graduate program that developed the Co-Translational Framework (CTF) to systematically mobilize research towards innovations to improve health outcomes.
The Translational Research for Innovation initiative is the research mechanism to help validate the CTF to facilitate meaningful collaboration between industry and academia. Using the CTF, the intern and an industry partner, HealthEdge Innovation Inc and a clientele will be working on multiple research cases to mobilize basic science research with the goal of therapeutic development. The first sample research case is on Rett Syndrome. This project will benefit HealthEdge and its clientele by exposing them to the new framework of how to mobilize research and expand their knowledge base and expertise of translational research through a systematic approach. This exposure and experience may also improve both HealthEdge and its clienteles’ own internal processes in the future to become more efficient and to increase buy-in from other collaborators in the field.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Joseph Ferenbok

Student:

Helen Liu

Partner:

HealthEdge Innovation Inc.

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Pharmaceuticals

University:

Program:

Accelerate

# Fearlesslearning: Engaged and Included in a STEM Virtualized e-Learning Environment

There is a rapidly growing disconnect between what schools and education can provide and the conditions students need in which to be empowered in a rapidly changing world where innovation will be a necessary skill for all students to thrive in the future. This proposed research project is expected to bridge the gap between industry, educator, parent and child. The expected benefit to STEM Minds Corp. is that, if the virtualized STEM learning environment has all of the necessary features for leading edge STEM education, then their business will grow and expand first to markets provincially in Canada, then globally.

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Faculty Supervisor:

John Portelli

Student:

Donna Kowalchuk

Partner:

Stem Minds Corp

Discipline:

Education

Sector:

Education

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Advanced Thermal Solutions for Telecom Systems Synopsis

This project is a collaboration between NORSAT International Inc. and Laboratory for Alternative Energy Conversion (LAEC) at SFU to commercialize novel and efficient cooling solutions for NORSAT ATOM series BUCs and SSPAs. NORSAT amplifiers are typically 15-20% efficient meaning up to 85% of the applied electrical power is dissipated as heat. The heat is removed by means of several ways in the current design e.g. heat sinks, heat pipes, and fans which is about 50% of the amplifier size. Efficient passive cooling of ATOM series BUCs and SSPAs components is necessary to reduce product size, weight and minimize parasitic powers. A key innovation in this research is the use of graphite-based TIMs. Graphite has superior thermo-mechanical properties, including heat removal capacity, lightweight, and corrosion resistance. These graphite products aim at the strategic $17 billion/year industrial heat exchangers and a $12 billion/year thermal management products markets and have a great potential to revolutionize this industry.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Majid Bahrami

Student:

Khashayar Ebrahimi

Partner:

Norsat International Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Alternative energy

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Advanced Control and Monitoring Systems for Autonomous Snow Removal Equipment at Airports

Airports in Canada have the difficult tasks of needing to remain open during adverse weather conditions in the winter. The research that we are undertaking is to develop and deploy a fully autonomous snow removal equipment for Canadian airports. Operating a snowplow is a dangerous and exhausting task for human operators, often they are unable to see clearly when they are operating in extreme conditions. Airports are also finding it increasingly more difficult to recruit and retain seasonal workers. A potential solution for these issues is a fully autonomous snow removal system. Development of cost effective and reliable autonomous snow removal vehicles would aid airports in keeping their runways operational during winter storms and help to overcome labor shortages while improving productivity and safety.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Nariman Sepehri

Student:

Zhengrong Chu

Partner:

Northstar Robotics Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Automotive and transportation

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Transit Signal Priority in Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Environments

This research aims to develop a novel transit signal priority (TSP) strategy under autonomous/connected vehicle environment to ease traffic congestion for transit vehicles at intersections. In this study, the accurate arrival time of transit vehicles at intersections will be estimated and the green time will be extended accordingly to help transit vehicles pass intersections. Moreover, the traffic flow of the crossing streets will be monitored constantly in order to decrease the adverse effect of TSP on traffic flow of crossing streets. The data required for the new TSP strategy will be obtained from the autonomous and connected vehicles. Finally, this study will evaluate the case of multiple transit vehicles and multiple routes in which the conflicting TSP requests by transit vehicles needs to be dealt with.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Lina Kattan

Student:

Mohammad Ansari Esfeh

Partner:

Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

Automotive and transportation

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Tool Development for Bolus Shaping in Radiation Therapy

During External-Beam Radiotherapy in cancer therapy, Bolus, a thick sheet of flexible material, is used to cover the skin surface in order to minimize damage healthy tissues. A significant problem of using bolus is air gaps generated between the bolus and patient’s skin if an inaccurate shape of bolus was made. In this research, an efficient process of shaping and cutting bolus will be developed to improve the efficiency and efficacy of bolus forming in order to minimize the air gap. This new approach utilizes an unfolding and folding method. CMD, as a newly established company in the field, will benefit from the outcomes of the project through engaging with the project and sharing experiences between the intern and the employees. This project will provide the innovative technology in cancer therapy and the knowledge behind it, which will be beneficial for the future works of the company.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Qingjin Peng

Student:

Zohreh Sohrabi Ghareh Tappeh

Partner:

Canada Medical Device Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Advanced manufacturing

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Somatic cell reprogramming as a tool for the conservation of genetic resources from endangered species

Conservation of endangered species has become increasingly urgent. This is evident given the rate of species extinction has increased by 100 to 1000-fold, and global biodiversity has decreased. With current climatic changes, these concerns will only grow. Assisted reproductive technologies can play a vital role in endangered species conservation. Many approaches are currently being utilized or explored, including animal cloning. Unfortunately, cloned animals are not genetically pure and therefore are not valuable for use in breeding programs. This project aims to provide an alternative solution by utilizing a novel method for the generation of live endangered animals. Hybrid embryos created from domestic species embryos that form the placenta, and stem cells from endangered animals that form the fetus, will allow the creation of genetically pure offspring. The new protocols and expertise generated through the proposed studies have the future potential to be applied to preserve or rescue endangered species.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Vilceu Bordignon

Student:

Naomi Dicks

Partner:

Toronto Zoo

Discipline:

Animal science

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Program:

Accelerate

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