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

Numerical Investigation of Long-Term Settlement of Waba Dam

Waba Dam is a zoned earth fill structure that was constructed on a deep soft, sensitive marine clay layer. This marine clay layer is characterized by its low shear strength and a large void ratio. During the last 32 years, the dam and its foundation has settled over 1.5 m (5 ft). Piezometric readings indicated that the excess pore water pressure in the foundation has not yet fully dissipated. Therefore, to ensure the continuous and safe operation of the dam it remains prudent to predict the deformation performance and check whether any adverse behaviour is likely to develop during its life span. The research is to deal with safety and stability concerns of Waba Dam on marine clay in Canada. The findings of this research will help to design and maintain the safe operation of embankment dams on marine clays in Canada and around the world.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Jinyuan Liu

Student:

Cong Shi

Partner:

Ontario Power Generation

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

Ryerson University

Program:

Accelerate

Development of Novel Microparticle and Nanoparticle-Based Controlled Release Formulations for Agriculture

Increasing the productivity of agricultural fields is essential to secure our existing food supplies and provide for the growing world population. In this context, pesticides and fertilizers play an essential role in both increasing crop yields, as well as enhancing crop defenses against environmental stresses such as drought, pests, or diseases. However, the application of existing chemical pesticides and fertilizers can lead to eventual crop resistance as well as potential downstream environmental issues. Instead, Petro-Canada has recently developed a new category of plant immune response triggers which activate a plant’s native immune system to induce a range of beneficial responses, including greater resistance to environmental stresses (e.g. fungal pathogens). Through this collaboration with Dr. Todd Hoare’s lab at McMaster, these immune response triggers will be formulated into nano/microparticle-based controlled release vehicles to enable improved retention in the soil and higher effectiveness at lower applied doses, reducing product cost to facilitate commercialization.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Todd Hoare

Student:

Vitaliy Kapishon

Partner:

Petro-Canada Lubricants

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Oil and gas

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

Optimized Approach for Minimizing Oil and Gas Asset Remediation and Reclamation Liability Cost

This proposed research and development project is intended to create an Integrated Approach to Recovery of Mature Oil and Gas Asset Production and to achieve Strategic Lifecycle Liability Discharges in the oil & gas industries. Tansley Associates Environmental Sciences (TAES) and Athabasca University (AU) each have excellent talent pools and facilities with specific strengths in environmental analysis as well as computational technologies to apply to this project. Together, with an upcoming appointment of a postdoctoral fellow, this combined team will provide a unique perspective toward minimizing the ecological footprint and end-life liabilities caused by oil and gas production. This project will seek to discover, test and recommend best practices for the highest environmental standards in petroleum production to restore “equivalent land capacity” without leaving a legacy of environmental contamination for Albertans.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Junye Wang

Student:

Mitra Mehrabani

Partner:

Tansley Associates Environmental Sciences

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

Athabasca University

Program:

Elevate

Injection molded bioprinter cartridges

Patients who suffer from severe burns require immediate wound closure to ensure survival and facilitate healing. The current gold standard in surgical practice is the use of split-surface autographs, allographs, or skin substitutes, but limitation range from the lack of layered tissue organization, the potential for immunological rejection, and the need for high quantities of donated tissue. At the Guenther laboratory, we aim to address these issues by designing a microfluid cartridge-based 3D bioprinter which allows the synthesis of cell-embedded, multilayered gels in a single, continuous process in contrast to traditional top-down assembly approaches. In close collaboration with engineers at SMT Americas, we will improve the design of existing microfluidic cartridges to enable scalable manufacturing of 3D bioprinting components.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Axel Guenther

Student:

Richard Cheng

Partner:

SMT Americas

Discipline:

Engineering - biomedical

Sector:

Nanotechnologies

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Accelerate

Switching frequency optimization and advanced current control techniques for an electric vehicle traction drive

The performance of an electric vehicle traction drive, comprised of an electronic power converter feeding power to an electric motor, is defined by its control stages and different system parameters- such as switching frequency of the semiconductor devices of the converter. The proposed internship aims to determine changes in conventional control strategies and selection of switching frequency to improve the power conversion efficiency and drive response time. First, selection of switching frequency to improve the power conversion efficiency and drive response time. First, different variants of the control strategies will be investigated along with their impact on drive performances. Second, a procedure will be established to adjust operating switching frequency based on operating point of the drive: Third, a control strategy, tailored to improve dynamic performance and reduce losses of the drive will be established. The strategies will be implemented on a TM4 traction drive over a wide operating range and necessary adjustments will be made to optimize their performance. The resulting strategies will be presented to TM4 in the form of a control block, readily available for use within their existing control system.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Geza Joos

Student:

Subhadeep Bhattacharya

Partner:

TM4

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Energy

University:

McGill University

Program:

Accelerate

Learning from our Kogums (Grandmothers): Integrating Participatory Video as a Tool to Share Knowledge through OPCN’s Ithinto Mechisowin Program

Hydroelectric dams are hallmarks of colonization in Canada, as they destroy food sources, homeland, habitation, and natural resources of Indigenous peoples. O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation (OPCN), an Indigenous community in northern Manitoba, Canada, was flooded and forced to relocate from ancestral lands to a nearby settlement under such circumstances. Regaining strength from their inherent cultural values grounded in their relationship with the land, OPCN eventually formed a community-based food program called Ithinto Mechisowin Program (IMP) (‘food from the land’). This proposed research project intends to use participatory video methods to collect stories from community members for IMP to gain a nuanced understanding of Indigenous food systems in Canada. The project will teach participatory video to community members so that they can lead the program activities. The project will inspire reconnection with land by archiving stories and recipes related to traditional food and thereby improving access to culturally appropriate healthy food to achieve Indigenous food sovereignty, a common goal for both the community and the partner organizations which is Aboriginal Economic Development by demonstrating what is possible, and encouraging community members, and other communities to begin to take steps to strengthen their own food related economies, health and cultural integration.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Peter Kulchyski

Student:

Asfia Gulrukh Kamal

Partner:

Tides Canada Initiatives Society

Discipline:

Resources and environmental management

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

University of Manitoba

Program:

Accelerate

Integrated hydrodynamic and water quality modelling tool for the Toronto Waterfront

The goal of this project is to develop the first ever high definition integrated water circulation and water quality model for the Toronto Waterfront. As one of the most urbanized freshwater ecosystems with complex geometries and physical processes, Toronto Waterfront is in an urgent need for modern scientific tools that can support effective environmental management strategies and inform design of costly new development and restoration projects that have considerable socioeconomic implications. Additionally, this cutting edge integrated model will be used in collaboration with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and key partners to study the impact of various scenarios of proposed urbanization developments on the water circulation, water quality and fish habitat in the Toronto Waterfront. The results from this research, such as the analysis of restoration strategies and predictions for the outcome of future developments, will ensure cost effective, sustainable investments while aligning with water quality provincial standards.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Mathew Wells

Student:

Bogdan Hlevca

Partner:

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Discipline:

Environmental sciences

Sector:

Natural resources

University:

Program:

Elevate

Validation of neurodegeneration screen hits in zebrafish: functional analysis of drug effects on neural activity

The OCE-CQDM Life Sciences R&D Challenge program is a groundbreaking collaboration between researchers at St.Michael’s Hospital (SMH) and Treventis Corporation (both in Toronto), as well as the University of Montreal (Dr. Drapeau, an expert in zebrafish models of disease). The zebrafish is a robust model for translational research because of our understanding of zebrafish biology and its overlap with that of humans. The overall goal of the project is to leverage the academic investigators’ expertise in zebrafish disease models and the robotic high throughput zebrafish screening facility at SMH to validate the Treventis’ library of compounds identified by their computer model, as well as to demonstrate the utility of the zebrafish model and screening facility for automated high throughput drug screening research. My specific goal is to validate hits from the screen by determining their effects on neural activity in zebrafish and thus help identify potential targets.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Pierre Drapeau

Student:

Poulomee BOSE

Partner:

Treventis Corporation

Discipline:

Visual arts

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Investigation of biomarkers of response to treatment with marizomib in GBM patients

Development of cancer is mainly due to uncontrolled cell growth and the proteasome is a cellular component that regulates this process. Resistance to chemotherapy is the main reason for cancer treatment failure, and therefore,there is a need for development of new and potent drugs. Recent studies have shown that proteasome inhibitors effectively inhibit growth of many cancer types, while causing low toxicity in normal human cells. Triphase Accelerator has developed marizomib as a potent proteasome inhibitor for treatment of a number of cancer types.
Glioblastoma is the most deadly primary human brain tumor, which is highly resistant to treatment. The goal of this collaborative project is to identify genes that could be used as markers for identification of glioblastoma patients that are more likely to respond to marizomib. Our collaboration with Triphase Accelerator provides this organization with scientific expertise, while our interns benefit by gaining industry experience and making connections.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Gelareh Zadeh

Student:

Sheila Mansouri

Partner:

Triphase Research and Development II Corp

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Accelerate

Investigation and optimization of Avalon Alliance bio-mineral composite products and pre-design of the manufacturing process

This UBC-Vancouver research will contribute to the optimization of novel composite bio-mineral products for sustainable agriculture, pollution remediation and other environmental applications, with special emphasis on equipment pilot testing and manufacturing process pre-design, as well as the testing of the product as chicken/fish feed. The core fertilizer products synergistically combine rock dusts, clays, seawater elements, beneficial soil microorganisms, organic substances and other natural biostimulants to replenish soil nutrients, enhance soil health, neutralize contaminants and improve plant productivity and resilience. Similarly, the bio-mineral chicken feed will meet organic standards, as will the salmon feed that will also achieve good nutritional performance without the use of fishmeal ingredients from endangered wild stocks. The production processes and formulas of these product
prototypes have been developed and protected through patent filings by principals of Avalon Alliance Inc., for the commercial applications of subsidiary Avalon Bio-Mineral Technologies Inc. Two UBC Vancouver interns will be involved, with research assistants at the UBC Farm and UBC/DFO aquaculture facility, who will work in collaboration with Avalon Alliance personnel, as well as other
interns at UBC-Okanagan assisting with the preparation and refinement of the various product lines.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Anthony Lau

Student:

Christoph Schilling

Partner:

Avalon Alliance

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Fisheries and wildlife

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Development of innovative thermal efficient steel studs

With the growing demand for energy efficient buildings, conventional steel wall studs are no longer an appropriate choice for exterior walls. Conventional steel studs cause an inordinately high degree of thermal bridging which lowers the energy efficiency of the building. New building codes are demanding higher energy efficient buildings. To address this concern, Structa Wire Corporation started the development of an innovative steel stud that replaces the solid steel web in the conventional steel stud with welded wires. The newly proposed steel stud shows promising energy efficiency, by demonstrating a significant reduction in thermal bridging. However, the structural integrity of the innovative steel stud needs to be confirmed through rigorous analytical simulation and experimental testing. An intern from UBC will work closely with Structa Wire Corporation to conduct experimental testing program and to optimize the structural performance of the innovative steel stud.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Tony Yang

Student:

Lisa Tobber

Partner:

Structa Wire Corp

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

Advanced manufacturing

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Tensor network characterization of superconducting circuits

Quantum information processing holds the promise of the next revolution in information technologies. Many implementation candidates are still being investigated. One of them is superconducting circuits. Studying quantum systems in general is a computationally difficult task. If one hopes to build scalable and reliable devices, one must resort to approximate numerical design tools. Tensor networks is one such method that has been used extensively in theoretical physics to study condensed matter systems. Our goal is to use tensor networks, which have mainly been used to study “natural” physical systems of many particles, to study the finite size “artificial” quantum systems that are superconducting circuits. More specifically, the goal is to implement a numerical package that performs the relevant calculations and to use it to study large circuits of interest, such as Josephson junction arrays.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

David Poulin

Student:

Guillaume Duclos-Cianci

Partner:

Discipline:

Visual arts

Sector:

Information and communications technologies

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Previous
1…1,0251,0261,0271,0281,0291,0301,031…1,106
Next

Join a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Subscribe to our newsletter now!

Subscribe