Innovative Projects Realized

Market Research/Strategy – Catalyst Entertainment Technology

As Catalyst Entertainment Technology gears up to open it’s first location in Q2 2023, more research needs to be done on the go to market strategy for expansion. CET needs to create potential customer and content partner lists and start having discovery calls with these groups to help inform our go to market strategy. We need to better understand models concerning how content is monetized and where IP lies in content partnerships. We also need to do research on the differences between licencing and franchising to better understand which expansion strategy best applies to CET. Finally, we need to do research around our competitive landscape and better understand social media and gaming-specific channels we may leverage.

OPAS Mobile Intelligent Operations Management

We are building the next generation of operations management software. In recent years there have been many companies that digitize forms to eliminate paper. Now, OPAS Mobile is changing how companies manage their HSEQ, fleet, materials, timecards and more by integrating everything into one extremely easy to use platform. Combining real-time data from the field with growing Industry 4.0 data streams, we use machine learning to proactively identify hazards and suggest mitigations to front-line staff and management to mitigate risks, eliminate HSEQ incidents and improve profitability. Most importantly we’re doing this with a focus on medium sized companies typically forgotten by enterprise software so local companies can have the automated procedures and efficiencies required compete with the multinationals in their markets.

Deconstruction as a Method for Waste Diversion in Canada’s Built Environment

Waste diversion is a prominent discussion across Canada, as we have recognized the large impact that the waste we produce has on the environment as well as the impact of how we manage it. The most common conversations have often been around personal waste reduction and the “zero-waste” movement, however what has been largely left out of conversation is the impact that the construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) industry has on the environment and what we can do to divert that waste (Delphi, 2021; Veleva et al., 2017). This research focuses on the deconstruction of single-family homes as a method of waste diversion in the CRD industry. Deconstruction is an important next step in waste diversion in municipalities across Canada as research has shown that 95% of CRD materials are able to be reused, recycled, or salvaged (CCME, 2019). With approximately 800,000 homes being demolished across Canada each year, there is a lot of opportunity to divert more waste and reduce the impact on the environment (CCME, 2019). This research aims to explore the barriers for deconstruction programs and policies, how we can overcome those barriers, and to determine what the best steps forward are in municipalities.

Escape Room VR

This project is an online multiplayer video game for Virtual Reality (VR) that is inspired by escape room themes and puzzles. The project is going to be developed using Unreal Engine 5 which is one of the newest and most powerful technologies that allows the team to implement more complex ideas and scenarios that were previously harder to create. This is going to be the largest project that the team has ever worked on since the previous projects were limited by the limitations of the technology and the studio. There are only a few VR titles that offer high-quality experiences and the studio now has the opportunity to implement new ideas and create an immersive experience. This project is going to help the intern to gain a wide variety of skills throughout the development process and will also push the boundaries of the team at the studio to be among the best game studios in Atlantic Canada which can benefit and support the local communities as well.

Cellules Solaires Triple jonctions pour le Photovoltaïque à Concentration (CPV)

Ce stage s’inscrit dans un projet qui a pour objectif de réduire le coût de fabrication des cellules solaires à très haute efficacité (1). Dans ce cadre, le développement de cellules solaires détachables, et le développement d’un procédé de passivation s’impose.
L’objectif de ce stage est dans un premier temps d’étudier l’impact de l’amincissement des cellules triple jonctions sur leur performances finales à l’aide de Silvaco ou Comsol. Dans un second temps, une étude expérimentale de la passivation de surface du Ge sera de mener via divers traitements chimiques.

Evaluating the Cumulative Effect of Hypothermia and Hypoxia on Substrate Metabolism in Humans at Rest

The ‘Obesity Epidemic’ is a major issue faced by western society today. Physical activity is known to directly correlate with reduced body fat, increased strength, and an improved overall sense of health and wellness. However, a majority of the population, for various reasons, is not physically active. These reasons can vary from the lack of financial or social support to lack of intrinsic motivation to be physically active, and in some cases, being virtually unable to engage in physical activity. Keeping this in mind, the purpose of this study is to artificially alter environmental conditions to elicit a post-metabolic response in humans that leads to lipid oxidation even when at rest. The environmental conditions used for this study are cold (hypothermia) and a reduced concentration of oxygen (hypoxia). The partner organization has a vested interest in this study as its primary goal is to increase awareness towards physical activity at all ages by offering programs that cater to different demographics in society. They hope that the outcome of this study leads to the design and manufacture of portable devices that can simulate hypoxic and hypothermic conditions allowing them to pioneer the use of this novel form of easy, effortless weight-loss.

Interprofessional collaborative pratice and organizational climate in hospital context in coping to TO COVID-19 – study of mixed methods

The research project has as a general objective to analyze the organizational climate and its interference in the Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (ICP) from the perspective of managers and health professionals in a hospital context in the face of COVID-19. To achieve the objective in the proposal of a mixed methods study, data will be collected through the Assessment Scale of Interprofessional Team Collaboration (AITCS II), the Organizational Climate Scale for Healthcare Organizations (ECOOS), and individual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis and integration of the results will be carried out by intern Raíssa Ottes Vasconcelos. It is expected that this study can contribute to the construction of theoretical and practical knowledge in nursing and health about the understanding and operationalization of ICP in the hospital context and organizational climate in crises, considering the particularity of this level of health care and the impact of both constructs on the quality of health care and patient safety, as well as on the health of the worker.

Hybrid modular power conversion system for fuel cells

The global demand for clean energy and energy security is increasing, in the context of extreme weather events and global unrest. Distributed and intermittent energy sources (e.g., solar, wind) can provide much needed renewable generation but complex power conversion and storage systems are required to transform raw unregulated power into quality power needed to supply loads and inject power into the grid uninterruptedly. The goal of the proposed activities is to investigate and develop power converters that combine hydrogen fuel cells and intermittent renewable sources to produce uninterrupted power generation. The activities targets research, development, and full-scale implementation of a reconfigurable power conversion system that improves efficiency, modularity, and coordinated operation. The techniques, methodologies, and prototypes created through this project are expected to support the adoption of renewable energy systems.

Performance of industrial wastewater strainers by computational fluid dynamics

State-of-the art computational methods will be harnessed to design strainers used for collecting and treating industrial and municipal wastewaters. Such devices play a vital role in conserving a vital and ever increasingly scarce natural resource. This research is a new initiative that will benefit societies throughout the world who depend on efficient and effective capture and treatment of wastewater. The academic and industrial partners will develop computational models to modify for the 21st century long-established industrial designs, helping the Canadian enterprise maintain global leadership in the field. The models will explicitly address the challenges of high Reynolds number flows and the transport and capture of particulates within them.

Composantes de l’efficacité des équipes de direction

Près de 50 % des faillites d’entreprises canadiennes seraient attribuables à des lacunes en matière de gestion et de décisions de la direction de l’entreprise. Si on reconnaît qu’une organisation et ses résultats seront au reflet de son équipe de direction, la littérature demeure sans réponse en regard des signes distinctifs des équipes de direction les plus efficaces. À ce jour, aucun modèle intégrateur des composantes et indicateurs de l’efficacité spécifique à ce type d’équipe n’existe. En collaboration avec la firme Harieka Groupe Conseil, cette étude permettra de consolider un premier modèle définissant les composantes de l’efficacité des équipes de direction. Pour ce faire, cette étude procédera au regroupement d’avis d’experts oeuvrant dans le domaine, utilisant la technique Delphi et celle du groupe nominal. Le modèle résultant de cette étude représentera une base théorique sur laquelle pourra s’appuyer la conception d’un outil d’évaluation diagnostic de l’efficacité des équipes de direction.

Reducing frailty with a 12-week multi-component intervention for older adults living in long-term care setting

Older adults living with frailty recover less quickly following minor illnesses and are more likely to be hospitalized or die. Therefore, it is of importance to identify strategies to prevent or treat frailty. In Canada, there is currently no available multi-component interventions addressing frailty in long-term care settings. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention on frailty in Canadian older adults with high risk of frailty in a long-term care home, and explore the feasibility for the planning of future studies with larger group of participants. Residents will be randomized to either: intervention and control group. Intervention group will receive a multi-component program involving physical exercise (aerobic, resistance, balance and flexibility), nutrition (target on calories and protein intake) and cognitive training (interactive activities). Control group will receive usual care. Outcomes such as frailty, nutritional status, and cognitive function will be collected before and after the intervention.

Évaluation du potentiel récréo-touristique de l’axe Duparquet-Lac Abitibi

Le tourisme a souvent été proposé comme stratégie de développement du territoire. La difficulté d’accès aux destinations périphériques en raison de leurs distances face aux grands centres leur vaut une image négative. Pourtant, l’éloignement des grands centres peut aussi être un avantage. Sur le plan touristique, la périphérie accentuée peut même constituer un élément d’intérêt, notamment en lien avec l’authenticité (faune, flore et cultures autochtones). S’arrime ici le concept de potentiel touristique en référence aux besoins d’évaluation d’un territoire dont on souhaite le développement, soit par la mise à jour des attraits existants, soit par l’identification de nouvelles ressources.

L’étude propose une démarche de valorisation et protection des patrimoines naturel et culturel des communautés autochtones et allochtones du territoire d’un milieu donné. Elle propose l’identification et localisation de ressources pouvant se prêter à une commercialisation, sur le plan touristique (accueil, et expérience). Le projet s’inscrit dans les activités de rapprochement des communautés (centre et périphérie de même qu’entre les divers groupes (autochtones et allochtones) qui composent la communauté locale.