Innovative Projects Realized

Stryker Boats-Social Media Manager Internship-Alexis

Since 2004, Stryker Inflatable Boats has been building the toughest, safest, most well equipped, and most versatile boat model in the industry. Our customers include Fire & Police departments, Search & Rescue, Military, Industry Professionals, Fishermen, Hunters, and Nature Guides. Through this project, we will be able to deliver our message to the young generation and engage them through social media and other digital marketing tactics. We plan to improve our content on all different channels (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok) and start using our experiences on the water to create short edited reels for our brand promotion. This project will allow us to have on-site support, conduct a specific market research, develop new products, and improve our filming abilities. This will be a great learning experience for the intern as they will learn about the benefits & impacts of the marketing strategy they have implemented.

Zn-Air Pack Vehicle Range Extender with a Cell Change-Out With Overall Vehicle Durability Cost

Although Li-ion batteries are currently the dominant energy storage solution in electric vehicles, they currently do not possess enough energy density required for long driving ranges at a reasonable cost. One solution is to utilize Zn-air batteries since they have both a high theoretical energy density and contain abundant raw materials allowing for low production costs. However, before they can become a commercially viable solution to meet the energy storage demands of today’s electric vehicles, additional research is required in a number of different areas. The short-term objectives for this research collaboration are:
1. Improve the durability of zinc-air batteries by designing new air electrodes and optimizing the electrode thicknesses.
2. Develop new powertrains that can accurately incorporate a zinc-air battery and determine the energy management strategy for optimal performance.
3. Determine the feasibility of cell replacement in a hybrid zinc-air/li-ion electric vehicle.

Exploring Methods of Expanding the Canadian Technology Startup Ecosystem Through the Influence of Asian Markets

Hyper-Successful tech startups have been created by Canadians, however, many of them are headquartered in the United States and do not contribute to the Canadian job market. The creation of valuable Canadian startups is necessary to provide jobs for our fast-growing population. We want to keep our talent in Canada to grow our economy. To tackle this issue, we must introduce Asian markets to entrepreneurs giving them the freedom to operate and prosper in Canada.

Relative to the United States, Canada has 40% fewer founders per capita who have created ‘unicorn’ startups (valued at over $1 billion) (1). Additionally, and despite 16% of Canada’s population having Asian roots (2) compared to a mere 6% in the United States, the amount of trade with the Asian markets relative to national GDP is roughly 18% higher in the United States compared to Canada. These statistics tell us two things: 1. Canada has the potential to increase its number of hyper-successful startups, and 2. Canada should take advantage of its strong multinationalism to increase trade opportunities in the Asian markets.

The intern in this project will explore methods of introducing Asian market players to Canadian startups to expand their reachable markets beyond the borders while keeping the company in Canada.

Sources:
(1) Strebulaev, Ilya. (01/2022). Venture Capital Initiative. Stanford Graduate School of Business
(2) Asian Heritage Month…by the numbers. Statistics Canada. (05, 2021)
(3) Budiman, Abby; G. Ruiz, Niel. Key Facts about Asian Americans, a Diverse and Growing Population. Pew Research Center. (04,2021)

Development of a Hyper Fast Battery Charger for Electric Vehicles

Power system policies are broadly on track to escalate the use of Electric Vehicles (EV) in automotive industry. The increasing interest in use of EVs not only intensifies the demand in electric power but also introduces further challenges such as efficient and timely power distribution to EVs. Existing challenges in EV power charging relies on how fast and efficient EV chargers can provide power to EV power storage units, i.e batteries. In this regard, EV charging is the area that is significant and being improved daily as the number of EVs increases. The purpose of this research is to innovate a high-power hyper-fast power-electronics based EV charging system (HFCS) that allows for charging in significantly shorter time than current industry standards. The goal is to achieve 80% of full capacity of EVs in as short as 5 mins.

Delta Chamber of Commerce-Business Support Associate-Tiffany

This project, located at the Delta Chamber of Commerce, will involve business-related initiatives that are meant to support the economic resilience and recovery of the small businesses in the federal electoral district of Delta, which includes both the City of Delta and Tsawwassen First Nations. The Business Support Associate intern’s work will include connecting directly with local businesses with the scope of addressing one of our organization’s top three priority issues for 2022: the assessment and redevelopment of our organizational membership model. The results of this project are meant to improve communication channels and deliver a better support for the Chamber’s current and future members. The intern leading this project will report to and be mentored by the Executive Director. The project will focus on creating a new membership model and the work will be reviewed by our Board of Directors; these results will be ready for marketing and communications by the fourth quarter of 2022. The intern will learn about the current membership structure, will identify gaps, make innovative suggestions and focus on better meeting the needs of our local business community.

Machine learning for EEG analysis for the early diagnosis for epilepsy

Experimental investigation of microwave-assisted combustion processes

TimeSerStats

The project aims to help standardize the analysis of time series data by creating an analysis and reporting framework by which time series data regardless of its size, frequency, and/or source can be normalized, analyzed, and reported.

Élaboration, caractérisation et étude de la durabilité de matelassés souples à base de fibres d’asclépiade

L’asclépiade est une plante sauvage longtemps considérée comme une « mauvaise herbe » mais qui produit, entre autres, une fibre chaude, souple, résistante et hydrophobe, que l’on appelle dorénavant soie d’Amérique. Cette fibre économique, qui est déjà utilisée dans l’industrie textile, offre une faible densité du fait de sa structure creuse, ce qui la rend très attrayante comme matériau d’isolation. Elle pourrait donc être employée dans le domaine du vêtement en remplacement du duvet d’oie ou des matériaux synthétiques. L’approvisionnement en fibres d’asclépiade (FA) locale est maintenant possible puisque la ressource est abondante et les techniques de traitement disponibles. Toutefois, des barrières demeurent quant à la production et l’utilisation à grande échelle des FA comme isolant thermique pour l’industrie du vêtement, comme la difficulté de trouver des matelassés isolants (MI) non-tissés de qualités démontrant des propriétés thermiques et mécaniques stables à long terme. Compte-tenu de ce contexte, un projet de recherche visant à élaborer et caractériser des MI souples non-tissés (matelassés) à base de FA pour l’industrie du vêtement a été élaboré. Ce projet permettra de mettre en évidence de nouveaux débouchés pour la FA ce qui affectera positivement la bioéconomie régionale.

Sequent AI: Finance and Technology Strategy

Sequent AI is a technology focused consolidation. Sequent AI is acquiring and consolidating technology companies in the operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) spaces. Through this approach Sequent AI aims to bridge the gap between OT and IT spaces by enabling OT environments with IT infrastructure. This project will help to advance Sequent AI’s efforts to do so by assessing the potential opportunities for innovation in the IT & OT spaces by leveraging AI and distributed ledger technologies. This will be the primary area of focus for this project. It is expected that the intern will complete both financial and strategic analysis in this area. The intern will also participate in day-to-day operations at Sequent AI including financing of live transactions and management teams at each of our operating companies.

Can Indigenous Fire Stewardship produce carbon credits? A feasibility study

Over the past decade, wildfires in British Columbia have caused major disturbances, economic costs, and a significant impact on global emissions. The current fire prevention approach aims to avoid fires, however there is a growing realization that more proactive measures are necessary. Across Canada’s interior, the absence of fire and unusually hot and dry weather have been the principal drivers of more frequent and intense wildfires. Controlled burning in the early spring and late fall, are rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices, to reduce fuel buildup and mitigate summer wildfires. Revitalizing these practices, to mitigate wildfire, is critical. This project seeks to develop an Indigenous fire management program, to mitigate wildfire risk and to reduce carbon emissions from these wildfires. Developing the rules and guidelines to support these activities and generate carbon credits would be the first of its kind in Canada and making the project auto-sufficient financially.

Supply Chain Management Internship – Techy Veer Ltd.

Techy Veer Ltd is focussed in federal and provincial government procurement solicitations. The distinguishing feature of Techy Veer Ltd is that we have reseller business partnership with several vendors such as Lenovo, HP, Tech Data, Cansel, steel manufacturers and other manufacturers/suppliers which will enhance reliability and fast product delivery. Products we provide include: Computer – Workstations, laptop, chromebooks, notebooks; peripheral: docking stations; office supplies – special papers; National Defense items such as training equipment and many others.
Our biggest challenges are manpower and to some extent finance in that order. Since the company is less than two (2) years in operation, we have had limited human resources to engage in day to day activities especially now that scope of involvement is expanding.
Vast opportunities exist for Techy Veer Ltd. to grow especially with the new tender pilot program through Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council giving exclusive privilege to aboriginal and minority owed businesses to bid on solicitations specifically posted for them. This reduces the competition experienced in general solicitation or RFQ/RFP.
This project will help address our manpower challenges especially in expanding our participation in solicitations.