Innovative Projects Realized

Explore thousands of successful projects resulting from collaboration between organizations and post-secondary talent.

31620 Completed Projects

2978
AB
5221
BC
856
MB
696
NL
899
SK
9419
ON
9858
QC
98
PE
619
NB
1192
NS

Projects by Category

Optimizing staff training to improve adapted physical activity service provision for two community organizations: Co-construction and implementation evaluation.

The community partners, Viomax and Adaptavie, have identified a need to optimize training of their staff to support the
accessibility of their programming. The goal of this project is to co-create and implement training resources for staff at
Viomax and Adaptavie. The training resources will be grounded in adapted physical activity, person-centered interpersonal
communication (e.g., motivational interviewing), and behaviour change (e.g., goal setting, action planning). A working
group will be established to co-create the resources. The training resources will be evaluated using a mixed-method quasiexperimental
design. Participants will (a) complete questionnaires pre- and post-training, (b) apply their skills on a mock
client to be evaluated by two independent coders, and (c) participate in an interview. As a result of this project, community
partners will have access to evidence-based training resources that will create a highly qualified workforce aimed to
increase accessibility of physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Shane Sweet;Krista Best

Student:

Partner:

Adaptavie;Viomax

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McGill University

Program:

Accelerate

Investigating the Role of Peer Support in Reducing the Harms of Substance Use and Advancing Recovery: A Qualitative Analysis of CMHA Hamilton’s Community Mental Health Peer Support Initiatives

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Hamilton Branch (CMHA) is partnering with academic partners through McMaster Community Research Platform to evaluate the impact of peer-based support, a program providing mental health support for working-aged men and transitional aged youth who use substances. The program provides SMART recovery-based support to reduce the harms of substance use and advance recovery. The CMHA collects entrance and exit data from program participants. The research partnership will analyze these data, determine the strengths of the program, and set the foundations for ongoing evaluation and best practices to further meet the needs of the community. The primary goal of this project is to support mental health and maximize harm reduction and advance recovery among the priority population through quantitative and qualitative impact assessments which will inform the expansion of peer-based support.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

James Gillett

Student:

Partner:

Canadian Mental Health Association (Hamilton)

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Public Service, Policy, and Governance; Other

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

Developing methods for quantifying leaf area index (LAI) using multi-EO RPAS in disturbed and regenerating post-disturbance ecosystems

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is an important variable to measure when revegetating and reclaiming disturbed ecosystems. Estimating LAI from models using remotely sensed data is becoming increasingly common; Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems, or ‘RPAS’ in particular, have the potential to grow in importance as they can acquire the fine scale spatial data necessary to accurately quantify LAI in complex reclamation environments. This project seeks to develop innovative methods for estimating LAI using RPAS optical 2D, 3D photogrammetric or “structure from motion”, and lidar data. Here we aim to work with Integral Ecology Group (IEG) to determine the efficacy of methods and results for reclamation monitoring. IEG believes remote sensing data will play an important role in future reclamation practices. They will benefit by the adoption of the methods developed by the Mitacs intern for collection and processing of UAV acquired data for accurate LAI estimation.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Christopher Hopkinson;Laura Chasmer

Student:

Partner:

Integral Ecology Group

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Lethbridge

Program:

Accelerate

Optimizing the Implementation of Small Modular Reactors Into Ontario’s Future Energy Mix

The current research project investigates Ontario’s implementation of SMRs over an initial 30-year period, allowing for consideration of Ontario’s current energy mix as well as approximately two generations of SMR installations. Using linear programming and IBM’s CPLEX ILOG Optimization software, the development of a model which may compare front line SMR designs with the province’s existing energy mix is underway. In its current form, the model seeks to minimize the overall future cost of electricity production in Ontario by replacing a fraction of the existing electrical capacity with a generic SMR design.
Going forward, the opportunity to work closely with Prof. Fujii’s research group will allow for significant increases in the existing model such that it can consider secondary constraints such as CO2 emissions, future costs of nuclear waste disposal and the hourly availability of competing energy methods. During this period, the project will also aim to optimize the comparative cost of electricity generation from varying candidate SMR designs, estimate the storage capacity requirements for used SMR fuel and quantify the risk and uncertainty that will accumulate as a result of used SMR fuel transportation, storage and disposal.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Shinya Nagasaki

Student:

Partner:

The University of Tokyo

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

The benefits of flotation-REST on heart rate variability, muscle oxygenation & postural control in university aged concussed & healthy athletes.

Flotation-REST has gained in popularity in recent years as athletes seek the best tools to recover, improve performance and decrease injury risk. While the relaxation response brought on by flotation-REST has been demonstrated, few studies have investigated the benefits on physical fitness and concussion recovery. Though this research has shown promising results on physical fitness performance, the mechanisms to this have yet to be explored. Mechanisms indicative of improved physical fitness, such as increased heart rate variability (HRV), increased muscle oxygenation (MO2) and increased postural stability (PS), are useful and interlinked indicators to understanding the effects of flotation-REST in athletes. Additionally, sports-related concussions are common and investigating new methods for recovery is warranted. Thus, the aim of the proposed project is to investigate the benefits of 10 weeks of flotation-REST on HRV, MO2 and PS in healthy and concussed university athletes.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Alain-Steve Comtois;Andreas Bergdahl

Student:

Partner:

Studio Ovarium Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

Université du Québec à Montréal

Program:

Accelerate

Metagenomic analysis of oil refinery wastewater

Treatment of wastewater from refineries removes toxic compounds prior to the water being released into the environment. Treatment could be made more efficient and done more cheaply if we knew how to promote the growth of bacteria that enable toxin breakdown. The aim of this project is to identify which bacteria are present and active when the treatment plant is working as expected, and which are present when the treatment plant is ‘disrupted’. This comprehensive map of the bacteria will enable us to build bacterial communities that are better able to rapidly break down the toxins, a probiotic mixture for the treatment plant. This will result in a more reliable and efficient treatment plant in the future.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Gregory Gloor;David Edgell

Student:

Partner:

Suncor Energy Inc (Sarnia, ON)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program:

Accelerate

Effectiveness of a Compassion Fatigue Reduction Workshop in Reducing Compassion Fatigue at Mount Sinai Hospital

Healthcare professionals treating trauma patients can vicariously experience trauma from long term exposure to suffering, resulting in compassion fatigue. The impact of compassion fatigue on the psychological well-being of healthcare workers is detrimental, decreasing patient care and retention of healthcare providers. In an effort to reduce compassion fatigue, Mount Sinai Hospital has implemented a 4-hour workshop for employees to increase professional’s knowledge of compassion fatigue and improve worker’s skills for dealing with stress in the workplace. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the program was effective in imparting the knowledge and skills to deal with stress in the workplace and reducing compassion fatigue of employees attending the workshop. The pre-posttest and one month follow up data will be analyzed by the intern. Based on the results and a literature review of compassion fatigue and related interventions, the intern will make recommendations to inform future implementation of the workshop. This study will have an impact on improving the quality of patient care within the hospital and improving the mental health of healthcare professionals

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Kelly McShane

Student:

Partner:

Mount Sinai Hospital

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health)

University:

Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

Accelerate

Simulating collective dynamics in hybrid quantum systems

Building hybrid quantum devices that compose of systems with complementary advantages is a promising approach to develop next generation quantum technology. In particular, the hybrid systems that consist of long-lived matter qubit (e.g. defect centers) and highly controllable photons (e.g. microwave in superconducting resonators) have been suggested to be a versatile platform for realizing quantum sensors, repeaters, and processors. Building high quality hybrid quantum devices requires thorough understanding of the interaction between light and matter. Due to the exponentially large many-body quantum degree of freedom, brute force simulation of the hybrid systems is generally daunting. The objective of this project is to develop analytical and numerical tools to efficiently simulate the collective dynamics of the light-matter hybrid systems. Results of this project will help characterizing the type and magnitude of practical error sources. The tools developed can also be employed to study many-body physics in condensed matter systems.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Hoi-Kwan Lau

Student:

Partner:

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Valorisation de polyhydroxyalkanoate pour la formulation cosmétique

Avec un marché qui devrait dépasser les 200 milliards de $ US en 2020, le domaine des produits cosmétiques et un moteur
économique important à l’échelle mondiale, mais également canadien. Cette activité requiert de la part des entreprises un
investissement important en recherche et développement afin de rester compétitive face à la concurrence. Récemment un
bioprocédé par fermentation a été mis au point pour la fabrication de bio polymère naturel, biodégradable et biocompatible.
Pour finaliser le développement de ce polymère, plusieurs méthodes de caractérisation seront mises au point afin de compléter
sa caractérisation physico-chimique. L’utilisation de ce bio polymère dans différentes formulations sera également investiguée
afin d’évaluer son potentiel d’utilisation dans le secteur cosmétique. Ces résultats permettront à l’organisme partenaire de se
démarquer sur le marché des produits cosméceutiques en proposant un nouveau produit innovant.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Lionel Ripoll

Student:

Partner:

BE-UP Biotechnology Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Program:

Accelerate

Structural Behaviour of Steel Reinforcing Bar Cages

Rebar cages are transported to the construction site, and then concrete is cast around them. Until the concrete is cast, these cages form a structure in their own right that must be safe against collapse due to its own weight, as well as environmental and structural loads (e.g., wind). The objective of the research is to better understand at a fundamental level the structural behaviour of rebar cages and ultimately develop predictive models for the stresses and deflections of a given cage. Such a model can be used to ensure the design is safe (will not collapse during any stage of the construction) and will behave as expected (will not undergo excessive deflections).

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Colin MacDougall

Student:

Partner:

Stelcrete Industries Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure

University:

Queen's University

Program:

Accelerate

DeepSarc: A deep learning-based methodology for assessing sarcopenia and frailty in hospitalized older adults

Frailty is becoming more frequent for patients and the healthcare system as the Canadian population ages. Frailty is defined by a reduction in physiological reserves, which is linked to an increased risk of mortality. Sarcopenia, or age-related loss of muscle mass and function, is a key component of frailty that can be measured. Sarcopenia can also be treated in clinical settings to help older patients with acute and chronic illnesses to avoid the harmful implications of frailty. Unfortunately, diagnostic methods for sarcopenia are not always readily available or userfriendly for clinicians. Therefore, the proposed project establishes a novel methodology based on recently developed artificial intelligence techniques with the focus on older patients who have been admitted to the hospital with various forms of cardiovascular illness. This project will allow physicians to quickly assess their patients’ frailty, even while they are acutely unwell and bedbound, and guide decision-making so that they receive potentially beneficial interventions while avoiding those that are costly and futile.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Hassan Rivaz

Student:

Partner:

Jewish General Hospital

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Concordia University

Program:

Accelerate

Modélisation d’électrolyseur en régime transitoire par circuit équivalent

Le projet a pour objectif de prédire le comportement d’un électrolyseur d’eau comme charge intelligente dans le réseau de puissance d’Hydro-Québec. Cela permettra de faciliter l’implantation d’électrolyseurs afin de produire de l’hydrogène vert au Québec dans le cadre du plan stratégique de transition énergétique du Québec. L’utilisation d’électrolyseurs comme charge intelligente aurait aussi comme effet de stabiliser le réseau d’Hydro-Québec afin d’intégrer une plus grande variété d’énergies renouvelables, qui sont souvent intermittentes. L’hydrogène vert permettrait de desservir en énergie verte les régions éloignées et de décarboner des secteurs de l’industrie chimique qui utilisent actuellement de l’hydrogène produit à partir de gaz naturel.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Frederic Sirois

Student:

Partner:

Hydro-Quebec

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Utilities

University:

Polytechnique Montréal

Program:

Accelerate

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Mitacs — Return on Innovation

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.