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

Fire-resistant elastic fiber

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for essential workers in flammable environment requires two essential traits: fire resistance (FR) and fitting comfort. The fitting comfort is especially an issue for women firefighters, whose protective clothing are not appropriately catered. Elastic fibers in sportswear, such as Lycra, offer superb fitting and comfort, but their FR version is commercially unavailable. The project proposes to apply a FR surface coating on commercially available elastic fibers by depositing a composite layer that thickens explosively upon contacting flame. This way, the flame does not reach to the core of elastic fiber, which fuels up the fire. In addition, our coating has heat-insulating properties, which further delays the detrimental chemical interaction in fire. The project benefits from a team that combines expertise in materials engineering, textile science, and protective clothing with the experience of the industry partner as a woman firefighter and working in the trades.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Hyun-Joong Chung

Student:

Partner:

Jess Black Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Investigating the role of bacteria in abdominal pain and chronic constipation.

The bacteria living in our gastrointestinal system, the gut microbiome, play a key role in human health and disease. Multiple studies demonstrated altered gut microbiome in patients with constipation or abdominal pain but knowledge of a clear cause-effect relationship or underlying mechanism are lacking. We found previously that microbiota from patients with irritable bowel syndrome induces altered gut function, low-grade inflammation and abdominal pain. Thus we aim at studying the regulatory role of microbiome in gut function, focusing on abdominal pain and constipation.
We will use mice that are completely devoid of bacteria, germ-free mice, and colonize their intestine with stool microbiome of well characterized patients with chronic abdominal pain, or severe constipation that developed after C. difficile infection. We will identify and isolate bacteria involved in gut dysfunction and study the underlying mechanisms. We will also explore potential treatments by modifying the microbiome composition and function using specific benefical bacteria (probiotics) or dietary components (fibers and flavonoids).
Our results will lead to better understanding of the role of microbiome in colonic motility and abdominal pain, discovery of biomarkers to identify those who benefit from microbiota-based interventions, and development of novel therapeutic approaches.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Premysl Bercik

Student:

Partner:

Weston Family Microbiome Initiative

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

Analysis of the chemical composition of an aerosol generated by a medical nicotine vaporizer

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical and smoking is still, to this day, the leading cause of preventable death. Several pharmacological strategies have been approved for smoking cessation and nicotine addiction treatment. However, these strategies are not always effective and lead more often than not to relapse. Hence, new nicotine cessation products and devices are needed that are safe and effective. Towards this goal, Ditch Labs is designing a nicotine replacement device to make quitting smoking personalized and safe. The project between Ditch Labs and Trent University aims to explore chemical properties of nicotine-based devices towards improving our understanding of physicochemical properties of such nicotine cessation tools, ultimately resulting in an effective and safe device performance.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Sanela Martic

Student:

Partner:

Ditch

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Pharmaceuticals; Biotechnology

University:

Trent University

Program:

Accelerate

An Innovative Approach to Optimize Heavy Oil Recovery Using a Novel Synthesized Liquid Catalyst

Chemical-assisted enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has recently received a great deal of attention as a means of improving the efficiency of oil recovery processes. Since heavy oil production is technically challenging due to its high viscosity and high asphaltene content, therefore, new recovery techniques are often tested and applied in lab-scale. This study will contribute to general progress in this area by synthesizing liquid catalyst (LC) in the lab and applying it to enhance the heavy oil recovery. In this study, the LC-EOR can be evaluated by conducting combined experiments and simulation studies for Saskatchewan heavy oil reservoirs. The mechanism of additional oil recovery using this novel LC is IFT and viscosity reduction, wettability alteration that can be investigated by conducting a series of core flooding tests. Moreover, a numerical simulation study will be performed in terms of heavy oil recovery.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ezeddin Shirif

Student:

Partner:

Petroleum Technology Research Centre

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Mining; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Regina

Program:

Accelerate

Les effets psychologiques perçus de l’escalade en salle chez une population générale

À la suite d’une demande spécifique du partenaire souhaitant obtenir des données probantes pour documenter les potentiels bienfaits psychologiques ressentis par les grimpeurs de tout âge et de tout niveau, le présent projet souhaite évaluer les effets psychologiques perçus de la pratique de l’escalade en salle en identifiant ainsi qu’en comparant les divers profils des individus qui la pratiquent. Le projet vise aussi à mieux comprendre les effets psychologiques ressentis plus spécifiquement chez les adolescents, une population hautement affectée par la pandémie sur le plan de la santé mentale et de la pratique d’activités physiques. Pour ce faire, la stagiaire constituera un questionnaire qui sera envoyé en ligne à l’ensemble des grimpeurs ayant visité le centre d’escalade Altitude gym au courant des 4 dernières années et animera des groupes de discussion auprès d’adolescents faisant partie des différents programmes offerts dans ce centre.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Charles Tétreau

Student:

Partner:

Altittude Gym

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Arts, entertainment and recreation

University:

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Program:

Accelerate

Impacts of permafrost degradation on ?uk dagaii (broad whitefish, Coregonus nasus) habitat in the Peel River Watershed, Northwest Territories

This community-based research project is a collaboration with a not-for-profit Indigenous partner organization, the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board, that explores the impact of permafrost degradation on ?uk dagaii (broad whitefish, Coregonus nasus) habitat in the Peel River Watershed, Northwest Territories. A postdoctoral intern leading this research will use spatial overlay analysis combining Indigenous and scientific knowledge to assess the impact of permafrost thaw slumps on this culturally important food fish. Project outputs will inform regional decision making and adaptation planning and will help to fill a gap in our knowledge of fish habitat and traditional use in the Peel River Watershed.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Trevor Lantz

Student:

Partner:

Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration

University:

University of Victoria

Program:

Accelerate

Preventing Sexual and Dating-Based Violence on GSNAs

Sexual assault support centres and services across Canada are working to adapt their resources to the reality that an increasing number of young Canadians are meeting romantic and sexual partners through geo-social networking apps (GSNAs): dating and hook-up apps like Tinder and Bumble. Combined, the world’s top four GSNAs have over 90 million users. While recent research has focused on the misogyny, sexism, and harassment that users endure on social media, there is little research into understanding what roles GSNAs are playing in sexual and gender-based violence online. The project will survey current data and state of knowledge on the relationships between dating apps and sexual violence and generate new qualitative interview data from current and former dating app users. Outcomes from this research can be used to inform front-line intake and counselling services; provide on-the-ground support to clients accessing its services; train volunteers on how to engage with a client experiencing sexual and/or dating-based violence online; and develop educational curricula and workshops.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Corey Johnson;Diana Parry

Student:

Partner:

Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Waterloo

Program:

Accelerate

Have You Eaten Any Fish Today? Understanding Why Canadians Don’t Eat Canada’s Food Guide Recommended Two Servings Per Week

BC seafood companies and their industry association partners are strongly interested in growing domestic markets for seafood and promoting their locally caught and raised seafood products, which fit well with a number of current North American food trends including local food, a growing focus on diets promoting healthy lifestyles and an increasingly older adult demographic with an interest in consuming high quality, nutrient rich, and often health promoting and disease preventing foods, like seafood. However, most people, including in Canada, are simply not already eating the amount of fish recommended by government health agencies and other health organizations; and there has been minimal research investigating why. This project will involve research into understanding determinants of seafood as a food choice that will provide relevant and targeted information to BC’ seafood sector which may be used to develop better seafood marketing approaches in order to help improve domestic seafood sales.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Grant Murray

Student:

Partner:

BC Salmon Farmers Association;Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance;BC Seafood Alliance;BC Shellfish Growers Association;BC Aquatic Foods Resources Society;Vancouver Island University

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

Vancouver Island University

Program:

Accelerate

Financial risk evaluation for New Brunswick Power Corporation: A Monte Carlo simulation

To meet its energy obligations, NB Power uses a generation portfolio comprised of thermal, nuclear, and renewables sources such as wind and hydro. The fuel cost incurred by the corporation to generate electricity represents one of its largest expenditures. NB Power is subject to numerous factors that can affect its future financial projections. It currently evaluates a limited number of scenarios for the items that impact this cost and thus seeks to perform a more in-depth analysis of the risks by incorporating probabilistic techniques in its evaluation. This project will help NB Power improve its financial forecast and allow for stakeholders to have a better understanding of how current and future rates may change. This research project benefits the intern in several aspects. Firstly, the intern will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge s/he acquired in the classroom to solve real-life problems. Secondly, the intern will work on a real-life problem that s/he may not have learned in class. Thirdly, the intern has the opportunity to work closely with industry practitioners.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Donglei Du

Student:

Partner:

NB Power

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Finance and Insurance; Energy and Utilities; Natural Gas

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program:

Accelerate

Quantification des écarts de volumes de bois entre ceux prévus par Woodstock et ceux réellement récoltés ou encore ceux disponibles à la récolte dans un avenir rapproché

En forêt boréale, la révolution forestière, c.-à-d. le temps de retour de la forêt mature est relativement long. En sapinière à bouleau blanc on estime qu’il faut près de 60-70 ans avant de pouvoir retourner récolter la forêt. Actuellement, la majorité des volumes prélevés en forêt boréale proviennent encore de peuplements naturellement établis. Mais cette ère tire à sa fin ce qui nous offre la possibilité de vérifier si nos estimations concernant les temps de retour sont justes. En effet, avec l’actualisation des données d’inventaire dans des peuplements qui sont issus d’anciennes coupes et qui sont considérés à nouveau comme disponibles à la récolte dans un avenir rapproché (moins de 15 ans), il sera possible de vérifier si nos estimations de croissance sont juste. Le projet proposé vise à vérifier l’écart entre les volumes attendus des peuplements issus de coupe et l’estimation retenue dans le calcul de la possibilité forestière. On désire faire évoluer les strates d’aménagements visées par une seconde récolte sur une courte période à l’aide des modèles existant (Natura et Artémis) et vérifier si effectivement les volumes marchands retenu dans le calcul de la possibilité seront effectivement au rendez-vous dans une quinzaine d’années.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Osvaldo Valeria;Alain Leduc

Student:

Partner:

Norbord Inc (La Sarre, QC)

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Program:

Accelerate

Hydrology and geochemical cycling of a complex urban stormwater system

The hydrologic cycle in major cities is influenced by roadways, rooftops, and other features, resulting in greater runoff and poorer water quality. At airport sites across Canada, de-icing compounds can also degrade water quality by altering water chemistry in surface ponds as well as subsurface water (i.e., groundwater). This project aims to characterize water movement between surface stormwater ponds and groundwater at the Calgary International Airport, to better understand the physical connections between these key parts of the hydrologic cycle. This hydrology knowledge will be combined with detailed sampling of water chemistry, notably sulphur compounds (which cause noxious odours) and nutrients, to identify the sources and mechanisms of water quality degradation at the site. Calgary Airport Authority will use the improved understanding of water movement and sulphur cycling to develop effective strategies for better stormwater control and water quality.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Edwin Cey

Student:

Partner:

Calgary Airport Authority

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Transportation and warehousing

University:

University of Calgary

Program:

Accelerate

Smart Use of Infrared Thermography for Civil Infrastructure Inspections

Infrared thermography represents an attractive solution in the field of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) by overcoming some drawbacks of the traditional surveys. However, the labor and the amount of data to be analyzed, stored, and communicated are extensive when inspections are scaled to a large network of structures. In addition, the information about the damages is usually analyzed and stored using manually-based approaches. Therefore, this study, in partnership with TORNGATS Services Techniques, aims to integrate state-of-art computational methods with the infrared thermographic technique to create a digital information model to process, store, access, and communicate the inspection data. Thus, this project aims to support more effective data communication between the inspectors, engineers, researchers, asset owners, and project managers about the structure condition, which is one of the imminent demands in Canada’s civil infrastructure inspection industry.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Xavier Maldague

Student:

Partner:

TORNGATS Technical Services Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université Laval

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.