Innovative Projects Realized

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

29670 Completed Projects

2811
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4990
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801
MB
663
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825
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8841
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9197
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95
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568
NB
1088
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Projects by Category

Integration of INTERCONNECT and Cadence with an emphasis on co-simulation of CMOS drivers and optical ring modulators

The idea of using light for transferring data has been developed rapidly since 1960s. Today, using light for short-distance communication, as an alternative for copper wires, is rapidly growing mostly because of its broadband communication characteristics. Optical communication systems consist of both electronic and photonic components. Designing such systems will benefit from an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to not only simulate both electrical and optical designs but also co-simulate electro-optical subsystem efficiently and accurately. In this project, an IDE will be developed to connect two cutting-edge software packages in these domains: Cadence tool in electronics with Lumerical tool (INTERCONNECT) in photonics. Software prototypes will be developed and efficient algorithms/methods will be investigated and implemented to make this integration efficient, accurate and easy to use for the electro-optical designers. Using this IDE, INTERCONNECT users not only don’t need to design using different tools and convert between different formats and data models but also they can exploit advanced functionalities provided by Cadence to post-process simulation results already generated by INTERCONNECT.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Shahriar Mirabbasi

Student:

Partner:

Lumerical Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Technology; Nanotechnology; Information and Communications Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Optimizing response prediction by an interactive tutoring system

The aim of the project is to increase the intelligence of an automated, online tutoring system, using state-of-the-art techniques and concepts from cognitive science and computer science. This will be accomplished by integrating more data about each learner, and by implementing a more advanced model able to predict learner behaviour. The improved system will better be able to gauge and represent the knowledge levels of individual learners, based on their answers to questions posed by the system. The system will also be able to generate an appropriate study plan for each individual learner, consisting of a sequence of questions tailored to the learner’s knowledge level. The improved system should remain scalable, and able to serve many learners simultaneously in a real-time fashion.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Sheila McIlraith

Student:

Partner:

NeuRecall Inc

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Accelerate

Effect of rumen protected vitamin B complex supplementation on ovarian dynamics and uterine gene expression on day 15 of the cycle or pregnancy

Lactating dairy cows have extensive embryonic loss, but the mechanisms that lead to this failure to maintain pregnancy are not clearly understood. It is suggested that high-producing dairy cows are marginally deficient in nutrients such as Vitamin B complex molecules, selenium etc., which are positively associated with health and reproduction. The goals of the project are to determine the effect of a rumen-protected vitamin B complex supplementation (VIT) compared with control diet containing no supplement (CON) on: milk production and plasma levels of BHBA, NEFA and acute phase proteins; ovarian follicle growth and plasma levels of major steroids; and uterine gene expression of target transcripts related to embryo development, immune function and cellular adhesion on day 15 of cycle or pregnancy. We hypothesize that supplementing vitamin B molecules will improve follicle growth and ovarian
steroid synthesis as well as improving the make-up of expression of key transcripts pivotal to pre-attachment embryonic development.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ronaldo Cerri

Student:

Partner:

JEFO Nutrition;University of British Columbia

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Formulation d’un actif cosméceutique à partir d’un extrait de feuilles de Brasenia Schreberi

Ce projet de recherche porte sur le développement d’un ingrédient cosméceutique préparé à partir d’un extrait de feuilles de brasénie, une plante aquatique répandue au Canada. Le premier objectif du projet est de procéder à une analyse plus approfondie de la composition chimique de l’ingrédient en déterminant la teneur en tanins hydrolysables et en identifiant différents glycosides de flavonoïdes. Le second objectif est d’évaluer certaines activités biologiques qui peuvent contribuer à ralentir le vieillissement prématuré de la peau. L’inhibition de la collagénase et la stimulation de la production de collagène et d’élastine seront évaluées. L’entreprise partenaire prévoit pouvoir utiliser les résultats du projet de recherche pour aller de l’avant avec la commercialisation de l’ingrédient cosméceutique. Les résultats d’activité biologique permettront d’en faire la promotion alors que les résultats sur la
composition chimique permettront de répondre aux exigences réglementaires associés à la commercialisation de ce type de produits.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Lionel Ripoll

Student:

Partner:

Boréaceutique

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Program:

Accelerate

Promoting Gender Equality through Social Innovation

From women-only taxi companies in New Delhi, India to smokeless stoves in Uganda, innovation can transform the lives of women and girls around the globe. It is well known that social innovation and gender equality are each critical to social progress, but little is known about how social innovation can advance gender equality. In partnership with The MATCH International Women’s Fund, this project will produce original research on social innovation and gender equality. MATCH is the first fund of its kind, investing in women-led innovations, which help to improve the lives of women and girls in the global South. This collaboration aspires to shape the emerging field of gender equality and social innovation through three white papers, based on the results of twenty-five interviews with leaders in the fields. This research will produce key recommendations, identify future areas of research, and provide insight to help advance gender equality through social innovation.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Bipasha Baruah

Student:

Partner:

Match International

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

Western University

Program:

Accelerate

Optimization of conformational epitopes against the NTS1 and P2Y6 receptors

The proposed project, performed with the company Immune Biosolutions, aims to develop superior antibodies for biological targets of interest for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Specifically, these targets are a class of proteins expressed on cell surface, which are notoriously difficult for the development of antibodies. The method involves making molecules look like the biological target, in order to elicit antibody responses which are more specific to the targets. The proposed project will have a technological impact that will make biomedical research more reliable by providing better tools, as well as a translational impact by providing molecules to validate new targets for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Philippe Sarret

Student:

Partner:

Immune Biosolutions Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program:

Accelerate

Développement d’un analyseur portatif pour l’or : caractérisation de minerais d’or

Le Québec compte 18 mines produisant pour environ 1,8 milliard de dollars d’or annuellement, en plus de contribuer à la création de plus de 4 000 emplois directs. D’autre part, l’industrie minière québécoise est confrontée à des défis importants qui menacent sa compétitivité et son développement durable : baisse des teneurs des gisements exploités et de ceux nouvellement découverts, minéralisations plus complexes
avec des niveaux plus élevés d’impuretés, en plus des pressions justifiées pour continuer d’améliorer ses performances environnementales. Présentement, les analyses des échantillons de minerais d’or demandent au mieux de 1 à 2 jours. Or, de nombreuses décisions opérationnelles, comme par exemple la sélection de la profondeur des horizons cibles minéralisés dans les sondages, doivent être prises par les ingénieurs et les géologues avant même d’obtenir les résultats des analyses de laboratoire. Considérant ces prémisses, le grand objectif de ce projet est d’établir les bases géologiques et opérationnelles minières pour le développement d’un dispositif compact et portatif basé sur la technologie de spectroscopie laser plasma (SLP) qui permettra l’analyse quantitative, en temps réel, des minerais d’or et de leurs différentes
matrices.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Marcel Laflamme

Student:

Partner:

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited;Canadian Malartic Partnership;Hecla Québec;IAMGOLD (Longueuil, QC);Université Laval

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Mining

University:

Université Laval

Program:

Accelerate

Analyzing the price of milk in First Nation communities in Northern Manitoba

This project aims to examine the price of milk in Northern Manitoba. Firstly, the project assesses the price of milk in the First Nation and non-First Nation communities. Secondly, the project investigates the causes of price disparities between First Nation Communities and non-First
Nation communities (if any), and examines the effects of high milk price on communities. The finding of this research will help the Public Interest Law Centre to strengthen their legal support to Northern communities.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Annette Desmarais

Student:

Partner:

Legal Aid Manitoba

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba

Program:

Accelerate

Identification, Control and Prevention of Work-related Psychosocial Hazards and Social Conditions Contributing to Mental Health Disorders and Prolonged Work Absence

Mental health in the workplace is of growing concern to legislators, employers and the public. Employers concerned about employee health and the impact on business outcomes including work absence and decreased productivity, are looking for solutions. They require effective
workplace interventions and validated instruments to identify, control and prevent work-related psychosocial hazards, and to guide their efforts to improve social support and prevent workrelated mental health disorders. This study will: (i) identify effective intervention components and
instruments used in high quality primary, (ii) compare and contrast implementation characteristics of the high quality primary studies included in these syntheses, (iii) search new literature and resources relevant to high priority information needs of participating stakeholders, (iv) create stakeholder-specific implementation resource guides and tools to identify, control and prevent work-related psychosocial hazards and improve social support using the best evidence available, and (v) actively disseminate resources.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Izabela Schultz

Student:

Partner:

Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Bitan in China and Japan: their preservation, compilation and publication

For many years, it has been a common practice adopted by educated people among East Asian countries to communicate with those who do not speak their language by writing Chinese characters. Many of these pen conversations, or bitan in Chinese, are preserved. Some of these are later compiled and published. These written documents are invaluable first hand resources in that they are the real time records of the
conversation taken place in their original form and that the sheer fact that they are preserved itself indicates that these records may help us understand the stories behind these talks. Indeed, why are these dialogue records preserved? How are they preserved? For what purpose does publishing these records serve? I wish to studies these bitan under the guidance of Professor Wang Yong so that I can answer these questions and to re-construct the frame work by which pen conversations are archived.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jinhua Chen

Student:

Partner:

Zhejiang Gongshang University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Response of leaf vein pattern to environmental change

We will investigate how plants change leaf vein structure to adapt to environmental changes triggered by climate change. Leaf venation is important for plant nutrient transport and efficient water use. Since making veins requires considerable energy, plants regulate vein density to suit the environment, increasing vein number and connectivity with decreasing water. Different leaf forms are very obvious in aquatic plants: above water, leaves are simple with many connected veins, below water, leaves are dissected with few, disconnected veins. We have identified genes important for vein pattern in Arabidopsis, and will now identify them in aquatic plants. To compare their expression, I have fused the promoter region (triggers expression) of various genes to the gene whose expression produces a blue colour. The amount and location of blue will predict expression of the vein pattern gene. I will delete promoter regions, to assess their importance to gene expression under different conditions.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Elizabeth Schultz

Student:

Partner:

Chinese Academy of Sciences (Wuhan)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

University:

University of Lethbridge

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Cannabinoid ligand in vitro drug screening

Current treatments for pain and inflammation have substantial side effects which limit their use and thus clinical effectiveness. Panag, is a Halifax based drug company which focuses on development of novel therapeutic treatments which can be applied topically to alleviate both
pain and inflammation. These compounds are synthetic derivatives of plant-based molecules from the Cannabis sativa plant which have proven to be advantageous in treating pain and inflammation in animal models. Although the outcome of these tests have been positive, additional drug screening in cells must be conducted in order to fully understand the mechanism of action of these treatments. The intern will learn valuable research skills working on studying the cellular mechanisms of drugs, while Panag will gain insight into how their treatments are
working.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Eileen Denovan-Wright

Student:

Partner:

Panag Pharma Inc;Dalhousie University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Accelerate