Innovative Projects Realized

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

31132 Completed Projects

2940
AB
5159
BC
837
MB
685
NL
882
SK
9291
ON
9695
QC
97
PE
601
NB
1161
NS

Projects by Category

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.

View Full Project Description
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

Extensions and Implementation of Recent Improvements to GLMs

Thorough decision-making requires extensive analysis of current and historical experience. This is done through accurate modeling techniques. In actuarial science and insurance, models are used to evaluate risk and make predictions about future claims using a set of variables also known as predictors. However traditional modeling techniques have shortcomings that can be evaded if we add certain features to the models to improve their predictive ability such as hierarchical interactions. Predictors do not have a direct effect on the dependent variable they come in an interactive manner as well. To account for these, adding hierarchical interactions in the models would improve their predictability. The goal of this project is to update existing R package to create an algorithm that includes hierarchical interactions. This will improve Aviva’s predictive analytics and thus enable the company to make better ratemaking decisions.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Jose Garrido

Student:

Partner:

Aviva Canada Inc.

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Finance and Insurance

University:

Concordia University

Program:

Accelerate

Understanding fundamental processes in Dielectric Barrier Discharge Devices used in air quality improvement.

Air Phaser is a proprietary product produced by Air Phaser Environmental and designed to oxidize and/or reduce air-borne pollutants that need to be transformed to environmentally benign forms. The Air Phaser uses electrical discharges to destroy and break down the VOC’s present in the contaminated air. Although, the technology is effective for many VOC’s, some classes of compounds, specifically aromatic species, are not degraded enough to completely eliminate odor or potential adverse health impacts. We will carefully analyze the products generated by this system as we systematically change operating parameters. This will enable us to develop a better understanding of the chemical processes that occur in AirPhasers’ air cleaning devices. Our study will improve the effectiveness of these devices by optimizing system parameters.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Rob O'Brien

Student:

Partner:

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Supra Research and Development

Program:

Accelerate

Development of Novel Microparticle and Nanoparticle-Based Controlled Release Formulations for Agriculture

Increasing the productivity of agricultural fields is essential to secure our existing food supplies and provide for the growing world population. In this context, pesticides and fertilizers play an essential role in both increasing crop yields, as well as enhancing crop defenses against environmental stresses such as drought, pests, or diseases. However, the application of existing chemical pesticides and fertilizers can lead to eventual crop resistance as well as potential downstream environmental issues. Instead, Petro-Canada has recently developed a new category of plant immune response triggers which activate a plant’s native immune system to induce a range of beneficial responses, including greater resistance to environmental stresses (e.g. fungal pathogens). Through this collaboration with Dr. Todd Hoare’s lab at McMaster, these immune response triggers will be formulated into nano/microparticle-based controlled release vehicles to enable improved retention in the soil and higher effectiveness at lower applied doses, reducing product cost to facilitate commercialization.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Todd Hoare

Student:

Partner:

Petro-Canada

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

Statistical tools for quality control of aerospace structural parts made by Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) process

Composite materials have been increasingly used in today’s aerospace products such as Bombardier CSeries and Boeing787 airplanes. A widely used composite manufacturing process is Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) utilizing robotics, precision control, and other high tech tools. Quality requirements for aerospace products are at very high level for product safety and performance. Statistical quality control have been widely used for many decades in automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing as well as service industries. Since AFP is a relatively new manufacturing process, research is very limited on using statistical and numerical methods for productivity and quality improvement. To meet industry needs, in this project, we will investigate AFP quality control problems, identify proper statistical methods and develop effective and efficient statistical quality control tools for AFP manufacturing processes.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

MingYuan Chen

Student:

Partner:

Bombardier Aerostructures and Engineering Services (Montreal, QC)

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Concordia University

Program:

Accelerate

Scoping Review- Aboriginal Women, Domestic Violence, and Homelessness

Several studies have documented the high risk of housing instability and homelessness for women as a result of domestic violence and the broader issue of violence against women. Aboriginal women have been identified as being more vulnerable due to unique barriers to achieving housing stability, including racism and the lack of culturally appropriate services. This project is a scoping review of academic literature, grey literature and other forms of knowledge recognized by Indigenous communities to identify recommendations for policy and practice in the area of housing, homelessness and violence against Aboriginal women, including domestic violence

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Carla Peck

Student:

Partner:

Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

In Conversation with Contemporary Chinese Pure Land Buddhism: What It Means to Practice

“In Conversation with Contemporary Chinese Pure Land Buddhism: What it Means to Practice” is a study of the relationship between objects and practice in Pure Land Buddhism as told by the practitioners themselves. Interviewing scholars and practitioners of contemporary Chinese Pure Land Buddhism and visiting key sites of practice in the Shanghai area, I will ask questions such as: What objects, if any, define contemporary Chinese Pure Land practice? Does curated space count as a material object? When Buddhism moves locales, from Japan to China for example, how does the materiality of the tradition get transferred? How do objects lose or gain meaning when they change locations? This project is an extension of work that I began as an intern for the Pluralism Project at Harvard University in the San Francisco Bay Area and will now extend into the urban Shanghai area. The outcome of this research will be three podcasts, a research paper that will be included in my Master’s thesis, a
presentation and five entries in the Material Culture and East Asian Religion website we are developing at Mount Allison University.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Susan Andrews

Student:

Partner:

Zhejiang University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Mount Allison University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Étude du potentiel de l’huile essentielle de monarde pour traiter les infections chez les poulets d’élevage.

L’utilisation inappropriée des antibiotiques comme facteur de croissance pour l’élevage animal a été identifiée comme l’une des causes de l’apparition de la résistance bactérienne. Ce type d’usage est d’ailleurs interdit en Europe depuis 2006. D’autre part, la demande canadienne en poulet sans antibiotique est en croissance depuis plusieurs années. Cependant, les poulets d’élevage sans traitement antibiotique sont plus sujets aux infections ce qui cause une diminution du poids et une hausse importante de la mortalité. Cette baisse de performance affecte la rentabilité des éleveurs. Par conséquent, les entreprises, comme Nutrinor, cherchent des alternatives efficaces pour remplacer les antibiotiques afin de répondre à la demande du marché. L’utilisation des huiles essentielles est fortement envisageable. En effet, plusieurs huiles possèdent des propriétés antibiotiques mais peu d’entre elles ont été étudiées pour des applications dans les fermes d’élevage. Malgré le potentiel indéniable des huiles essentielles, des études approfondies sont nécessaires pour mieux comprendre leurs compositions chimiques et leurs activités biologiques. Récemment, nos travaux préliminaires ont permis de constater que l’huile essentielle de monarde, une plante de la forêt boréale, possédait des propriétés antibiotiques intéressantes in vitro. TO BE CONT’D

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Jean Legault

Student:

Partner:

Nutrinor Coopérative

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture; Manufacturing; Wholesale trade

University:

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Program:

Accelerate

Developing Strategic Planning Tools to Support Forest Industry Transformation

Much of the management theory taught in today’s classrooms is focused on consumer-based, growth businesses rather than natural resource-based, cyclical industries. This study will examine how natural resource industries, such as forestry, recognize and adapt to structural (permanent) challenges in their market environment. The research will have three main components: first, using publically available information sources, it will inventory which strategic actions North American and European forestry companies have taken over the past decade to acclimate to their changing business environment. Second, it will identify the most relevant streams of management and strategy literature, suggesting modifications to incorporate the needs of natural resource firms. Third, it will survey industry decision-makers to test the newly-updated theories, and develop comprehensive yet straightforward tools to aid industry in recognizing and interpreting market signals. The resource-based partner company has expressed an interest in using the strategic planning tools developed by this project to evaluate and validate its evolving corporate strategy.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

David Cohen

Student:

Partner:

Catalyst Paper Corporation

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

A Culturally Inclusive AAC App for Autistic Children in China

Verbal language is significant in communicating our thoughts for daily living. However, children with autism often have problems with verbal communication. Early intervention is extremely significant to autistic children because it can encourage their verbal language, self-care and
social skills. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools based on pictures can benefit autistic children by compensating for writing and speech. In Canada, there are diverse AAC apps available for autistic children while in China, they do not have them. This project will
develop a prototype for a Chinese AAC app using a popular AAC app in English. The app will be evaluated in China with parents and caregivers through community training workshops. Lessons learned from this cultural examination of use of technology in autism intervention between the two countries will be shared with community organizations in both countries.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Sambhavi Chandrashekar

Student:

Partner:

Nanjing University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

OCAD University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Multi-Hazard Performance Based Design Guideline for Wood-Based High-Rise Buildings

In order to satisfy the housing demand in major Canadian cities, there is a renaissance in the use of tall wood-based buildings. Timber is the most sustainable and environmental friendly construction material with higher seismic resistance. In April 2009, the British Columbia Building Code was amended to increase the height limit of wood-frame buildings from 4 to 6 story. In the current 2015 NBCC, the height limit was increased for entire Canada. With the use of mass timber, timber-based high-rise buildings are constructed around the world. However, there is no design guideline for mass timber buildings. The aim of this project is to develop a multi-hazard performance based design guideline for wood-based highrise buildings. The multi-hazard risk considered are strong winds and destructive earthquakes. This research will be the first to combine these two hazards within the performance based engineering context. Last year, FPInnovations released the first technical guideline to assist the design and construction of tall timber buildings. The guideline pointed out research challenges and technical gaps related to the need for proper multi-hazard performance based design approaches for tall timber buildings. TO BE CONT’D

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Solomon Tesfamariam;Girma Bitsuamlak

Student:

Partner:

FPInnovations (Vancouver, BC)

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture; Construction and infrastructure; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program:

Accelerate

Fast screening of Adsorbents for gas separations of commercial interest

Based on the number of adsorbent materials that will be provided by Xebec Adsorption Inc., a fast prescreening on the adsorbents will be carried out using the UNB’s lab’s facilities and our adsorption group expertise. After the prescreening stage, that will help us identify proper material candidates for a process of interest, a full scale characterization will be performed on the selected adsorbents, and their adsorption capacity, selectivity and kinetics will be evaluated for gas separation systems, e.g., H2, CH4 and CO2. Based on these results, the selected adsorbents,
at this stage, will be packed in bench-scale columns, and their performance will be tested using operating conditions similar to the industrial application. At the last stage, the definitive selected adsorbent(s) will be tested in the pilot scale adsorption units at Xebec Ads. Inc. lab facility
(Located in Hydrogen Institute at Trois-Rivières, Quebec), and the results will be reported to the company to be considered for their commercial needs.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Mladen Eic

Student:

Partner:

Xebec Adsorption Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program:

Accelerate

Previous
1…361362363364365366367…2,595
Next

Join a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Subscribe to our newsletter now!

Subscribe

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.