Innovative Projects Realized

Chimera One – Real-Time AI Mission Autonomy for UAV Operation

Every growing season, farmers face a race against time. Pests, disease, and drought can damage crops in days — but current drone and satellite tools often take 1–2 days to process data. By then, the opportunity to act may already be gone.

Chimera One is building a “real-time brain” for drones. Instead of sending images to the cloud and waiting for results, our technology processes them on the spot, during the flight. Within seconds, farmers know exactly where to look, whether it’s a patch of stressed wheat or a vineyard row needing attention.

Our system combines drone sensors (NDVI, RGB, thermal) with ground-based data (soil moisture, rainfall, canopy growth). This sensor fusion creates precise crop health maps, delivered instantly to a phone or tablet. The goal: make same-day action the norm, not the exception.

We’re starting with wheat and vineyards, partnering with leading agricultural institutions and growers to validate and refine the technology. By making insights immediate, Chimera One aims to help farmers protect yields, reduce chemical use, and work more efficiently — benefits that ripple across the entire agricultural value chain.

Open Scholarship and Artificial Intelligence

Digital technologies and practices—including social networking—are now pervasive and have been adopted society-wide. This creates new possibilities for engagement and interaction among academic professionals, research partners, collaborators, stakeholders, students, and additional members of the
public. This project focuses on continuing to advance the research, analysis, and engagement of the Canadian Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Commons: an open, digital platform for research collaboration and sharing – working in theoretical and pragmatic terms to understand how best to leverage digital research infrastructures to advance open, social scholarship in ways that speak to the needs of humanities and social sciences communities. It does so in the context of generative artificial intelligence.

This collaboration builds on and extends previous Mitacs-funded work, and is undertaken by a multi-career level team at the University of Victoria in its Electronic Textual Cultures Lab and the Implementing New Knowledge Environments SSHRC-funded Partnership. When complete, the Canadian HSS Commons will serve communities such as those represented by Iter Canada and groups beyond, as it empowers individual researchers to develop, exchange, and share open access publications, drafts, preprints, datasets, and teaching materials through a national-scale, multilingual (including French and
English) platform, which combines many features of institutional repositories and social networking sites.

Rapid next generation infectious disease diagnostics for tuberculosis and leptospirosis

Infectious diseases remain one of the largest killers of the human population and disproportionately so in developing countries. Assays for the rapid and comprehensive identification of causative strains of the infectious disease agents in tuberculosis and leptospirosis is currently lacking. These infections represent over 20 million cases annually. Existing diagnostic protocols involve lengthy and resource-intensive procedures which substantially hinder the timely administration of treatment regimens. This project aims to combine cutting edge molecular biology protocols with next generation DNA sequencing and cloud computing resources to develop superior diagnostic assays for tuberculosis and leptospirosis. The intern will conduct the wet lab experiments required for developing these assays, bridging the molecular assay design steps with the cloud computing implementation of interpreting assay test results. The project objectives and logistical requirements are well matched to Fusion Genomics’ expertise and research mandate, in further developing the company’s suite of next generation clinical diagnostics products.

Impacts de la production d’hydroélectricité sur les écosystèmesaquatiques : Développement d’indicateurs environnementaux pourl’approche du cycle de vie (ACV)

In boreal and temperate regions, dams are mainly constructed to provide ecosystem services such as hydroelectricity
production. River impoundment and the alteration of natural hydrological regimes are suggested to be major disturbances to aquatic ecosystems. To meet long-term environmental objectives for sustainable development, Hydro-Quebec recently adopted the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. LCA is an ISO standardized approach assessing the potential environmental impacts of product, services and processes throughout its entire life cycle. However, the LCA approach presently lacks strong empirical evidence of the effect of hydroelectricity production on aquatic ecosystems. which increase uncertainty in a decision making process and leaves hydroelectricity production under risk of criticism regarding this known gap in LCA and water footprint assessment. The proposed project aims at developing scientifically-sound environmental indicators to quantify the impact of hydroelectricity production on aquatic ecosystems and to integrate them into the LCA approach.

JMCC Seating and Mobility Program – Custom Fabrication and Modification

The John McGivney Children’s Centre (JMCC) provides rehabilitation and support services to children and youth with disabilities in Windsor-Essex. One of its key services is Seating and Mobility, which ensures that children have customized equipment—such as wheelchairs and adaptive seating—that helps them participate in daily life safely and comfortably. This project proposes placing a student from St. Clair College’s Biotech Engineering Program as an intern within JMCC’s Seating and Mobility team. The intern’s technical skills will allow the Centre to go beyond day-to-day operations and advance innovation in equipment customization and fabrication. This initiative will help develop clinical protocols, create reusable templates, and improve overall service delivery.

Conception et implantation d’un cadre de gestion de projets pour une start-up en innovation

Le stagiaire réalisera une analyse des meilleures pratiques, évaluera les processus existants et proposera des recommandations afin de mettre en place un cadre de gestion de projets innovants efficace. Ceci permettra à LT de mieux gérer les attentes et les demandes des clients, de prioriser les fonctionnalités et d’aligner la stratégie produit sur les objectifs commerciaux de l’entreprise. Cette expérience de stage sera bénéfique pour LT en renforçant sa capacité à développer et à commercialiser efficacement son produit sur différents marchés, et en améliorant sa compétitivité dans ses nombreux segments cibles.

Mieux comprendre pour mieux cibler : exploration intelligente des indications oncologiques adaptées aux thérapies conditionnelles

9Bio est une entreprise spécialisée dans l’ingénierie de protéines thérapeutiques pour l’oncologie. Cette jeune pousse a développé une plateforme de biologie structurale computationnelle dont le but est d’aider à la conception de traitements thérapeutiques qui ciblent sélectivement les tumeurs en fonction des signatures métabolomiques et chimiques uniques du microenvironnement tumoral, tout en épargnant les tissus sains.

Ce projet vise à améliorer la plateforme de 9Bio, plus particulièrement les prédictions associées à l’utilisation d’anticorps thérapeuthiques et à leur activation conditionnelle en microenvironnement tumorale. La diversité et la variabilité interindividuelle des microenvironnements tumoraux, ainsi que par le manque de données liant ces caractéristiques aux mécanismes d’activation conditionnelle rendent cette analyse complexe. L’étudiante aura donc pour objectif de collecter et structurer de nombreuses sources de données (ex: données biologiques, cliniques, entretiens avec des experts du domaines) pour mieux comprendre des indications oncologiques et identifier les biomarqueurs associés à des conditions chimio-physiologiques propices à ce type d’activation. Ces données seront ensuite structurées sous forme de graphes de connaissance. Des règles logiques seront induites des résultats, puis intégrées dans la plateforme de 9Bio. Ces travaux serviront donc de base pour améliorer les performances des algorithmes prédictifs intégrés à notre plateforme.

Cette initiative permettra de développer des thérapies plus sécuritaires, avantageuses non seulement pour les patients, mais aussi pour les hôpitaux et le gouvernement du Québec. Sur le plan économique, elle renforcera notre potentiel par des collaborations avec des partenaires biopharmaceutiques, générant des retombées concrètes pour le Québec : emplois hautement qualifiés, capitaux étrangers et dynamisation de l’écosystème d’innovation.

Impacts of hydroelectricity production on aquatic ecosystems: Development of key environmental indicators for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach

In boreal and temperate regions, dams are mainly constructed to provide ecosystem services such as hydroelectricity
production. River impoundment and the alteration of natural hydrological regimes are suggested to be major disturbances to aquatic ecosystems. To meet long-term environmental objectives for sustainable development, Hydro-Quebec recently adopted the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. LCA is an ISO standardized approach assessing the potential environmental impacts of product, services and processes throughout its entire life cycle. However, the LCA approach presently lacks strong empirical evidence of the effect of hydroelectricity production on aquatic ecosystems. which increase uncertainty in a decision making process and leaves hydroelectricity production under risk of criticism regarding this known gap in LCA and water footprint assessment. The proposed project aims at developing scientifically-sound environmental indicators to quantify the impact of hydroelectricity production on aquatic ecosystems and to integrate them into the LCA approach.

Biomaterial derived dendritic cells for regenerative medicine

This project will establish a commercially viable, regenerative biomaterial-based method for effective, reduced-cost and clinically feasible culture of immune cells for immune cell therapies. Argan Biomedical Technologies inc, partnering with the Sefton lab at UofT, has developed technology that uses regenerative synthetic biomaterials to reduce the use of expensive and otherwise problematic biological components used in typical culture of immune cells for immune cell therapy. The technology leverages the Sefton lab’s extensive experience with biomaterials; the immune cells generated appear more effective than those generated through conventional means. Here we will use the opportunity provided by MITACS to generate proof-of-concept data showing that these cells are effective and viable for clinical scale use, and that they are applicable for use from immunosuppression alternatives for transplantation to cancer therapeutics.

L’état de la cybersécurité et l’impact de la Loi 25 sur la cyber-résilience des organisations québécoises

Ce projet de recherche vise à dresser un portrait rigoureux de la cybersécurité au sein des organisations québécoises, en analysant des données de Statistique Canada (2019–2023). Il se distingue par l’étude de l’impact de la Loi 25, en vigueur depuis 2023, sur les pratiques organisationnelles en matière de cybersécurité et de protection des données. En évaluant la préparation, les investissements, et les mécanismes de réponse aux cybermenaces, le projet met en lumière les défis spécifiques des PME. Il soutient les travaux du Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership en approfondissant la notion de cyber-résilience et en identifiant des leviers d’action concrets pour les décideurs. Il est mené conjointement avec l’organisme Prompt.

Onecare Biotechnologies Market study

This project will support OneCare Biotechnologies, a Canadian startup developing a blood-based diagnostic test to guide treatment decisions for individuals with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. These conditions are often misdiagnosed or inappropriately treated, leading to poorer health outcomes and higher healthcare costs. While OneCare has made strong progress in developing its technology, it now faces key business challenges, including identifying its target customers, setting an effective pricing strategy, and navigating reimbursement pathways. Through a structured market study focused on Canada and the United States, this project will provide insights into market needs, competitive positioning, and regulatory considerations. The findings will help OneCare create a clear and evidence-based commercialization plan to bring its innovation to market and improve mental health care delivery.

EGM Occupancy Analysis: Contextual Modeling and Visualization for Machine Usage Patterns and Optimized Player Engagement

This project will analyze Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) occupancy patterns and player behavior using anonymous spin-level data to optimize machine usage and support data-driven decision-making. By examining how players select machines based on availability, time of day, and traffic conditions, the research will generate actionable insights for International Game Technology (IGT) and its casino partners. IGT is a global leader in gaming technology, operating in over 100 countries and offering EGMs, lottery systems, sports betting platforms, and digital gaming solutions. In Canada, IGT supplies casinos and gaming operators with hardware, software, and analytics tools. Its advanced data infrastructure collects detailed machine performance and player behavior data in real time, enabling operational optimization and compliance. Despite this, transforming large-scale spin-level data into targeted, actionable insights remains challenging. IGT aims to better understand player movement between machines, identify popular games during low-traffic periods, model conditional game selection probabilities, and assess the impact of high-traffic conditions on occupancy. Within the 4-month project window, the emphasis will be on exploratory data analysis (EDA) and visualizations—such as time-based heatmaps and grid charts—to address these needs. The project will strengthen IGT’s ability to optimize gaming floor layouts, machine placement, and game offerings, potentially increasing player engagement, dwell time, and revenue. Visual analytics will support quicker, evidence-based decisions, improving operational efficiency for both IGT and its partners. Beyond immediate business gains, the work contributes to the advancement of Canadian gaming analytics expertise, fostering innovation in a sector that generates significant economic impact through employment, taxation, and tourism.