Innovative Projects Realized

Développement d’un programme sur la Gestion des écrans pour les enfants âgés de 2 à 5 ans

Ce projet de recherche a pour objectif de soutenir l’élaboration d’un programme destiné à réduire le temps d’utilisation des écrans chez les enfants de 2 à 5 ans. La stagiaire contribuera aux recherches pour établir un cadre de référence à partir de la littérature scientifique actuelle sur les habitudes numériques des jeunes enfants. De plus, elle contribuera au processus de création d’un questionnaire qui permettra de dégager des éléments concrets sur les habitudes médiatiques au sein des foyers québécois de parents d’enfants âgés de 2 à 5 ans. En collaborant avec l’organisation partenaire, ce projet permettra de développer un programme de sensibilisation et des outils qui aideront à promouvoir un usage plus équilibré des écrans, contribuant ainsi au bien-être et au développement des jeunes enfants.

Post Discharge Survival Project

Most countries in Africa are not set to meet their 2015 targets of a two thirds reduction in under-5 mortality. Among
the areas of child health most neglected is care following hospitalization. More children die in the weeks following
discharge than during hospitalization, yet no strategy exists to improve these outcomes. My research over the past 3
years has been to develop such a strategy. This current project aims to create and implement a bundle of three simple tools to reduce re-admission and mortality after discharge: (1) a discharge kit, (2) a community referral for postdischarge care and (3) a mobile application to identify the most vulnerable children. This project will place Global
Evaluative Sciences in a strategic position as it seeks to further expand its focus on maternal-child health. Partnering
on this project is anticipated to lead towards scaling such interventions throughout East Africa.

Augmentation de la fréquence de fonctionnement de 6,78 MHz à 13,56 MHz

Fondée en 2020, AWL-E a pour mission de commercialiser des solutions de transmission d’énergie sans fil grâce à une technologie unique offrant plus de distance, de puissance et d’efficacité à ses utilisateurs. L’entreprise se concentre sur des applications à fort impact social et économique, notamment dans le domaine de la mobilité.
Afin de faire progresser le projet, AWL-E souhaite augmenter la fréquence de fonctionnement de sa technologie de couplage capacitif résonant. En passant de 6,78 MHz à 13,56 MHz, cela permettra d’améliorer l’efficacité du transfert d’énergie, de réduire la taille des composants, de faciliter la certification du produit et, indirectement, d’accélérer sa mise sur le marché.

Transforming Vacant and Derelict Infill Properties into Affordable Housing Opportunities

This project addresses the growing challenge of vacant and derelict properties in Winnipeg’s Spence Neighbourhood by exploring practical strategies to convert them into affordable and sustainable housing. The research will examine the main barriers to housing redevelopment, including high construction costs, complex zoning regulations, limited financing, and low incentives for property owners to invest in improvements. By analyzing demographic and housing data, the study will identify the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly youth and newcomers at risk of homelessness. Additionally, a housing stock assessment will evaluate the quantity and condition of vacant properties and explore how crime rates, declining property values, and socioeconomic factors contribute to property abandonment. Furthermore, the project will investigate the failure of market solutions to drive property redevelopment, despite the potential financial returns. The findings will equip SNA with practical insights to strengthen the community reduce homelessness, improve housing conditions, and make the neighbourhood safer and more welcoming for current and future residents.

TRLUP – PrintedSUN

Neonatal jaundice affects a significant proportion of newborns—up to 60% of full-term and 80% of preterm infants—making timely and effective phototherapy essential. Current treatment methods typically rely on stationary blue-light devices that require infants to be placed in incubators, often separating them from parents and disrupting early bonding. PrintedSUN is addressing this critical healthcare challenge through the development of a wearable Bili-blanket that uses printed organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology to deliver safe, targeted phototherapy in a flexible, portable format. This internship project will focus on advancing the technical readiness of this innovation to move closer to clinical validation and commercialization.

The project is structured over four months, each targeting a key technical milestone. These include optimizing the OLED’s irradiance output and light uniformity, integrating OLEDs onto breathable, biocompatible textile substrates, developing a safe and efficient power system with embedded thermal control, and initiating preclinical testing protocols with supporting regulatory documentation. Through iterative prototyping, material testing, and performance benchmarking, the intern will contribute to the functional and safety enhancements required for clinical use.

By addressing these critical R&D gaps, the project will help transform the current proof-of-concept into a functional preclinical prototype suitable for regulatory engagement. This represents a significant step toward PrintedSUN’s goal of providing a parent-friendly, scalable medical device that enhances both neonatal outcomes and caregiver experience.

Beyond product innovation, this project contributes to Canada’s medtech sector by fostering interdisciplinary talent in advanced materials, wearable electronics, and pediatric healthcare solutions. The work supports national priorities in health system innovation, sustainability, and manufacturing competitiveness. Ultimately, this internship will help accelerate the development of a made-in-Canada solution with the potential to improve the lives of thousands of families each year while positioning Canadian innovation globally.

TRLUP – Scaling an Ambient-Condition Platform for Ammonia, H2S, and Phosphate Removal in Wastewater Systems

This project will support the development and scale-up of an innovative water treatment technology that uses nanotechnology systems to remove harmful pollutants—like ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and phosphate—from various waste streams. These contaminants can damage equipment, lower biogas production, and lead to environmental penalties. By working with experts at SAIT, the project will help improve the system’s performance, test it in real-world conditions, and explore new markets such as mining and municipal wastewater. The results will benefit the Energy Transition Centre Foundation by advancing a promising clean technology that supports environmental goals and industrial efficiency.

TRLUP Allergen Detection App

For many Canadians with food allergies, knowing what is in their food is important. This project helps by creating an allergen detection app that can process a picture of a product’s ingredient list from the package and then checks for known allergens. The impact of this project is helping tens if not hundreds of thousands of Canadian with various food-based issues such as allergies or intolerances like Celiac. With an app, people would be able to check the items while still at the store and could then buy alternatives that they themselves, a family member or even just a friend can eat rather than getting home only to learn that the person in question can’t eat it.

TRLUP – Dudh Soda

Dudh is a new beverage innovation that reimagines traditional Indian milk drinks for the modern North American market. This research-based project explores the development of a carbonated, dairy-based drink infused with familiar South Asian flavours such as rose, saffron, and cardamom. Aimed at second-generation Indian-Canadian consumers and the broader multicultural market, Dudh blends nostalgia with novelty, bringing cultural storytelling into the beverage aisle.
Through the Mitacs TRL^ program, the project will focus on creating a shelf-stable formulation, testing carbonation compatibility with dairy, and developing packaging that preserves both taste and identity. Importantly, the research will also explore how Alberta-sourced ingredients can be used to replicate or enhance traditional flavours, supporting local agriculture while reducing reliance on imports.
Dudh is not just a drink—it’s a vehicle for social innovation, celebrating cultural heritage while opening new paths for inclusive product development. By the end of the project, the team aims to produce a prototype ready for consumer testing, setting the stage for commercialization and the potential launch of a new product category in Canadian grocery stores.

Stage AI Fenetec

Le projet proposé par DocFlow, accessible sur le site [docflow.ca](https://docflow.ca/), vise à développer un système sophistiqué de collecte et de gestion de documents, en intégrant une composante d’intelligence artificielle pour la reconnaissance automatique des documents. Cette fonctionnalité permettra d’identifier et de classer les documents pertinents pour les transactions immobilières, réduisant ainsi les erreurs humaines et accélérant le processus de vérification. Pour l’organisme partenaire, ces innovations offrent une amélioration significative de l’efficacité opérationnelle, une réduction des délais de traitement, et une sécurisation accrue des transactions.

TRLUP – Mallow Dramatic Marshmallows

This project will refine the formulation of four gourmet marshmallow flavours for improved stability, develop a vegan version that closely replicates the original, assess shelf life using sensory and quantitative tests, and produce compliant packaging with nutritional information. It supports innovation in Alberta’s food manufacturing sector by advancing a high-quality, plant-based confectionery product. The work aligns with consumer demand for ethical, local, and sustainable treats while contributing to applied research and commercialization through academic collaboration.

TRLUP – Lupin-based snacks development

This project aims to develop a nutritious, high-protein, and allergen-friendly plant-based snacks using lupin, a legume grown in some part of Canada (Specially Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba). By working with NAIT’s Culinary Centre of Innovation, I will finalize the recipe, verify nutritional content, test shelf life, and ensure the product meets the needs of health-conscious consumers. This project will also include planning for how to scale production and protect the recipe. The expected benefit is a clear, ready-to-launch plan for a new lupin-based snack that will help to enter the growing market for healthy, plant-based foods in Canada.

Les secrets de fabrication des innovations sociales : Qu’est-ce qui fait la vitalité d’une petite municipalité aujourd’hui au Québec?

Ce projet de recherche porte sur la vitalité des petites municipalités rurales au Québec. Je tenterai d’y identifier les facteurs qui contribuent à la vitalisation, en vérifiant l’hypothèse qu’elle repose en partie sur le fruit d’un dialogue entre élu.es et citoyen.nes. À travers des entretiens réalisés avec des citoyennes, citoyens et des élu·es municipaux, le projet vise à mieux comprendre comment les relations, la participation et les échanges au sein des communautés contribuent à renforcer les innovations sociales, et par conséquent le développement social et économique.
En somme, le projet explorera comment et pourquoi les innovations sociales sont-elles créées dans les petites municipalités, et quel rôle peut jouer la vitalisation dans un contexte de transition socioécologique et de transformation sociale.