Innovative Projects Realized

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.

TRLUP – Automatic Braking System for Walkers

The purpose of this project is to expand on an automatic walker braking system prototype. The system is intended to cause the medical walker to brake during sit-to-stand, stand-to-sit, and loss of contact situations through the help of sensors and motors. Currently, the system in functioning reasonably well but could use improvements from an accuracy, reliability, and modularity perspective. Furthermore, other features such as health monitoring systems could be added for further health benefits as well as exploring the potential for commercialization. Edmonton Unlimited is the partner organization for this project and is known to support many entrepreneurs, early businesses, and researchers, in bringing opportunities for innovation. The purpose of the organization is to bring recognition to the innovation community within Edmonton and contribute to the city. Based on this, supporting this project aligns with their goal. Providing support to projects like this is exactly what the organization is known for and what they are trying to do.

Complete Lifestyle Management Program Intervention

Hospital-associated disability (HAD) occurs when patients are admitted to the hospital for acute treatment, but experience an extended stay resulting in reduced functional independence (1,2). Approximately one third of older adults will become disabled as an unintended consequence of hospital admission, resulting in a significantly increased risk of being institutionalized after discharge (1–4). Frail older adults are at a higher risk of functional decline, increased length of stay, delirium, and increased morbidity and mortality (1,5). Functional decline is measured by the loss of at least one activity of daily living (ADL) which negatively impacts quality of life and can result in patients being transitioned to an alternate level of care (ALC) designation (6). Maintaining and increasing mobility while in hospital is believed to significantly impact the patient’s ability to retain functional independence during hospital admission. Acute care inpatients will sometimes remain in bed for all or most of the day, even for meals. This is especially true when barriers such as pain, medical lines/tubes, and reduced strength are present. This study will investigate the impact of having a dedicated mobility staff to support regular patient mobilization/transfer out of bed at mealtimes for geriatric acute-care inpatients.

Introducing Language Documentation to EFL Learners: a Project-Based Curriculum

Almost half of the languages spoken in the world today are in danger of disappearing, and the human and financial resources devoted to the documentation and revitalization of vulnerable languages are nowhere near enough to meet the need. In contrast, English is a required subject worldwide and English Language Teaching (ELT) is a multi-billion-dollar industry. This project aims to make English part of the solution to the problem of language loss by leveraging the abundant resources available to ELT to support vulnerable languages which are often neglected in formal education. This will be accomplished through a project-based English as a Foreign Language (EFL) curriculum which introduces the principles and methods of language documentation and culminates in a group project involving the local language(s). This innovative curriculum follows current best practices in ELT by incorporating culturally sustaining, asset-based, and multilingual pedagogies. The research site for the implementation and evaluation of this curriculum is Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca in the linguistically diverse city of Oaxaca, Mexico. The adaptable curriculum is designed to be customized for each individual context and can be used in a variety of educational settings.

Radicare Ventures – Collaboration between Bill Zheng and C3 Lab

RadiCare Ventures is looking for a summer intern to work on expanding the current Customer Resource Management (CRM) technology and a centralized data collection platform. This may include researching and building out a CRM, aggregating and automating current data collection processes and report generation systems, and also working with management to explore areas of key interest where the company wants to expand technologically. The research activities that the intern will engage in, includes a technology assessment to investigate what existing processes we can automate, what can be offloaded to existing tech services, and what can be solved in-house with new technology implementations. As RadiCare Ventures’ current website is only partially built, the intern will complete and optimize the website so that is fully functional for client access and outreach. This will also include some introductory SEO work. This ties directly into the project’s broader goals around improving digital infrastructure and automation.