Innovative Projects Realized

Researching ethical LLM applications for improving the therapy note-taking process

Mental health professionals are evolving as they use a multitude of therapy modalities in every session. Already, therapists each have a different way of writing notes to each other, which becomes more complicated when applying a different set of modalities. This research will enable generating LLM case notes for therapists that are unique to their own individual-style of writing, rather than generic prompting. Further, notes go beyond case-notes into formulating treatment plans, intake forms and other admin work that could be minimized to allow therapists to focus on client care.

Kicked into action: Constraining the width of afterslip in an exhumed strike-slip shear zone

The Quetico shear zone is an ancient, large, dextral, strike-slip shear zone which has accommodated hundreds of kilometers of displacement. The shear zone has been exhumed from greenschist facies conditions (depths of ~15km) and represents an ancient analogue for active deformation along the San Andreas fault. We plan to use the Quetico shear zone as a natural laboratory to better understand rock deformation in active plate margins (such as the San Andreas fault) and determine the state of stress in active shear zones which we cannot directly access due to their great depths. Detailed geologic mapping and sampling by Hanna Tiitto has already been accomplished on this exhumed shear zone, and this collaboration will enable the student to collect high resolution electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) data on her natural rock samples. These data will be used to analyze the subgrain sizes from various phases, and to use the measured subgrain size to calculate the stresses the rocks were subjected to when they deformed. These data will provide valuable constraints on stress partitioning within active plate boundary faults, with the hope of being able to exploit these observations to better predict earthquakes in active plate boundary fault/shear zones.

Prototype for Critical Metals Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Hatch Ltd. is a global multidisciplinary consultancy company that provides engineering and business knowledge within the metals, energy and infrastructure sectors. The project proposes constructing a scaled-down, modular proof-of-concept prototype enabling extensive testing and validation studies for liquid-liquid extraction of critical minerals and metals. The design and construction of a custom-made mixer and settler unit targets the following outcomes for safe and sustainable extraction: improve mixing performance, minimize separation time, reduce plant footprint, increase efficiencies (i.e. use less organic solvents and lower capital/operational costs), improve environmental impact and safety. Key elements of proposed project are: 1) design and construction of a prototype bench-scale unit which enables exploration of different types of in-line mixers and rapid experimental progression, 2) design and construction of a scaled-down conventional mixer-settler unit to demonstrate the key benefits of the prototype design, and 3) an integrated droplet size testing system and analysis protocol for in-line characterization of extracted products. These enhanced capabilities will enable definitive results regarding the advantages of innovative approaches to metals extraction and will pave the way to the scaled-up unit and comparative validation in the later stage of the project.

L2M – Artificial intelligence based system to improve quality of life of sound sensitive individual on the autism spectrum

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience sound sensitivity, leading to distress, anxiety, and difficulties in daily life. The challenges for youth experiencing sound sensitivity can be both acute and downstream. This ongoing stress leads to avoidance behaviours, reduced social and community engagement, and distractions that impact performance at school or work and engagement at home.
Approaches for accommodating children with sound sensitivity include avoiding noisy settings or allowing them to leave to take breaks in a quiet area. Many children make use of wearable devices to block sound, like earplugs, earmuffs or noise cancelling headphones. As such strategies block or avoid all sounds indiscriminately, they interfere with the child’s full participation in family, community, and school. Our project aims to develop a mobile application to help autistic youth cope with DST. The goal is to increase youth’s comfort level and their engagement in the community. Using AI, the software intelligently detects environmental sounds that the youth find distressing, and then manages these sounds for them through headphones with different options available to the user. This is a unique, innovative, and individualized solution for increasing comfort in the presence of distressing sounds.

Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for improved and sustainable swine production

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven decision-making are finding widespread applications in various sectors, and pig production is no exception. In this fast-evolving landscape, there is a need to assess which areas would benefit the most from AI and to evaluate their impact on productivity and sustainability of the Canadian swine industry. There is also a need to objectively evaluate these new tools under controlled environments, and assess whether they are practical, accurate, affordable and sustainable in commercial settings, with a focus on the use of real-time data in a production context. In this project to be conducted at Prairie Swine Centre, the intern will develop an advanced AI technology with machine learning techniques to accurately detect farrowing onset and identify farrowing distress situations, test and validate the newly developed AI algorithms in in-barn tests, and perform cost analysis and develop recommendations for commercial application of the developed technologies.

Analyse des performances d’un dispositif de qualité de l’onde pour la mesure en temps-réel

Ce projet vise à analyser et optimiser des dispositifs pour améliorer la surveillance des réseaux électriques. Le stagiaire identifiera leurs limites et proposera des solutions. Hydro-Québec bénéficiera de recommandations pour moderniser ses outils, renforçant ainsi la résilience et l’efficacité de ses infrastructures énergétiques.

L2M- Degradable membrane and styrofoam from forest waste

The project aims to make eco-friendly, degradable membranes and Styrofoam alternatives from forest and yard waste. This innovation aims to reduce plastic pollution and carbon footprints. It will reduce dependency on traditional, non-degradable materials with sustainable options. The technology will benefit the partner organization. It will provide a cutting-edge solution to meet new environmental regulations. It will enhance their market position as a leader in green technologies. It will also open new opportunities in sustainable packaging and related industries.

De-risking Recycled Product Manufacturing: Establishing an Open Innovation Model for Circular Plastic Products Made From Canadian ALDFG

Nets for Net Zero is creating a circular economy for abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Canada and globally, alongside their circular network partners. This project will address data and innovation gaps, collaborate with Canadian recyclers for infrastructure development, and innovate with local manufacturers to integrate recycled materials made from recycled Canadian Fishing Gear into new products, This project will primarily focus on specific needs and fishing gear waste in eastern Canada, in collaboration with Divert Nova Scotia. The project will enhance environmental sustainability and economic resilience in coastal communities, while giving a new life to the biggest plastic problem in our oceans today. Through innovation and collaboration, we can protect life underwater and avoid biodiversity decline by diverting ocean pollution into new resources for circular product solutions.

Polymath Global – Medical Home Project

Polymath Global is a federally registered Canadian technology company based in Saskatchewan. Our primary activities leverage our innovative cloud computing platform to develop, deploy, and scale SaaS solutions across various sectors. Currently, we are focusing on developing an AI-native electronic medical record (EMR) system, named the “Medical Home,” to address critical needs in healthcare.
This project arises from the growing demand for secure, efficient, and scalable EMR systems that enhance provider efficiency and improve patient outcomes. The Medical Home will provide healthcare providers with AI-driven insights, including an AI-Scribe for automated note-taking, secure patient data management, and personalized care recommendations. Partnering with MITACS-BSI program will equip Polymath Global with the necessary resources to advance this healthcare innovation, enhancing medical providers’ capabilities nationwide.

Genetic Algorithm for Optimal Aircraft Routing

Airlines take the extra effort required to figure out what is the best route that their aircrafts should take so as to minimize additional costs from non-revenue flights or idle time. One way to di this is to first generate large numbers of feasible routes and then assign flights to a subset of them so as to cover all flight legs. It is clear that the quality of the resulting solution depends highly on both the number of routes we generate anf also the diversity among the routes. Classical deterministic approaches to the first phase are slow; especially when the number of flights increases. This project aims to maximize these factors in a quick and efficient manner by developing a Genetic Alogrithm. The stochastic nature of this algorithm will speed up the route generation process and the GA operators used will ensure high quality and diverse routes. Bombardier Inc., can offer a valuable service to its clients by reducing the cost of non-revenue flights and providing the opportunity to optimally stagger individual aircraft utilization to smooth out the cost of major maintenance events.

Pyrimidine-Based Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters for Deep-Blue Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) used in displays and lighting have advanced display quality but still face issues such as low efficiency and short lifetimes, especially for blue emission. Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) provides an exciting solution for these challenges, yet there are still few examples of efficient blue TADF emitters. Highly efficient, stable deep blue TADF emitters will enhance OLED performance by improving colour purity, brightness, and lifespan. This will also reduce consumer turnover of electronics which are expensive to fabricate and can have negative environmental impacts upon disposal.
This research program will introduce eight efficient deep blue TADF candidates. The results will advance OLED technology, contribute to Canada’s digital technology goals, and foster the continued collaboration and transfer of knowledge between Canadian researchers and international colleagues.

Atlantic Canada Building Stock Analysis

The ReCover Project is advancing deep energy retrofits for commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings in Atlantic Canada. By addressing critical gaps in building data, this project aims to support policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders with better tools for decision-making.

At its core, the project will develop a comprehensive building database that integrates information from various sources. This secure, scalable database will ensure consistent, accurate, and accessible data to support retrofit planning and policy development.

The project will also create detailed energy models and financial analyses for approximately 20 key building types. These models will assess energy use, retrofit potential, and financial impacts, offering actionable insights for building owners and stakeholders.

To share results and inform decision-making, the team will produce roadmap reports that summarize key findings, methodologies, and recommendations for advancing retrofits.

A multidisciplinary team, including Mitacs interns and industry experts, will contribute to data analysis, energy modeling, and financial assessments. By fostering collaboration and leveraging technical expertise, the ReCover Project aims to create a transformative resource that accelerates deep retrofits, promotes decarbonization, and supports the development of a more sustainable building sector in Atlantic Canada.