Innovative Projects Realized

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.

Advanced Multilayer Polymer Systems for Carbon Capture Pipelines: Data-Driven Barrier and Mechanical Performance Optimization

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but traditional metal pipelines used to transport CO2 are prone to corrosion, especially in environments with impurities like H2S and SO?. This project aims to create advanced plastic-based pipeline systems that are more durable and cost-effective. We will develop multi-layered polymer designs combining materials like HDPE, PPS, and EVOH to improve resistance to CO2 permeation and ensure strong mechanical performance under high temperatures and pressures. These multilayer structures will address current limitations, such as brittleness and poor adhesion between layers, by introducing tailored materials and innovative manufacturing techniques. Our research will involve fabricating and testing 3-layer and 5-layer designs, analyzing how well the layers stick together, and measuring their ability to block gases and withstand mechanical stress. Additionally, we will use advanced tools like microscopy and machine learning models to optimize the designs. This project will benefit our partner organization by providing cutting-edge pipeline solutions for CCS systems, enhancing the safety and efficiency of CO2 transport. These innovations align with Canada’s climate goals, supporting sustainable energy technologies and contributing to the global fight against climate change.

PROMOUVOIR DES PRATIQUES INNOVANTES : UNE RÉPONSE AUX BESOINS DE DÉVELOPPEMENT PROFESSIONNEL DANS LE SECTEUR DES TECHNOLOGIES DE L’INFORMATION

Les technologies numériques et l’intelligence artificielle transforment profondément les organisations, influençant leur gestion, leur production et le partage des ressources. Pour rester compétitives, de plus en plus d’entreprises adoptent ces technologies dans la gestion des ressources humaines et des compétences. Toutefois, les méthodes traditionnelles de formation ne répondent plus adéquatement aux besoins actuels du marché du travail.
Des recherches récentes (Tremblay et Harvey, 2020?; Psyché et al., 2024) ont mis en évidence la nécessité de stratégies innovantes et inclusives qui encouragent l’apprentissage continu et le développement de compétences transversales, indispensables dans un environnement multidisciplinaire et évolutif. Depuis les années 2000, avec la démocratisation de l’internet et des formations en ligne jusqu’à l’essor actuel de l’IA générative et de l’apprentissage adaptatif, les organisations n’ont cessé de s’adapter. Le Canada, grâce à ses investissements substantiels dans l’IA et les technologies numériques, est reconnu comme l’un des leaders mondiaux, rendant cruciale la mise à jour régulière des compétences des travailleurs (Villani et al., 2018).
Dans ce contexte, le projet de recherche mené avec l’Université TELUQ et Technocompétences vise à identifier et promouvoir les pratiques de formation les plus innovantes pour faciliter l’apprentissage tout au long de la vie et le développement de compétences professionnelles face à l’évolution technologique. Cette recherche soutient les PME dans l’identification de pratiques innovantes et inclusives facilitant la transition numérique et de l’IA. Les résultats permettront de répondre à des enjeux pratiques en matière de compétences en TI et en IA à développer, ainsi qu’en compétences numériques transversales.

Effectiveness of a coordinated support system linking public hospitals to a health coaching service compared with usual care at discharge for patients with chronic low back pain: a randomised controlled trial.

La lombalgie, première cause d’incapacité dans le monde, représente un fardeau économique et social majeur. Actuellement, la plupart des systèmes de santé manque d’une approche intégrée et structurée pour accompagner les patients à maintenir une activité physique régulière et gérer leurs symptômes de manière autonome après leur traitement. Ce projet vise à évaluer l’efficacité d’un dispositif innovant de soutien post-traitement par le biais d’un essai clinique randomisé. Au total, 374 adultes atteints de lombalgie chronique ont été recrutés et répartis en deux groupes : un groupe bénéficiant du dispositif de soutien (10 séances de coaching téléphonique sur six mois) et un groupe recevant les soins habituels. Le niveau d’activité physique objectif des participants sera évalué grâce à un accéléromètre tri-axial. Des corrélations entre les niveaux d’activité physique, de douleur, d’incapacité et la qualité de vie des participants seront établies. Ce projet permettra de proposer un modèle de soins efficace pour réduire l’utilisation des services de santé et améliorer la qualité de vie des patients ayant de la lombalgie chronique. Il permettra la création d’une collaboration internationale australienne et canadienne et pourrait inspirer des programmes similaires au Canada.