Innovative Projects Realized

Mutualisation et partage des ressources des organisations par l’économie sociale : Opportunités et perspectives

Le Pôle d’économie sociale de la Vallée-du-Haut-Saint Laurent entreprend une étude approfondie des défis territoriaux en évaluant les réponses potentielles par l’économie sociale, en mettant l’accent sur le partage des ressources. L’objectif principal est d’explorer comment l’économie sociale peut répondre aux divers modes de partage des ressources au sein des entreprises d’économie sociale. Cette initiative vise à analyser ces formes de partage afin de comprendre les besoins et les opportunités d’engagement des acteurs locaux, ainsi que leur capacité à favoriser la collaboration et la concrétisation de projets communs. Les objectifs comprennent l’identification de projets potentiels pour mutualiser les ressources entre organismes communautaires et entreprises d’économie sociale, ainsi que l’évaluation de la pertinence de démarrer de nouveaux projets pour répondre aux défis de mutualisation territoriale. Pour ce faire, le programme prévoit plusieurs actions, notamment des études de terrain, des rencontres stratégiques, des analyses de besoins et la conception de prototypes adaptés aux réalités locales.

The Educational Transition of Older Refugee-Background Youth Resettled in Rural Areas of Nova Scotia

Using qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews and a facilitated workshop, the project explores the educational transition experiences of older refugee-background youth (ORBY) resettled in rural areas of Nova Scotia. Research indicates that resettled ORBY face challenges completing high school and post-secondary programs, explained as influenced by duration of school disruptions, addressing family economic need, trauma of self/family, and learning a new language and culture in a new school setting. With past studies based on urban samples, this study focuses on the educational aspirations, school transition experiences, and educational attainment of ORBY resettled in rural communities where refugees receive settlement assistance from sponsor group members rather than settlement services professionals. With sustained increases in immigrants and refugees settling in rural areas of Canada, it is important to learn about the facilitators and barriers that influence the educational integration of older newcomer youth settling in rural Canada. Drawing from project data, the intern will work with the study partner to develop 1) best practices guidelines for rural sponsor groups and schools, and 2) an education transition video for ORBY resettling in rural communities. In addition, this study is likely to generate policy recommendations.

Communication and Business interns working within cross-functional teams to develop and commercialize AI-powered solutions in the Public Services sector (1)

AltaML builds artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions to business problems. We work with organisations, bringing together their data and domain expertise with our AI expertise, to develop AI solutions that are deployed in their operations. We also commercialize AI-enabled products business via industry-specific ventures, yielding scalability from our investment in the first solution. Competition for tech talent is fierce, and our talent strategy includes a talent accelerator program, designed to rapidly equip highly qualified individuals with hands-on work experience in applied AI while providing partners with continuous and cost-effective development of AI solutions. AltaML’s AI Lab for Government, also known as GovLab, is a talent accelerator for public service professionals, post-secondary students and recent graduates. GovLab.ai’s mission is to set a global example of how to transform the public sector through applied AI, and is designed to encourage the growth of technical and business AI skill sets that are in high demand across Alberta and around the world.

Vana Health and Capilano University

VANA Health, a pioneering Canadian-owned company specializing in liquid nutritional supplements, is focused on expanding its presence in the Canadian market. Despite its success in the UK, the company faces the challenge of building brand awareness and trust among Canadian consumers. To address these challenges, VANA Health aims to optimize its online presence for Canadian audiences, secure the necessary funding, and leverage strategic partnerships with Freed Hotels and Resorts and Canada Snowboard. This project will involve a team of Capilano University interns, each bringing specialized expertise in web development, financial management, marketing, sponsorship coordination, and social media strategy. Their collective efforts will ensure VANA Health’s successful transition into the Canadian market, enhancing the brand’s visibility and credibility.

The deliverables of this project are comprehensive and impactful. The interns will redesign VANA Health’s website for Canadian consumers, develop a robust financial strategy, execute targeted marketing campaigns, manage sponsorships and events, and create a Canada-specific social media strategy. These initiatives will position VANA Health as a trusted Canadian brand and contribute to the broader societal goal of improving public health through accessible nutrition. The project’s success will be measured by tangible outcomes, including a fully optimized website, secured funding, effective marketing campaigns, and a solid social media presence, which will play a crucial role in VANA Health’s Canadian market expansion.

Origin Product Monitoring System to Ensure Safe and Effective Medical Device Function

The proposed project aims to improve FluidAI’s system for monitoring the reliability of their medical device, the Stream Platform, which assists in post-operative monitoring of wound drainage. By using advanced digital tools and data analysis techniques, the project will streamline the process of collecting and analyzing data from the device production and use to understand areas of product improvement and satisfy regulatory reporting requirements. This will help FluidAI quickly identify and fix issues, ensuring the device’s safety and effectiveness. The expected benefits include higher product quality, better customer satisfaction, and increased sales as the company expands into new markets.

Incorporating Equity Considerations Into Serious Safety Event Review Processes

Serious safety events (SSEs) are a subset of patient safety events (PSEs) reported in hospitals which results in a severe level of harm. Many of these events are cases of avoidable harm and are investigated during SSE review processes. Systemic inequities are prevalent in healthcare systems and contribute to the occurrence of SSEs, however are frequently overlooked due to the absence of a standardized investigative approach. In this study, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with hospital staff to understand the SSE review process and investigate inequities. Data will be used to develop a standardized approach to consider equity in the SSE review process. Simulations will be conducted during the design process with potential approaches, and feedback will be utilized to iterate the tool. The tool will be evaluated by use of the event review committee over a three month period, and results will be utilized to inform the final design. There is currently no standardized approach to investigate inequity in the SSE review process at the organization, and therefore the designed approach will improve the current process to be able identify these issues, and flag them as potential contributors to SSEs which will result in these issues being recognized as well as addressed through appropriate interventions. This will result in systemic change at the hospital and increased patient safety, especially for marginalized populations.??

Aston Dynamics R&D 2024 Part 2

Combining engineers from Australia and engineer interns from Canada to co-design and test new projects for development in the Electric vehicle and trailer braking industries.

Bioprocess optimisation for liver organoid biomanufacturing

Liver transplants can be a lifesaving treatment for people living with liver disease. However, many patients die on the waiting list every year. This major concern has raised the need to find alternatives to organ replacement therapy. Morphocell Technologies’ product, ReLiver™, uses stem cells to treat liver disease. Stem cells have the ability to self-renew and develop into different tissue types. In this case, the stem cells are developed into liver cells by following a multistage protocol. The 3D structures formed as a result of this protocol are called organoids. These organoids are then enveloped in a hydrogel to create the drug product. However, organoids composed of multiple cell types, complicate manufacturing, quality control, and quality assurance. Removing one or more cell types from the process would streamline production from a cost and manufacturability perspective.
Improving the ReLiver™ manufacturing process could significantly impact the lives of Canadians living with hepatic disease. This project aims to simplify the manufacturing process. This could reduce cost and accelerate access to the therapy.

Immersive Control Centre for Space Mission Management and Collaboration

Our project aims to revolutionize space mission management by developing an immersive control centre that harnesses advanced virtual and augmented reality technologies. This innovative center utilizes digital twin technology to create accurate 3D models of space environments and vehicles, allowing operators to interact with missions as if they were physically present. This approach significantly enhances decision-making and operational accuracy from any location. The major innovation of this project is its portable and compact format, which replicates the functionalities of large-scale control centers. By integrating extended reality (XR) technologies, including VR headsets and haptic feedback systems, the project reduces infrastructure costs and increases operational flexibility. This allows critical tasks to be managed remotely and efficiently, reducing time and resource expenditure. For Columbiad Launch Services Inc., our partner, this technology will enable more precise and safe operations, improving coordination and responsiveness to mission-critical situations. This not only boosts Columbiad’s operational capabilities but also strengthens its position as a leader in aerospace innovation. The project promises to set new standards in the industry, enhancing technological integration and operational efficiency in space mission management, contributing significantly to Canada’s aerospace sector.

Investigating the effect of disease-causing TRNT1 mutations on cellular stress response: a pathway to treatment.

The proposed project aims to investigate the link between tRNA maturation and mitochondrial disease using yeast as a model system. Researchers from Carleton University in Canada will collaborate with experts from Comenius University in Slovakia to develop advanced gene-tagging techniques in yeast. This collaboration will allow for the creation of new reagents, tools, and technologies to study the pathophysiology of TRNT1 (CCA1) deficiency, a condition related to mitochondrial diseases. The project is expected to benefit both participating institutions by fostering international research collaboration, enhancing innovation capacity, and providing new insights into mitochondrial disease processes. The Canadian team will gain access to specialized expertise and techniques in yeast molecular biology, while the Slovak team will benefit from the Canadian researchers’ experience in translation regulation and disease modeling. This cross-cultural scientific exchange will not only advance scientific knowledge in the field of mitochondrial diseases but also strengthen the research capabilities of both institutions, potentially leading to future joint grant applications and publications.

Aerobic digestion of sludge in the clarification zone of KAMAK aerated lagoon

Aerated lagoons (ALs) are popular wastewater treatment systems in Quebec for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. In 2014, Bionest Technologies introduced the KAMAK™ system, which uses fixed bacterial support technology to boost biofilm growth in ALs. Implemented at the Grandes-Piles AL, the KAMAK™ system enhances nitrification, increases biomass concentration, and reduces effluent total suspended solids (TSS). However, over time, sediment accumulation in clarification zones undergoes anaerobic digestion (AD), especially in warm months. AD of sludge can release ammonia and phosphate, resuspend sludge, increase effluent TSS, reduce nitrification efficiency, and emit odors and greenhouse gases like methane. To address these issues and improve sludge management, it is proposed to introduce aeration in clarification zones for the aerobic digestion of sludge. However, aeration intensity must be controlled to avoid disrupting the settling process and causing sludge resuspension. The study aims to assess the efficacy of resuspending and aerobically hydrolyzing accumulated sludge in the KAMAK™ system’s clarification zones. This involves analyzing sludge characteristics, such as total solids (TS), the ratio of total volatile solids (TVS) to TS, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO), to determine the oxygen demand and digestibility of different sludge layers.

Robust obstacle avoidance system for visually impaired persons

There is a large number of visually impaired people all over the world according to the World Health Organization. It reduces their mobility significantly as they may bump into obstacles. Robust real-time obstacle avoidance would be very helpful to increase their mobility. The main objective of this project is to develop a robust and fast obstacle avoidance system based on continuous real-time image analysis and deep learning techniques. The proposed system can be installed in assistive systems such wheelchairs or in wearable systems such as smart glasses. The obstacle warning can be given in the form audio feedback or by other appropriate methods.