Innovative Projects Realized

Accessibility Investments Database (“AID”)

Access to Success is a Toronto-based not-for-profit organization that supports people with disabilities with a mission to Enable Everyone. It runs ATS Labs, Canada’s only accelerator for accessibility startups, which provides unique programming, services, and resources tailor-made to help scale startups serving people with disabilities. We believe that by accelerating innovation in accessibility, we can significantly push the needle towards a barrier-free Canada.

One of our most crucial challenges is helping our participating startups fundraise. Investors interested in investing in this sector are few and far between, and precedent data is not transparent and extremely hard to find. The result is that each time an entrepreneur sets out to improve the lives of people with disabilities, they spend substantial time and resources simply identifying the right investors. The data insufficiency means that a handful of prominent investors active in the disability sector get overwhelming inbound interest, despite several other funders waiting in the wings.

The proposed BSI project aims to construct the world’s first Accessibility Investments Database (“AID”). This database will systematically chart previous investment activity in startups with a focus on accessibility. It will cross-reference various aspects such as investors, funding stages and amounts, additional terms of the funding round, startup entities, disability categories, and other pertinent information. Having this information on hand will allow us to better serve our entrepreneurs, identify active investors, and help connect the two. It will improve not only ours but the entire disability innovation ecosystem’s understanding of financial activity in this sector.

Reference Dependence and Effort Provision: Does Access to Clean WaterMatter?

The rural poor of Northeast Brazil do not have time to waste; their entire livelihood is dependent on using their time wisely. The objective of the proposed project is to better understand not only how access to clean water impacts the time-use decisions of the rural poor in Brazil, but why these patterns exist. A framed-field experiment is designed to uncover the underlying motivations behind behavioural choices to complement an on-going project measuring how rainwater cisterns impact time-use patterns. Specifically, the experiment will test for reference dependent behaviour and uncover the sources of these reference points. It will generate important information regarding why these individuals make the choices they do.

Renforcement de la gouvernance et changement d’échelle du Réseau Régional en Alimentation Communautaire (RRAC) : un projet innovant pour la sécurité alimentaire au Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Cette demande vise à documenter, étudier et optimiser les efforts du projet innovant de création du Réseau régional en alimentation communautaire (RRAC) au Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. Les objectifs du stagiaire seront de travailler en collaboration avec la chargée de projet en développant des outils pour la réflexion et développement du modèle gouvernance du RRAC et de favoriser la participation démocratique dans les travaux de constitution, en se basant sur les meilleures pratiques identifiées dans la littérature. Il devra aussi documenter les dynamiques de pouvoir déjà en action dans le milieu pour mieux suivre l’impact du RRAC dans l’écosystème de l’alimentation communautaire et solidaire. La méthodologie comprend des ateliers, des entrevues semi-dirigées, des observations, et une recherche documentaire approfondie. Les livrables incluent des outils de communication sur les dynamiques de pouvoir et les modèles de gouvernance pertinent pour le projet, un rapport documentant la démarche, et un modèle de présentation du RRAC pour les partenaires externes. Ce projet revêt une importance cruciale en renforçant les efforts déjà en place pour la sécurité alimentaire, en favorisant la mutualisation des ressources régionales, et en créant une instance unique au Québec dédiée à l’alimentation communautaire. De plus, il offre un modèle potentiellement reproductible pour d’autres régions, renforçant ainsi la capacité nationale à lutter contre l’insécurité alimentaire.

Computational Analysis of Main Group Complexes Containing Cyclopentadienyl-Carbene Ligands

The upcoming research internship will explore how a specific class of ligands incorporating cyclopentadienyl and carbene moieties can stabilize less common, low oxidation states of certain heavier elements like germanium, tin, antimony, and bismuth. This computational study aims to understand the unique bonding and reactivity patterns of these compounds. By simulating these reactions computationally, the project will identify the most promising chemical targets for actual laboratory synthesis, thus saving time, reducing costs, and minimizing environmental impact. The primary goal of this project is to train the intern in computational chemistry, a crucial skill that enhances other chemistry disciplines. The intern will learn and apply computational techniques within the Vasko group at the University of Helsinki, which has extensive expertise with the computational investigation of heavier main group compounds and their reactivity with respect to small molecule activation. A secondary objective is to determine the best ligand design for binding specific elements. The project will compare different cyclopentadienyl structures and hydrocarbon linkers attaching these to the carbene moiety, to identify which configurations best stabilize these elements, focusing on predicting how these compounds react with economically important small molecules like hydrogen and nitrogen.

Électrification d’un véhicule lourd de cour

Le projet permettra l’électrification de véhicules lourds de cour qui serviront d’alternatives aux modèles de véhicules à combustion. Deux stagiaires en génie électrique et deux stagiaires en génie mécanique participeront au projet. Les objectifs du projet sont l’optimisation de l’autonomie du véhicule pour le rendre commercialement viable et de participer activement à la formation de la relève du domaine de l’électrification des transports. Avec le volume de ventes prévu par le client au courant des 10 premières années de commercialisation, plus de 65 983 tonnes de CO2eq seront évitées, ce qui est bien enligné avec les objectifs du gouvernement du Canada de réduction de gaz à effet de serre. De plus, ce projet permettra la création d’environ 2 à 3 emplois bien rémunérés pour la production de ce véhicule durant les 10 premières années. La formation donnée aux étudiants durant le stage permettra d’augmenter le bassin d’employés qualifiés du domaine en croissance de l’électrification des transports.

Le processus de conception électrique (schémas électriques, sélection de composantes, assemblage de prototypes) et mécanique (conception CAO, outils d’optimisation, assemblage de prototypes) permettra aux étudiants de contribuer aux objectifs mentionnés précédemment.

Le stage aura principalement lieu aux bureaux de l’IVI où des ateliers de travail sont disponibles pour les stagiaires. Le télétravail est possible pour toutes les tâches ne nécessitant pas d’être présent au bureau.

Reimagining Sustainable Futures for Product Design

In the context of profound climate change and pronounced fluctuations in weather patterns, it is fundamental that design take on a central role and active participation in envisioning novel and environmentally conscientious modes of production. In addition to actively engaging as proponents of cutting-edge research on sustainable materials within the framework of Nature-Centered Design (NCD). This undertaking endeavours to systematically reassess and investigate new and ecologically responsible materials, emphasizing the development of minimalistic, multifunctional and reusable materials along with the exploration of value-centric supply systems. The overarching objective is to contribute to the field with research, practical implementations and prototyping as well as fostering an interdisciplinary approach that integrates inquiry with design innovation.

Business Management Automation and Analytics

ResearchNB is a non profit organization whose mandate is to provide research grants and support the research ecosystem in the province of New Brunswick. ResearchNB was incorporated in April 2023, the result of a merger of two legacy non profit organizations, the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation and BioNB. Together these two organizations had close to 50 years of operational history in the province. The merger was Phase 1 of restructuring to the delivery of research grants in New Brunswick. With the merger came the blending of two teams and two corporate cultures. Improvements to operational procedures in order to absorb the increase in resources and reporting requirements are required.
On April 1, 2024 the second phase of this restructuring was initiated with, 3 FTE’s joining the ResearchNB team from the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation.
The challenges from a human resource perspective lie in the merger of 3 corporate cultures, 2 online file systems that have not been merged, a rapidly growing team and an alignment of HR policies and procedures. ResearchNB had been relying on an expensive external consultant to work on some policies and new hires but the organization has outgrown the cost-effectiveness of that solution and is opting to implement an HR software program that can be managed internally by automating many HR processes.

Baseline and best-practice analyses to determine environmental and energy targets

The province of Nova Scotia is currently pursuing the goal of being the most environmentally and economically sustainable province in Canada. The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) is a major retailer in the province and, with the help of the branding agency Revolve, the NSLC would like to echo the provincial goals within its own corporate mandate. Environmental objectives are best addressed through comprehensive CSR strategies; this research project will establish the environmental targets and the associated management plan to be incorporated into the company’s CSR strategy. The applicant will use primary data to assess the company’s historical (from 2008 onwards) performance regarding previous environmental targets set by the company, while a literature review and analysis of similar companies will be used to determine new environmental goals. An implementation plan regarding how to best attain these goals will also be developed, thus allowing the NSLC to become a leader in corporate social responsibility in the province.

Business user engagement and evaluation for analytics and data reporting

In providing care and services for older adults, Shannex relies on quality data and information to improve our practice. With increasing amounts of data available through innovative business systems, we are striving to mature our data analytics and reporting processes. Improving these process will ensure we can provide the best information to our team members to support them in care planning, strategic decision making, and quality improvement. This internship will support our analytics and innovation team to develop and test innovative processes to engage front end data users. This intern will bring skills in digital innovation to improve data analytics and report evaluation. We will get the right information to teams to improve outcomes for residents and ensure we can run a healthy business.

Optimization of Novel Anodes for Electrochemical Trace Oxygen Sensors

Measurement of trace-levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) is critical to manufacturing processes such as in semiconductor production. Electrochemical sensors are a mature technology for measuring DO, with the classic sensor pairing a silver (Ag) with a lead (Pb) anode. Emerging international regulations that ban the use of Pb due to environmental concerns threaten the continued commercial viability of these sensors. Past collaboration between the applicants identified a viable drop-in substitute for Pb, but subsequent quality-control testing identified two issues with the reformulated sensor that must be resolved prior to commercialization. Namely, sensor readings are systematically lower than those for the classic sensor, and the sensor readings invert when stored under low-O2 conditions for extended periods. This research will resolve these two issues through detailed analysis of the liquids and solids present in the reformulated sensor, enabling ICC to bring the reformulated cell to the market.

Baseline : Identification de segments d’intérêt dans un enregistrement audio

Le projet vise à réduire le temps consacré à administrer l’information produite lors de réunions en utilisant
l’intelligence artificielle pour générer des artéfacts de réunions pertinents pour des utilisateurs. Des algorithmes
intelligents permettront la production automatique de transcriptions et de résumés des réunions en plus de
supporter des recherches thématiques dans l’enregistrement audio de réunion d?une entreprise. Les utilisateurs
pourront s’abonner à des groupes de travail ou à des thèmes et recevoir automatiquement les résumés des
réunions de ces groupes ou des réunions ayant abordé ces thèmes. Le système s’intégrera avec une grande
gamme de services de vidéoconférences déjà existant comme Zoom et Teams.

RubSys: Turbomachinery Rub System Development

There is an ongoing industry challenge to continuously improve gas turbine engine efficiency, decrease fuel consumption, and reduce emissions. Addressing these concerns involves developing advanced architectures, airfoil features, and innovative materials to improve performance, with a key focus on abradable coatings. These coatings play a crucial role in improving turbomachinery performance by acting as a protective barrier between rotating blades and stationary casing. However, the aerospace industry faces a critical challenge in developing and evaluating more efficient abradable materials to meet increasing energy requirements and gas turbine service life. The most effective methodology for evaluating the abradability of such systems relies on high-speed abradable rigs that mimic the rubbing phenomena in engine-like conditions, replicating the blade/abradable interaction. Thus, this project specifically aims to enhance the existing compressor test rig, concentrating on both hardware and software development and rig validation for abradability assessment. Those objectives will provide a controlled environment to analyze blade-to-case rubbing scenarios, mainly focusing on its interaction. To achieve these goals, the internship will involve a comprehensive review of current hardware and software, addressing adaptation challenges through collaborative efforts between Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) and Concordia University, and validating results by benchmarking against standard materials.