Innovative Projects Realized

Explore thousands of successful projects resulting from collaboration between organizations and post-secondary talent.

31620 Completed Projects

2978
AB
5221
BC
856
MB
696
NL
899
SK
9419
ON
9858
QC
98
PE
619
NB
1192
NS

Projects by Category

Testing the efficacy of seaweed extracts to enhance plant performance for mine reclamation

As the world attempts to transition into a low-carbon economy, the mining sector is becoming increasingly important in meeting the promises of the Paris Climate Agreement. Despite their importance in providing critical minerals, mining activity severely impacts the environment, particularly the soil ecosystem. Therefore, large-scale rehabilitation efforts that are resilient to climate change are undertaken. Seaweed extracts (SWE) have emerged as a strong contender for their low carbon footprint, carbon capture capabilities, and multimodal action that enhances plant and soil function. A large body of research demonstrates SWE’s effectiveness in improving plant and soil health. However, their application in mine reclamation remains paltry. Our project seeks to remedy this shortcoming by employing a two-phase experiment that examines the effectiveness of the SWE on plant survival and growth. We have partnered with Ocean Regenerative Aquaculture to investigate the efficacy of their SWE on plant performance in the reclamation domain.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Lauchlan Fraser

Student:

Partner:

Ocean Regenerative

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Thompson Rivers University

Program:

Accelerate

Defining core competencies in pharmacology education and implementation through an Advanced Pharmacology Training – Leadership, Education And Development of Skills (APT-LEADS) training program

This research project focuses on improving pharmacology education in Canada and beyond through a research partnership with the the Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CSPT), a national not-for-profit?charitable organization that fosters educational and research excellence in pharmacology. The project will focus on defining and developing educational resources that would be made available to all pharmacology educators at no cost. The educational resources would focus on the essential aspects of pharmacology that should be known by all. The resources will be tailored to the needs of the students and for the first time focus on incorporating principles of equity, diversity, inclusivity, and decolonization (EDID) in pharmacology education and research. Finally, to enhance the success of Canadian pharmacology trainees (with respect to their future careers in industry, government or as an academic or clinical scientist), we will design, implement and evaluate an advanced pharmacology training program.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Dylan Burger

Student:

Partner:

Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Ottawa

Program:

Elevate

Impacts of Climate Change on Convective Storms in the Canadian Prairies using Numerical and Statistical Downscaling Techniques

Convective storms bring heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and sometimes hail, posing significant risks to cities, farms, and infrastructure. These intense storms are especially common in Canada’s Prairies during the summer and are becoming more severe with climate change. To better predict these storms, we need detailed climate models because convective storms usually happen over small areas (between 10 to 100 kilometres across). However, the typical global climate models cover much larger areas (about 200 kilometres across), making it hard to accurately capture these storms. To solve this problem, this project improves the level of detail and accuracy of these models down to about 10 kilometres using advanced techniques. This improvement will help preserve essential characteristics of rainfall accurately in our predictions. By using multiple climate models, we can also understand how certain we are about these projections. This research is crucial for designing infrastructure in Canadian regions prone to flooding from convective storms, aiming to reduce the damage from these increasingly intense weather events.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Simon Michael Papalexiou

Student:

Partner:

BGC Engineering Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Calgary

Program:

Elevate

Élaboration d’un modèle de gestion et de fonctionnement d’une plateforme logistique alimentaire mutualisée

Ce projet de recherche-action, en collaboration avec la municipalité de Roquemaure (MR) et la Société d’aide au développement des collectivités (SADC) d’Abitibi-Ouest (AO), vise à développer un modèle de gestion et de fonctionnement d’une plateforme logistique mutualisée pour coordonner le transport des denrées alimentaires aux citoyens et aux citoyennes de MR et à travers le territoire de l’AO. À la fin du projet, MR disposera d’un modèle de mise en œuvre d’un processus de mutualisation et d’outils d’aide à la décision, applicables à son plan de développement d’une communauté nourricière. La SADCAO disposera de son côté, d’une démarche rigoureuse de mise en œuvre d’un processus de mutualisation réussi et pérenne et d’un modèle de gestion et de fonctionnement, applicable à d’autres PDCN sur le territoire, voire à d’autres secteurs d’activités qu’elle soutient. Le modèle développé pourra également servir d’une base solide au développement d’un pôle logistique alimentaire régional, tel que souhaité par cette organisation partenaire.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Hugo Asselin

Student:

Partner:

Municipalité de Roquemaure;Société D'Aide Au Développement Des Collectivités d'Abitibi-Ouest

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration

University:

Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Program:

Accelerate

Développement d’électrodes multiplexes pour la détection de drogues d’abus en 2 minutes

On estime que 31,9 millions de Nord-Américains (11,7 %) sont des “utilisateurs” d’au moins une sorte de drogue illicite et que jusqu’à 8 % des conducteurs conduisent sous l’effet d’une de ces drogues. D’ailleurs, selon une étude récente, 43,6% des conducteurs mortellement blessés en 2016 ont été testés positifs aux drogues. Le marché mondial des tests de dépistage de drogues illicites était de 5,8 milliards USD en 2020 et devrait atteindre 10.7 milliards USD d’ici 2030. Une des principales limitations liées à l’expansion de ces marchés demeure toutefois que les tests actuellement en usage sont des technologies archaïques à flux latéral. Ces derniers sont relativement encombrants, requièrent une manipulation longue (>10 min) et complexe par l’utilisateur, et sont peu fiable. Le laboratoire du Prof. Vallée-Bélisle à l’Université de Montréal a récemment développé un capteur de THC électrochimique à base d’ADN qui utilise des anticorps déjà approuvés par l’industrie et qui affiche des limites de détection inférieures aux dispositifs actuellement commercialisés. Le principal avantage de cette technologie est qu’elle fournit une lecture numérique en moins de 2 minutes directement dans quelques microlitres de salive. Le projet proposé en collaboration avec la compagnie Montréalaise Anasens et le Dr Thibaut Babin, permettra de développer une électrode multiplex (5 tests simultanés) pour la détection quantitative de cinq drogues d’abus dans un petit échantillon de salive en moins de 2 minutes.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Alexis Vallée-Bélisle

Student:

Partner:

Anasens

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université de Montréal

Program:

Elevate

Improving the efficacy of lung delivery of gene editors through optimized lipid nanoparticle formulations to repair cystic fibrosis-associated mutations in human lungs

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one the most common life-shortening inherited diseases. In the past, patients rarely survived into adulthood; and currently, even with treatment, patients still often require difficult lung transplants. New drugs called protein modulators are a game-changer for CF patients; however, they require twice daily lifelong administration and cannot offset the pre-existing lung damage. Importantly, these drugs are also not effective for all patients, leaving a significant gap in the treatment options. Researchers have recently begun to demonstrate the utility of new gene editing technologies to correct CF-causing mutations. However, critical gaps remain in demonstrating therapeutic levels of correction in patient lung cells, in using clinically relevant delivery strategies, and in establishing the safety and specificity of gene editing technologies. This project aims to use patient lung cells, the gold-standard predictive model in CF drug development, to evaluate and compare new gene editing and delivery technologies. Broadly, this research will aid the development of future gene editing strategies for lung diseases, and specifically will provide the pre-clinical validation for new gene editing treatments for CF.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Colin Ross;Sarah Hedtrich

Student:

Partner:

Acuitas Therapeutics

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Dynamic polymer additives for recycling polyvinylchloride

Polyvinylchloride’s (PVC’s) exceptional mechanical properties and chemical stability make it an ideal material for applications in infrastructure. The PVC pipes that are widely used in municipal water systems, irrigation, and industry are sustainable, long-lasting, and resistant to weathering and leaking. Yet, degradation during recycling makes PVC exceedingly difficult to recycle, limiting its sustainability. Phthalate plasticizers and organotin stabilizers mitigate the degradation challenges associated with recycling. Yet, these plasticizers and stabilizers are toxic and can compromise the mechanical properties that make PVC so advantageous. We propose a novel approach to improving the recyclability of PVC that would not compromise the mechanical properties of the recycled materials. Dynamic polymers will be developed as temperature-responsive plasticizers for PVC recycling. These polymers will be designed to deconstruct into plasticizers in response to the high temperatures associated with PVC recycling, making the melt reprocessable. Upon cooling post-recycling, the plasticizers will reconnect into high molecular polymers, thereby preventing them from leaching, while also minimizing their impact on the mechanical properties of the recycled PVC materials. The dynamic polymers will be prepared by adding thermally dynamic Diels-Alder adducts into the backbone of polyacrylates by radical ring-opening polymerization.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Elisabeth Prince

Student:

Partner:

IPEX Technologies Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Waterloo

Program:

Accelerate

A Wearable Electrical Vestibular Stimulation System for Tracking and Enhancing Human Balance and Gait

The vestibular balance system detects linear and angular head motion and plays a role in stabilization of human balance and walking. Age-related vestibular disruptions increase fall risks for a large fraction of our elderly populations and make it increasingly difficult to continue living activity and independently, both of which have very large associated healthcare costs. As a result, there is a large unmet need for lower cost and more widely accessible diagnostic and therapeutic solutions that target impairments to the human vestibular balance system. Current wearable devices can only monitor human movement, so a wearable device that can both diagnose and treat human balance and gait impairments represents a fundamental new capability. Neursantys has developed such a device by integrating the company’s innovations in non-invasive balance and gait impairment diagnostic sensor technology, non-invasive electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS)-based balance therapeutics, and machine-learning based device automation. The ease of use and wearable form factor of the Neursantys solution further enable its use for both in-clinic and remote patient care, providing a convenient, low-cost alternative to improve patient quality of care and reduce health care costs. In this project we will
• assess the feasibility of Neursantys diagnostic sensor technology to measure balance and gait stability while walking;
• rigorously test and quantify the ability of the Neursantys electrical vestibular stimulator to enhance balance while walking, similar to the human vestibular system;
• assess corresponding improvements in elderly population and healthcare utilization

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Ryan Peters;Arthur Kuo

Student:

Partner:

Neursantys

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Calgary

Program:

Elevate

Estimating Risk and Testing Based on Change for Assets, Visual Code, and Textual Code

Video games are complex data driven software systems. The data is the levels and objects inside of the levels. These objects are programmed using visual programming languages and textual programming languages. Current software engineering support for visual languages is in its infancy and the tools that software engineers rely upon are often not available in visual languages. Companies like Electronic Arts rely on these languages and assets to create immersive entertaining video games, but as games increase in size and complexity so do quality issues and errors. We seek to provide insight to game designers and software developers to help them identify where errors and quality issues are coming from, whether it be a 3D model of a mountain range, or visual code that opens a door on a map.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Abram Hindle

Student:

Partner:

Electronic Arts Canada (Burnaby, BC)

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Développement d’outils prédictifs de la qualité de la crème pour contrôler le procédé de production et les propriétés rhéologique du beurre

Le projet de recherche proposé vise à résoudre les défis rencontrés par les entreprises de transformation, comme Agropur, dans la production de beurre, où l’utilisation de crèmes de qualité variable entraîne une grande variation dans la composition et l’historique de production. Pour remédier à cela, le projet se concentre sur le développement d’outils analytiques et de méthodes d’analyse en ligne pour identifier les étapes critiques de production et prédire le comportement des crèmes de qualité variable. En utilisant la spectroscopie infrarouge pour recueillir en continu des données sur la transformation de la crème en beurre, et en appliquant des techniques d’intelligence artificielle et de chimiométrie, le projet vise à modéliser les changements physiques et chimiques affectant la texture finale du beurre. Cette approche permettra de mieux comprendre l’impact de l’historique de la crème sur la qualité du produit final et de proposer des mesures correctives en temps réel, améliorant ainsi la qualité et l’efficacité de la production de beurre pour les entreprises partenaires comme Agropur.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Guillaume Brisson;Christophe Cordella

Student:

Partner:

Agropur Coopérative

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université Laval

Program:

Elevate

PARAMETRIC IMAGING OF MYOCARDIAL BLOOD FLOW WITH RUBIDIUM-82 PET

This project aims to improve medical isotope imaging for the diagnosis of patients with heart disease, specifically those with plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Robert deKemp

Student:

Partner:

Siemens Healthcare Limited

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Ottawa

Program:

Elevate

RAMP: Restorative Approach to Multiple Proceedings

The findings of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children Restorative Inquiry, the Mass Casualty Commission, the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, confirm that family and gendered violence is a systemic issue that necessitates immediate innovative responses. One aspect of the structural perpetuation of gender-based violence is the complexity of the justice and legal systems in which people experience gender-based violence often find themselves. Too often people who experience gender-based violence are engaged in multiple court proceedings simultaneously. Those most directly impacted by family violence often find themselves having to simultaneously navigate the complexities of a criminal court process, family court process, and child and family wellbeing processes. During an extremely stressful period, families are also required to adhere to multiple, and sometimes contradictory, court orders and other requirements. The Restorative Approach to Multiple Proceedings (RAMP) initiative brings together system and community-based partners to trailblaze a restorative approach to cases of family violence involving multiple proceedings.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Jennifer Llewellyn

Student:

Partner:

Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland NS

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Accelerate

Previous
1…84858687888990…2,635
Next

Join a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Subscribe to our newsletter now!

Subscribe

Mitacs — Return on Innovation

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.