Innovative Projects Realized

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

31132 Completed Projects

2940
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5159
BC
837
MB
685
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882
SK
9291
ON
9695
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97
PE
601
NB
1161
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Projects by Category

Adaptive OCR for Structured Data Extraction in Technical PDF Documents

The proposed research project aims to digitize information currently locked in image-only PDF files, which are common in government and engineering sectors but are difficult to search and analyze. These documents, which often include technical drawings, forms, and reports, cause inefficiencies and errors due to the need for manual review. To address this, the project will develop an adaptive system using advanced image recognition (OCR) and vision-language models to accurately extract structured data. This involves creating algorithms for content and layout analysis and building a user-friendly software tool to help people upload, view, and export this extracted information. For the participating institutions, the University of Alberta in Canada and the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, this project strengthens their ongoing collaboration in digitalizing building processes and advances data-driven design and construction. The project’s outcomes will streamline document workflows, reduce manual effort, and improve data analysis for both academic research and real-world applications in engineering and government.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Yuxiang Chen

Student:

Partner:

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Globalink Research Award

From Agents to Teams: Optimizing the Creation of LLM-based Multi-Agent Systems

As multi-agent systems become more complex, improving how Large Language Model (LLM)-based agents work together is increasingly important. This research focuses on creating reusable design patterns and adaptive coordination strategies to boost collaboration and system performance. Blend360 is an AI service provider that builds advanced solutions for clients in sectors like finance, healthcare, and consumer goods. The company is exploring the use of multi-agent systems in its AI toolkit. These systems break down client problems into smaller tasks that multiple AI agents can solve together. However, there are key challenges preventing their smooth deployment in real-world applications. First, current systems often use static workflows (such as sequential or hierarchical setups), which limit flexibility in dynamic environments. Second, there is a lack of reusable design patterns to guide how agents interact, making these systems hard to build and maintain. Third, existing evaluation methods focus only on whether a task is completed, ignoring how well agents collaborate, how much each contributes, or how efficient their communication is. This research will help address these issues and directly support the development of smarter, more scalable agentic AI tools for Blend360’s clients.

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Faculty Supervisor:

An Ran Chen

Student:

Partner:

Blend360

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Cartographier l’écosysème bioalimentaire du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

Le projet vise à développer un portrait clair et actuel des organismes qui soutiennent le développement du secteur agroalimentaire au Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. Bien que la région soit riche en ressources, en expertises et en initiatives, il est parfois difficile pour les entreprises de savoir à quelle porte frapper pour obtenir du soutien. Plusieurs organismes travaillent fort pour aider les producteurs, transformateurs ou entrepreneurs, mais un manque de coordination rend les démarches parfois complexes ou inefficaces. Ce projet vise à cartographier l’écosystème bioalimentaire régional : identifier qui fait quoi, où, avec qui, et dans quels domaines. En dressant ce portrait détaillé des organisations et de leurs liens, on pourra repérer les doublons, les manques, mais aussi les occasions de collaboration. Cela permettra aux organismes de mieux orienter les entrepreneur·e·s, de renforcer la complémentarité entre les services offerts et d’augmenter l’impact des actions menées dans la région. À long terme, ce projet aidera à bâtir un système alimentaire plus cohérent, plus inclusif et plus durable pour toute la population du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Olivier Riffon

Student:

Partner:

Table agroalimentaire du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

University:

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Program:

Accelerate

Global Greenhouse Agricultural Supply Chain Design and Optimization under Trade Policy and Market Uncertainty

Global agricultural supply chains face persistent challenges such as unstable supply, uncertain demand, and tariff-related uncertainty that further complicates pricing and network design. This project focuses on the design and optimization of global greenhouse agricultural supply networks under trade policy and market uncertainty. The research aims to improve supply chain profitability, resilience, and adaptability to changing trade and market conditions. By leveraging the expertise of both participating institutions, the project will generate new models and solution methods applicable to a broad range of agricultural and network design problems. Outcomes will include joint publications, enhanced research capabilities, and a stronger foundation for long-term collaboration through shared expertise, future funding proposals, and the exchange of students and researchers. This collaboration will contribute both theoretical advancements and practical decision-support tools for improving global agricultural supply chains.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Guoqing Zhang

Student:

Partner:

Hebei University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Commercial Services; Transportation (excluding aerospace)

University:

University of Windsor

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Quantification of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma Amyloid-ß 34, 37, and 38: Correlation with Positron Emission Tomography Imaging and Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

This project focuses on improving how we detect Alzheimer’s disease early by measuring lesser-known, protective forms of the amyloid-ß protein—Aß34, Aß37, and Aß38—in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. These shorter forms are thought to help clear the harmful ones that build up in the brain and cause damage. Using a highly sensitive method called single molecule array, I’ll measure these proteins in samples from the TRIAD cohort and compare them with existing Alzheimer’s markers and brain imaging data. The aim is to develop a simple and reliable toolkit for early diagnosis, which could support both research and clinical teams at the participating institutions in identifying the disease sooner and more accurately.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Pedro Rosa-Neto

Student:

Partner:

Göteborgs universitet

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences and Technology; Biotechnology

University:

McGill University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Analyzing and Detecting Runway Incursions Using High-Resolution ADS-B and Incident Databases

This study focuses on enhancing aviation safety by detecting and analyzing runway incursions—unauthorized entries of aircraft, vehicles, or personnel onto active runways—using high-resolution ADS-B data from Flightradar24 (FR24). Despite existing protocols, such incursions remain a significant threat to air traffic operations. The project aims to develop and validate algorithms capable of identifying critical events, such as simultaneous runway occupancy and near-misses, by leveraging FR24’s historical ADS-B data. These data, sampled every six seconds during ground phases and every thirty seconds during cruise, will be cross-referenced with known incidents from IATA’s ACC_INC database and additional datasets from the FAA and IATA. The study will also examine contributing factors like airport geometry, weather, and runway conditions. Each incursion will be categorized by severity—from high-risk (Category A) to low-impact (Category D)—to identify patterns and risks over the past two years. In partnership with IATA, the project seeks to enhance early risk detection and situational awareness using scalable, data-driven tools. The outcomes will inform global safety standards, regulatory initiatives, and best practices. A final report, scheduled for 2026, will provide actionable recommendations aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of runway incursions worldwide.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Georges Ghazi;Julio Montecinos

Student:

Partner:

International Air Transport Association

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services; Transportation and warehousing

University:

École de technologie supérieure

Program:

Accelerate

Optimization of gene editing tools into human organoid models

Organoids are powerful cellular models that can advance our understanding of human biology and disease progression. They can be generated from human patient samples and be used to screen the best treatment course for patients, thereby allowing for a personalized therapeutic approach. However, a major challenge facing the organoid field is the lack of standard, optimized protocols for many experimental workflows. Without streamlined approaches adapted specifically for organoids, research progress and utilization of organoid models will be stalled. The objective of this project is to create standardized, open-source protocols for efficient genetic editing of different types of human organoid models. The interns funded through this proposal will work closely with scientists within the partner organization, the Children’s Health Research Institute, who have developed these protocols but have not yet standardized them across different human organoid models. The interns will generate these genetically edited human organoid models and then validate protocols by studying cellular signaling within modified human organoids. This project will enable researchers within the partner organization to overcome technical barriers associated with using human organoid models, generate high-quality data, and expand the use of human organoids to investigate complex cellular behaviors and disease mechanisms.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Van Lu;Christopher Pin

Student:

Partner:

London Health Sciences Centre

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program:

Accelerate

Optimizing Sustainability Through Value Chain Simulation

This project develops a simulation-based framework to evaluate and optimize the sustainability performance of university value chains, supporting higher education institutions in their transition to net-zero carbon emissions. The primary goal is to systematically identify and prioritize key emission sources and impactful activities within university operations. A comprehensive literature review will inform the analysis of primary and support activities, enabling the identification of significant emission sources and potential intervention points. Utilizing system dynamics software like AnyLogic, we will simulate various sustainability strategies, integrating environmental, social, and economic metrics to provide a holistic performance view. Thorough data analysis of simulation results will uncover the most effective strategies for enhancing sustainability. The findings will be synthesized to categorize these strategies based on performance indicators, yielding actionable recommendations for decision-makers. By establishing a robust framework for evaluating sustainability in university value chains, this project aims to advance the integration of sustainability in higher education planning and operations, ultimately contributing to a sustainable future and reducing the carbon footprint of educational institutions.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Fabiola Regis Hernández

Student:

Partner:

Universidad Politécnica de San Luís Potosí

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Sustainability and the Environment; Other

University:

Université TÉLUQ

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Biophysical analysis of ABCG sterol transporters

Our research concerns a group of lipid trafficking proteins, scientifically known as ABC transporters, that only work when submerged in the sea of lipids, which we call membranes. These proteins can “pick up” lipid molecules, especially sterols, and move the lipids out or into the cells. We know that different members of these lipid trafficking proteins work together to remove different types of sterol molecules, but no one knows exactly how such types of proteins can work on different types of lipid molecules. Our objective of this project is to investigate the molecular factors that determine how such type of protein recognizes and traffics the lipid molecules in cells.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jyh-Yeuan Eric Lee

Student:

Partner:

Academia Sinica

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health)

University:

University of Ottawa

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Distributed Optimization Framework for DSO-Aggregator Coordination in DER-Integrated Distribution Systems Under Uncertainty.

This project focuses on creating innovative, flexible ways for electricity grid operators and groups managing renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries to work together efficiently, even when energy production is unpredictable due to weather or other factors. By reviewing existing research, building computer models for optimal power flow, and testing them on simulated grids, the project aims to make power distribution more reliable and cost-effective in countries like Canada and Chile, which are pushing for cleaner energy. The collaboration between Simon Fraser University in Canada and Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile will strengthen their optimization and grid management expertise, lead to shared publications and tools, enhance student training through international experience, and build long-term partnerships to advance global sustainable energy research.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Mariana Resener

Student:

Partner:

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Uteroplacental vascular transformation in hypertensive pregnancy

Healthy pregnancies require major changes in blood flow to support the growing baby. Specifically, the mother’s uterine arteries must widen to allow more blood to reach the placenta, and the placenta must build a complex network of blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. In hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), these changes often don’t happen properly, which can lead to poor fetal growth and serious health risks for both mother and baby. The reasons for these vascular problems are still unclear, but they may stem from the high blood pressure interfering with normal adaptation. This project will explore how nifedipine, a commonly used medication to treat high blood pressure in pregnancy, affects blood vessel development in both the uterus and placenta. Using a well-established animal model of HDP, we aim to understand whether nifedipine helps restore healthy vascular changes that are critical for pregnancy success. This proposal strengthens our collaboration with Dr. Genevieve Eastabrook, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and researcher at our partner organization (the Children’s Health Research Institute and London Health Sciences Centre), by generating mechanistic data that can directly inform and enhance clinical decision-making for patients she treats with HDP.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Stephen Renaud

Student:

Partner:

London Health Sciences Centre

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program:

Accelerate

New Voices Film Lab

Frictive Pictures’ internship program will task its interns with documenting, composing, and promoting behind-the-scenes and educational content featuring the process of eight new voices in film as they create short films for broadcast and festival release. Interns will collaborate with industry professional producers to chronicle and create shareable content about the production process and then connect that content with interested and invested filmmakers and film communities.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Sophie Lavoie

Student:

Partner:

Frictive Pictures

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program:

Business Strategy Internship

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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.