News

The hydrogen fuel cell has been around for years, thanks to B.C.’s pioneering Ballard Power Systems. Fuel-cell stacks are a mature technology and their products are being rolled out around the world, including 1,000 transit buses in Europe. Vancouver is a little behind, with just one hydrogen filling station, though six more are in the […]

Montreal, QC Mitacs announced an agreement with Mila, a Quebec artificial intelligence (AI) research institute that creates a fast track for industry to access state-of-the-art research in the field. The agreement is especially beneficial for small- to medium-sized enterprises, enabling direct application to their business needs. Mila is the result of a partnership between the […]

Surrey, B.C. – A project to help building companies land more work in the Lower Mainland has received support from Kwantlen Polytechnic University thanks to a $15,000 award from Mitacs.   Mitacs has partnered with BuildMapper to provide the funds for a project that KPU student Tina Charmchi carries out under the supervision of psychology […]

Controversial neonicotinoid pesticides have been shown to threaten bees and other pollinators, prompting Europe and Canada to tighten regulations.  Now a new study shows they can also directly harm seed-eating birds that migrate during spring planting season. White-crowned sparrows that ate a tiny dose of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid — equivalent to a just a few coated seeds and far below […]

Alejandro Adem, former CEO and Scientific Director of Mitacs, discusses his definition of ‘innovation’ and why it’s important for companies to innnovate and invest in modern technoogies.  Read more…(page 35)  

Researchers at the University of Alberta are developing algorithms to animate human motion from wearable sensors into a 3D augmented reality experience. The program could work for athletes and patients alike. “The sensors will transmit our body signals to our computers, and the signals will be put into our 3D model to be analyzed in […]

Environmental scientists are spilling oil at a freshwater research facility in northwestern Ontario to test the waters for non-invasive cleanup techniques. The Experimental Lakes Area, which is operated by the Winnipeg-based International Institute of Sustainable Development, consists of 58 small lakes and their watersheds. The natural laboratory is used by scientists who undertake real-world experiments […]

A team at the University of Alberta is developing high-tech wearable sensors that can precisely track people’s movements and provide feedback on how to improve them. “We started this project with rehabilitation applications,” assistant professor Hossein Rouhani said Wednesday, “for example, walking, standing or other typical daily activities. Rouhani, an instructor in mechanical engineering, also […]

A computer science researcher from China is working with the University of Alberta to develop wearable sensors that will help athletes perform better and reduce injuries. Shengjie Xiu, a 20-year-old undergraduate student at China’s Sun Yat-sen University, is spending three months in Edmonton to develop match box-sized sensors that can be embedded in athletic gear […]

A computer science researcher from China is working with the University of Alberta to develop wearable sensors that will help athletes perform better and reduce injuries. Shengjie Xiu, a 20-year-old undergraduate student at China’s Sun Yat-sen University, is spending three months in Edmonton to develop match box-sized sensors that can be embedded in athletic gear […]

Batteries. They’re an inescapable fact of life in today’s tech-driven society. From cellphones to remote controls to cameras and a million other uses, batteries, in an ever-growing range of shapes and sizes, are everywhere. Enter researchers at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna, who are collaborating with B.C. companies in researching a new battery; one that will […]

Researchers at UBC Okanagan are collaborating with Fenix Advanced Materials of Trail to design and develop a battery that is smaller and more powerful than what’s currently available. Using raw materials from B.C.-based companies such as Fenix, Teck Metals, Retriev Technologies, Eagle Graphite and Deer Horn Capital, the goal is to create a tellurium-based cathode […]