We are excited to announce the Winners and Finalists of the 33rd Annual ASTech Awards!
(Note: This page is under construction and changes are being made on a daily basis)
Categories: Best In Sector • Leading Change • Awards of Distinction • Recognition of Regional Innovation
2022 ASTech Award Winners – Best In Sector
Outstanding Innovation In Digital Technologies – Customer Applications
WINNER: Nanoprecise Sci Corp
Initiative: Predictive Maintenance & Condition Monitoring, Efficiency Monitoring using IIoT, AI & ML
Nanoprecise Sci Corp specializes in implementation of Artificial Intelligence and IoT technology devices for predictive asset maintenance and condition monitoring. Timely and accurate diagnosis of machine faults provides insights that allow operators to make decisions that will save considerable time and resources, while reducing incidents and emissions, at the same time as improving equipment performance.
Sunil Vedula, Chief Executive Officer
Sunil earned his MBA from University of Alberta, specializing in Finance and Natural Resource, Energy & Environment. Prior to being an entrepreneur, Sunil’s professional career had him working on projects associated with Oil & Gas and Mining firms. He observed a need for innovative & affordable solutions to material issues of these companies and launched Nanoprecise.
FINALIST: EnviroApps
Initiative: Digital Transportation of Dangerous Goods
EnviroApps mission is to turn the data being acquired to satisfy regulatory requirements, into useful information for the industry – making profit while reducing environmental impact of the operations and improving the quality of life for the surrounding area.
Amit Bhargava Co-Founder & CEO. A Professional Engineer with two master’s degrees in chemical and Environmental Engineering – working in areas including Environmental Approvals, Regulatory Compliance, Air Quality Assessments and Environmental Engineering & Management.
FINALIST: Krux
Initiative: Analytic Approach to Drilling Data
Krux is pushing the mining sector into the digital era with a powerful, agile platform.
Jody Conrad, MBA, President/CEO.During her more than 18 years in the drilling industry, Jody continuously saw data that wasn’t being used to its full potential, and in 2016 founded Krux Analytic. Bringing her unique combination of technical expertise, operational experience, and managerial skills to Krux – she has applied her extensive experience in drilling equipment design and manufacturing, ERP systems, and operational data analytics and reporting.
Outstanding Innovation In Digital Technologies – Research
WINNER: Dr. Xin Wang, Professor, University of Calgary
Initiative: Artificial intelligence for Logistics
Dr.Wang develops and implements innovative AI/ML methods and software tools for optimizing logistics networks and providing smart truck routing for goods delivery services under extreme weather conditions. Through this research and the developed technologies, delivery service companies are able to cut down transportation costs by better routing planning, reduce operational costs and improve productivity by optimizing the planning and better managing vehicle fleets. The results of this research help industries to evaluate potential solutions to improve their business practice
Outstanding Achievement in AI/ML Advancement – Energy and Environmental Innovation
WINNER: Dr. Omid Ardakanian, Computing Science, University of Alberta
Initiative: Making Buildings Smart and Efficient using Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things
The operation of buildings accounts for more than 30% of the total energy consumption in North America. The team has developed machine learning algorithms for data-enabled optimization and control of buildings and energy systems – that reduce energy consumption and improve their indoor environmental quality (IEQ) performance.
Outstanding Achievement in AI/ML Advancement – Social Innovation
WINNER: Dr. Linda Duffett-Leger, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary
Initiative: Creating Scalable Digital Solutions to Support the Mental Health and Wellness of Albertans
A nursing leader whose sustained program of innovative research is leveraging digital technologies to solve real-world health challenges for individuals, families, healthcare providers, and communities. The awards she has received have included: the Faculty of Nursing Excellence in Research Award, and the UNB Alumni Award of Distinction for her research, entrepreneurship, innovation, and knowledge engagement activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team is focused on the urgently needed virtual delivery of mental health and wellness programs, to mitigate the lifelong consequences of socio-environmental adversities on health and psychological outcomes. Developing artificial intelligence (AI) enabled smart tools – decision support and programs by other researchers will become more accessible to clinicians and the public they serve.
Outstanding Achievement in AI/ML Advancement – Adaptive Learning and Simulation
WINNER: RUNWITHIT Synthetics
Initiative: Advances in Modelling and Synthetic Data to Explore the Future of People
RUNWITHIT Synthetics helps leaders worldwide design better, more sustainable, equitable, and resilient futures for all. Responding to the unprecedented, interconnected, and critical futures of growing cities and their stakeholders who face decarbonization imperatives, extreme acute and chronic events and disasters, along with compounding stress from changing industry, demographics, economics, and growth, RUNWITHIT generates complete Synthetic Cities to dial-forward limitless scenarios and optimize solutions for investing in policy, technology, built environment, and infrastructure. RUNWITHIT’s Synthetic Futures Platform provides world-leading 3D, Synthetic Modelling and Data environment – modelling 24 cities and growing, from Kuala Lumpur to Gibbons, Alberta.
Myrna Bittner, CEO, Founder
Armed with her BA in English, and finishing her MBA, Myrna started her first tech company in 1992, developing a commercial internet groupware product used by NASA and US West for real-time remote communications, followed by co-founding a 3D neural net visualization research company funded by an Australian billionaire. When they told her she couldn’t, she didn’t listen. Myrna passionately lives and promotes the imperative for inclusion, diversity, and representation.
Dean Bittner, CTO, Founder
Dean is an early web pioneer – delivering thought- and market-leading ventures in hypermedia clients, artificial intelligence and visualization, communications and cryptography, medical software and devices, television and advertising, and large-scale enterprise. He is an incurable dreamer, non-conformist, and coding funder and founder.
FINALIST: Dr. Guenther Ruhe
Inititative: Hybrid Intelligence for Semi-structured Problems Solving
Dr. Guenther Ruhe, Industrial Research Chair Software Engineering, University of Calgary
Guenther holds an Industrial Research Chair in Software Engineering – a joint position between Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Ruhe leads a research team in the area of Software Engineering Decision Support (SEDS), collaborating with industry. The technical novelty of this Hybrid Intelligence research has been applied in a variety of domains: Digital Product Innovation, Waste and Recycling Service Optimization, Digital Health Care, Emergency Management, Energy Systems, and Finance.
FINALIST: Aro Robotic Systems Inc
Initiative: Development of Autonomous Mobile Robots for SMEs
Aro Robotic Systems Inc. are committed to offering autonomous mobile robots to SMEs in Alberta, and beyond. The robots use artificial intelligence where they collect and analyze large amount of data and perform their tasks – using highly intuitive robot commanding software. Layperson can program and operate the robots – and are used in facilities to automate repetitive and labor-intensive tasks such as intralogistics, inventory monitoring, floor cleaning etc.
Dr. Faheem Khan, CEO. Faheem has a PhD in Electrical Engineering, an MBA in Strategy, and is part of Alberta Catalyzer Accelerator.
Clayton Coutu, CTO and Co-Founder. Directly leads the technology development at Aro Robotics Systems Inc. (Aro), a spinoff of Fourien Inc., as CTO and co-founder.
FINALIST: Martha White
Initiative: Robust Reinforcement Learning Algorithms in the Wild
Martha White, Computing Science, University of Alberta
Dr. White is internationally recognized as a leader in this area and has published 50+ papers in top venues in machine learning. She was recognized for her work by the IEEE in 2020 with the “AIs 10 to Watch: The Future of AI” award.
Our systems are getting smarter. For many important systems in our lives, however, like our drinking water treatment facilities, traditional (non-learning and non-automated) approaches are still the norm. Dr. Martha White is developing machine learning systems to allow the systems we interact with on a daily basis to be constantly adapting and improving.
FINALIST: Willowglen Systems
Inititative: Applications of Machine Learning in Industrial Pipelines
Willowglen Systems – was able to tackle the challenge through our methodical approach, problem identification, and application of machine learning. The objective was to identify a model of the pipeline to allow for optimal pipeline operation. The optimization tool has shown the reduction of operating costs, saving energy for a major pipeline project (by 30%) – with the corresponding operational efficiency leading to safety improvements and carbon footprint reduction.
Team Submission: Stephen Symington, Lisa Cleland, Gerald Manweiler, Trevor Gerbrand, Clairvoyance Development Team
Outstanding Achievement in Energy and Environment – Environmental Innovation in Energy Applications
WINNER: Dr. Aman Ullah, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences & Dr. Tariq Siddique, Renewable Resources
Initiative: Biopolymer Based Adsorbents for Water and Tailing Remediation
Dr. Ullah focuses on chemical conversions of biomass and synthesis of Biopolymers, Biochemicals, Biocomposites, Bionanocomposites, Biosorbents and Bioconjugates from Lipids & other Renewable Resources for Industrial Applications.
Dr. Siddique studies the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons under anaerobic conditions; metabolic pathways of hydrocarbon degradation; molecular fingerprinting of hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities, and the Biogeochemistry of oil sands tailings ponds.
This work shows that natural biopolymers are equally effective for the flocculation of clays to enhance tailings consolidation and can provide a better alternative to the existing synthetic polymers – and can be a game changer in industrial wastewater treatment and consolidation of produced tailings.
FINALIST: Recion Technologies
Initiative: Energy Technology for Direct Lithium Extraction from Brines
Recion Technologies is focused on the development and scale-up of a robust direct lithium extraction (DLE) method for the recovery of lithium from brines. Partnering with companies in Alberta, western Canada, and beyond, with the goal to commercialize a DLE process that can deliver refined lithium products to battery manufacturers and other users around the world. Recion Technologies is spun out of the University of Alberta – and is a leading DLE technology company in Alberta.
Dr. Daniel Alessi, Co-founder. Dan is a geochemist and a professor at the University of Alberta, who specializes in surface chemistry of materials, the development of environmental remediation and wastewater treatment technologies, and assessment of the water cycle in oil and gas operations.
Dr. Salman Safari, Professor / Co-founder. Salman has more than 10 years of experience in water treatment and clean technologies. In the past several years, he has been working on advanced methods for lithium extraction from unconventional resources and he has developed the core aspects of Recion’s technology.
Outstanding Achievement in Energy and Environment – Excellence in Clean Energy
WINNER: Dr. Ghada Nafie – Litus/University of Calgary
Initiative: Developing a New Technology for the Clean and Efficient Extraction of Lithium
Conducting research with nanoparticles, Dr. Nafie has developed a method of lithium extraction that has the potential to be a game-changer in the industry, and affect environmental considerations in a very positive way. Dr. Nafie has recently won the Elevate pitch competition award from the Firehood for $100,000, and the Inventures Net Zero Category 2022. Her research has been funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF).
Outstanding Achievement in Energy and Environment – Excellence in Energy Applications
WINNER: Westgen Technologies Inc
Initiative: Eliminating Methane Emissions from Pneumatic Devices at On- or Off-grid Locations
Team Submission: Connor O’Shea – CEO, Ben Klepacki – CRO, Curtis Lynn, James Freeman – Sr. Digital Strategy
Westgen Technologies Inc developed proprietary technology to overcome the two traditional limitations associated with low power range reciprocating internal combustion engines: maintenance interval and fuel gas quality. Westgen applied their proprietary power generation design to develop the EPOD integrated system. This cost-effective 6, 20, or 30 kW remote power generation solution powers an instrument air compressor using solar power and variable quality gas.
The Westgen executive team of mechanical engineers Connor and Ben (Rising Star recipients), Curtis Lynn, and experienced scale-up executive James Freeman are combining technologies and approaches to eliminate venting in specific applications – resulting in emissions reductions by more than 98%.
FINALIST: Highwood Emissions Management
Initiative: Building Net-Zero Emissions Reduction Strategies for the Energy Sector
Highwood Emissions Management – Highwood represents the necessary balance between benefiting from our environment while caring for it – taking pride in helping diverse stakeholders to expertly navigate this balance.
Dr. Thomas Fox, President, Highwood Emissions Management
Thomas completed his Ph.D. at the University of Calgary Centre for Smart Emissions Sensing Technologies, and has led the invention of the Leak Detection and Repair Simulator (LDAR-Sim), an open-source software product designed to evaluate emerging leak detection technologies, methods, programs, and policies.
FINALIST: OptiSeis Solutions Ltd.
Initiative: EcoSeis: A Solution for Net-Zero Energy Exploration & Production
OptiSeis Solutions Ltd. is a leading-edge geophysical acquisition design & software company providing innovative seismic survey designs utilizing the latest field technology, incorporating detailed GIS information, and optimizing for advanced processing techniques.
Andrea Crook, CEO and Founder. Andrea’s extensive geophysical experience in seismic processing and geophysical operations was established at Shell Canada and Boyd PetroSearch/RPS. At OptiSeis, she has built a team of geotechnical experts and oversees geophysical research, seismic acquisition design services, processing QC services, interpretation services, software development, and sales.
FINALIST: Dr. Vita Martez, Scientific Lead and NSERC-Industrial Research Chair, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Initiative: Clean Technologies and In-situ Steam Generation – Break-through Clean-Technologies in energy, environment and electricity for climate resiliency and advanced Steam Generation Research
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology – The Clean-technologies segment of this initiative advances break-through innovations such as the vanadium redox-flow-battery-system with long duration electrical storage. The steam-generation segment of this initiative uses an all electric, once-through-steam-generator to address persistent scaling, fouling, erosion and corrosion problems with advanced boiler treatment solutions. Concurrently both segments are focused on accelerating sound, clean energy solutions.
Dr. Vita Martez, Scientific Lead and NSERC-Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in In-situ Steam Generation and Clean Technologies
Leads a range of industrial applied research programs and projects through collaboration with stakeholders from academia, business start-ups, small to medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises, multi-national companies and others. She has a track record of spear-heading Clean Technologies associated with energy, industrial water and waste-water treatment, mobile desalination packaged pilots for clean drinking water among others.
FINALIST: TOKU
Initiative: Increase Production, Protect the Environment and Reduce Operational Risks, using Remote IIoT
TOKU’s IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) system provides continuous operational visibility, high-quality data, and cost-effective remote monitoring. This enables operators to see inside their operations and better characterize its inner workings – providing the opportunity to identify innovative approaches to increase productivity. TOKU’s IIoT system was designed to encompass many applications to reduce the environmental impact of Oil & Gas operations.
Dr. Tokunosuke Ito, President & CEO. Over 40 years of industry experience architecting a business model and technology trajectory for the introduction of Industrial IoT technology to the energy industry. Founder of Zedi Inc. (acquired by Emerson). PhD Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Peter Choy, General Manager. Strategic planning professional with over 30 years of industry experience in project management, operations management and strategic planning roles. He holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia.
Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Sustainability – Excellence in Forest Management Research
WINNER: Dr. Quazi Hassan, Professor of Geomatics Engineering, University of Calgary
Initiative: Application of Remote Sensing Technologies in Forest Fire Management
Dr. Hassan’s work includes the development of advanced forest fire danger forecasting system using publicly available satellite data from NASA; a wildland fire risk modelling framework for the Greater Athabasca oil sands region; and a policy framework for forest fire-induced risks and community resilience for the people of Fort McMurray.
Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Sustainability – Innovative Applications
WINNER: Dr. John Nychka, Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering,. Vice-Provost (Learning Initiatives), Provost & Vice-President Academic – Admin
Dr. Colleen Cassady St. Clair, Professor, Biological Sciences – Behavioural Ecology, Conservation Biology in the discipline of Conservation Behaviour.
Dr. Jonathan Backs, Engineering Scientist, Wilson Analytical
Initiative: Warning Systems to Improve Train Detectability and Reduce Collisions with Wildlife
University of Alberta – In response to deaths of grizzly bears and other wildlife from train collisions in Alberta’s mountain parks, the team developed and tested a warning system, consisting of light and sound that are triggered by approaching trains, similar to road crossing signals that reduce risk of train collisions for people. This pioneering work on warning system technology and understanding of collision risk has the potential to support mitigation of wildlife–train collisions in Alberta and beyond, both for existing railways with known collision hotspots and new projects where high-risk locations could be predicted in advance. Recognized by National News and the Discovery Channel – this team’s work was supported by Alberta Innovates, the Alberta Conservation Association, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canadian Pacific, and the University of Alberta.
Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Sustainability – Innovative Applications in Environmental Protection
WINNER: Future Fields
Initiative: Applying Insect Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering to Manufacture Sustainable Recombinant Proteins
Future Fields – uses fruit flies to make sustainable recombinant proteins. Produced by the EntoEngine™, Future Fields’ insect biotechnology, Future Fields provides scientists with the quality biomolecules they need to economically and sustainably do great science. Producing serum-free proteins with the EntoEngine™, Future Fields helps agritech, health tech, and other life sciences industries in growing their innovation, while radically reducing their environmental footprint and production costs.
Outstanding Achievement in Urban Development – Research
WINNER: Lina Kattan, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary
Initiative: Transportation, Smart Cities, Sustainability
Dr. Kattan is the Canada Research Chair in Integrative Transportation through Automation and Connectivity; Director of NSERC CREATE on Integrated Infrastructure for sustainable Cities; Urban Alliance Chair in Transportation Systems Optimization.
Dr. Lina Kattan’s most recent work in emerging transportation technologies focuses on integrating Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) into existing transportation systems—a deployment that will radically change those systems. Depending on how they are deployed, the emergence of CAVs will bring tremendous opportunities, complexities, challenges. CAVs can collect and disseminate information in the traffic network through vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and more.
FINALIST: Ioanis Nikolaidis, Mustafa Gül, and Ioanis Nikolaidis
Initiative: Smart, Sustainable, Resilient, and Energy Efficient Cities
Evaluation and improvement of the integrated performance of two main components that can potentially mitigate housing related GHG emissions in order to ensure the efficient use of energy and the efficient self-consumption of distributed solar PV. The research team has been developing cutting-edge monitoring technologies and data analysis methods for evaluating and improving the energy performance of buildings to reduce the energy consumption, as well as to increase the use of renewable energy resources and improve their performance.
Ioanis Nikolaidis, Computing Science, University of Alberta. Researching the design and performance analysis of networked distributed systems, and wireless sensor-based systems.
Mustafa Gül, Structural Engineering, University of Alberta. Researching Civil Infrastructure Systems to improve performance by means of Structural Health Monitoring (a highly interdisciplinary research area integrating different cutting edge technologies).
Dr. Omid Ardakanian, Computing Science, University of Alberta. Research focuses on the design, implementation, and performance of intelligent networked systems.
Outstanding Achievement in Urban Development – Applications
WINNER: ZS2 Technologies
Initiative: Development & Commercialization of Low-Carbon Prefabricated Cement Technologies
Team Submissions: Scott Jenkins; Doug Brown; Kristin Davis – Co-Founders
ZS2 Technologies has developed and is rapidly commercializing proprietary Made in Canada cement products which are high strength, fire resistant, sustainable and cost effective vs. conventional building materials. ZS2’s proprietary TechBoard, TechFloor, TechTile and other solutions in various stages of development have been recognized as a Solar Impulse Efficient Solution and ZS2 was recently recognized as Milestone Finalist in the Carbon Removal X-Prize sponsored by the Musk Foundation.
Outstanding Achievement in Health – Application
WINNER: Tactile Orthopaedics Inc.
Initiative: Realistic, Tactile Surgical Training
Team Submission: Tactile Orthopaedics Inc.’s Knee and Tactile Shoulder learning platforms replicate the tactile experience of operating on a patient, allowing all (novices to experts) to learn the surgical intricacies before operating on a patient.
FINALIST: Fluid Biomed Inc.
Initiative: Polymer Brain Stent to Cure Aneurysms
Fluid Biomed Inc. – is a VC-backed, pre-clinical, and seed-stage medical device startup, that is developing the world’s first polymer-
based stent to cure brain aneurysms, a feared and leading cause of stroke. Unlike current metal devices, this technology provides revolutionary versatility in allowing physicians to treat many types of aneurysms with greater efficiency and safety for the patient in a single operation. ReSolv™is the world’s first polymer-based bio-resorbable flow-diverting stent. Its extreme flexibility allows physicians to better “shape” the stent to each patient’s anatomy and use adjunctive devices to treat brain aneurysms more effectively in one operation.
Dr. John Wong, Co-Founders & Associate Professor (Neurosurgery), University of Calgary. Serves as Director of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery and maintains a busy clinical practice almost exclusively dedicated to treating brain aneurysms and stroke.
Dr. Alim Mitha, Co-Founder & Associate Professor. (Neurosurgery), University of Calgary. Practicing as a Cerebrovascular, Endovascular, and Skull Base Neurosurgeon at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. Alim is the scientific leader of a research laboratory at the University of Calgary affiliated with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, that focuses on biomedical device development.
Outstanding Achievement in Health – Research
WINNER: Pan-Alberta Team Monitoring COVID-19 in Wastewater: University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services, The City of Calgary, and EPCOR – represented by Dr. Xiao-Li (Lilly) Pang, University of Alberta and Dr. Casey Hubert, PhD, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary
Initiative: Alberta’s Wastewater COVID-19 Monitoring
The team identified and tracked what can be found in our wastewater and shared this critical information with the public. Using an efficient and economically effective method, the team uses molecular tracking technology to measure, in real time, the levels of COVID-19 in communities. This technology produces evidence-based data and can be used to measure other infections such as the flu, and is shared publicly to inform officials and citizens alike to make decisions about the health of their communities.
The Pan-Alberta COVID-19 wastewater monitoring program builds upon work that has been led by research teams from the University of Alberta and UCalgary respectively, in partnership with Alberta Health Services, The City of Calgary, and EPCOR.
FINALIST: Dr. Peter Facchini – University of Calgary / Enveric Biosciences Inc
Initiative: Novel small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of anxiety, depression and addiction disorders
University of Calgary / Enveric Biosciences Inc – Novel small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of anxiety, depression and addiction disorders. The discovery and innovation engine at Enveric Biosciences targets the design of novel molecules.
Dr. Peter Facchini, Professor, University of Calgary and Chief Innovation Officer, Enveric Biosciences.
Dr. Facchini is a Professor of Plant Biochemistry in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary, and past Canada Research Chair in Plant Metabolic Processes Biotechnology, and is currently a Parex Resources Innovation Fellow in the Faculty of Science. Dr. Facchini co-founded and was Chief Scientific Officer of Willow Biosciences Inc. and Epimeron Inc. Dr. Facchini has published over 160 scientific papers and co-invented over 30 patents.
FINALIST: OraQ
Initiative: Using the Power of AI and ML to Predict Risk Assessments in Dental
OraQ is a state-of-the-art clinical decision support system that harnesses the analytical power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. It provides advanced patient assessments and detailed risk profiling in a fraction of the time. Learning from the thousands of dental professionals that employ OraQ as an assessment tool – OraQ improves patient outcomes by providing insights and recommendations to clinicians, focused on risk reduction and assessment while at the same time optimizing business opportunities for practices and payers alike.
Team Submission: Dr Amreesh Khanna, Founder & CEO; Dr Micheal Parchewsky, Co-Founder & Director of Clinical Protocols and Integrations; Wayne Madhlangobe, Cofounder & CTO
FINALIST: BCI4kids
Initiative: BCI4kids: Brain Computer Interface Solutions for Life Participation for Children with Disabilities
BCI4kids, University of Calgary. Many children with severe neurological disabilities, unable to move or speak, are cognitively capable but unable to interact with the world. The program’s aim is to create brain computer interface (BCI) solutions that allow them to participate in life and achieve their full potential. Patients and families are now using BCI systems in both the hospital and their own homes to achieve personalized goals they never thought possible. As the first patient- and family-centred pediatric BCI program in the world – a new future is possible for children with severe neurological disabilities.
Dr. Adam Kirton, is a Professor & Principal Investigator, University of Calgary and an attending Pediatric Neurologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kirton’s research focuses on applying technologies including neuroimaging, non-invasive brain stimulation, and brain computer interfaces to measure and modulate the response of the developing brain to early injury to generate new therapies and opportunities for life participation for disabled children.
Outstanding Achievement in Health – Medical Diagnosis
WINNER: Kinetisense
Initiative: Applications of Advanced Markerless Human Motion Capture in Healthcare
Kinetisense is based in Medicine Hat, and is the world’s first patented markerless motion capture technology that is forever changing how human motion is assessed and treated. The Kinetisense system is being used worldwide by health care and human performance organizations to better assess their patients/clients and track changes over the course of care, with advanced population norm comparisons.
Dr. Ryan D. Comeau, CEO
Co-Founder and CEO of Kinetisense. Dr. Comeau played NCAA Division 1 Hockey at the University of Alaska before completing his Doctorate at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. His love for sports performance and neuromusculoskeletal rehabilitation drove Dr. Comeau to develop an efficient and objective markerless motion capture system.
FINALIST: Syantra Inc.
Initiative: Blood test for breast cancer detection
Syantra Inc. and University of Calgary. The Syantra DX Breast Cancer test detects the presence of breast cancer from a small blood sample using an innovative new process involving a proprietary panel of biomarkers and machine learning informed software.
Kristina Rinker, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer. Kristina is a biomedical engineering innovation professional focused on technology development, translation to implementation, mentoring and training, and entrepreneurial thinking. Additionally, Kristina is co-lead of biodiagnostics and a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Calgary. She’s also a member in the Charbonneau Cancer Institute.
Carol Roesler, MBA, CPHR 17+ years cross-sector experience that has included leadership roles in both startups / scale-ups and Fortune 500 multinational companies. An innovative thinker and creative problem solver, providing leadership and direction in a wide range of both strategic and operational initiatives. Passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Outstanding Achievement in Health – Pharmaceutical
WINNER: Entos Pharmaceuticals
Initiative: Ushering in a New Era of Genetic Medicines
Entos Pharmaceuticals develops next generation genetic medicines with Entos’ proprietary Fusogenix proteolipid vehicle (PLV) drug delivery system – and has partnered with pharmaceutical companies, sister companies, and in-house programs to develop genetic therapies that will change the way diseases are treated and cured. Entos is passionate about playing a role in the development of Alberta as a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Lewis is the Bird Dogs Chair in Translational Oncology at the University of Alberta. As a scientist and serial entrepreneur, he pioneered the use of intravital imaging in the in vivo study of tumour cell invasion and metastasis to discover key targets for cancer therapeutics. Dr. Lewis also develops novel nanotechnology, nanoparticle drug delivery technologies, and imaging-based treatments for chronic diseases, such as aging and cancer, as well as for early detection of cancers.
FINALIST: Zymedyne
Initiative: Non opioid approaches for treating chronic pain
Zymedyne – Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that affects a quarter of all Canadians. Current pain therapies are of limited efficacy, and Zymedyne’s technology therefore had the potential to help alleviate the suffering of millions of pain patients.
Dr. Gerald W. Zamponi, Professor and Chief Scientific Officer, University of Calgary and Zymedyne Therapeutics.
2022 ASTech Award Winners – Leading Change
Social Innovation – Early-Career Change-Maker: Industry Community Leader
WINNER: Monika Rao, P.Eng, Products Lead – Enbridge Technology and Innovation Lab; Chair of the FEMINEN Calgary Chapter
Initiative: Leading Advancement of Technology and Innovation Solutions in the Energy Industry; Advocating for Advancement of Women in Engineering and Technology Roles
Monika is a young, emerging leader at Enbridge – uniquely positioned to be an innovation leader. Monika’s team is charged with developing digital products for the largest energy transportation company in North America. By providing product leadership to agile development teams that use disruptive technologies such as AI/ML, advanced visualization, agile, and design thinking practices – Monika and her team have made a material impact on business value returns. Collectively these products will optimize operations and processes, while ensuring safe and reliable operation.
Monika is also advancing Enbridge’s diversity and inclusion goals – in her role with FEMINEN (FEmales IN ENgineering), an employees resource group at Enbridge that strives to improve the attraction, engagement, and retention of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) roles.
Social Innovation – Early-Career Change-Maker: Company
WINNER: Painworth
Initiative: Applications of Graph Architecture and ML for Legal and Insurance Claim Automation
Painworth helps victims and insurers calculate, manage and settle injury claims without the need for expensive middlemen. The system is faster, cheaper and easier than the status quo and allows all citizens to get access to fast and equitable justice regardless of income, race, gender or age. Painworth has helped over 2,000 of the most vulnerable victims with over $200 million in claims and was the first to discover and highlight real data in our justice system around the implicit negative biases found in the status quo system that had been prejudiced against sex, race and age.
Michael Zouhri, Co Founder
Painworth was awarded the 2021 title of the ‘Global Best Emerging Insurance Product,’ and Mr. Zouhri was recognized as one of the 50 global leaders transforming the law by the Fastcase 50 award program. Through direct personal injury experience, Mike was motivated to change the system. Less than a year after the accident, he started his company, collaborating with legal and technology experts to create the award-winning PainWorth.
Social Innovation – Early-Career Change-Maker: Research
WINNER: Dr. Catherine Lebel, Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Radiology
Initiative: Study of Brain Development in Children Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Over the past 10 years, Dr. Lebel has made substantial contributions to pediatric neuroimaging and mapped structural and functional brain development across early childhood in unprecedented detail. Dr. Lebel has also forged new understanding of how the prenatal environment affects child brain development, both in terms of prenatal substance exposures and psychosocial stress. She and her team continue to investigate brain development in these children to understand how these brain changes may relate to behaviour and learning.
Social Innovation – Innovative Approaches for Learning
WINNER: LX Labs by Onlea
Initiative: Lowering Barriers to Health Education through Hybrid Learning
LX Labs by Onlea – Sherwood Park Primary Care Network (PCN) quickly pivoted to online learning at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic. The PCN recognized that a hybrid of online and in-person learning could meet diverse patient needs while expanding the capacity of busy clinician educators. The Onlea team supported this goal through the lens of universal design and learning design.
William Fritzberg, Lead Design Strategist & LX Labs Lead
William is a human-centred designer, technologist, strategist and storyteller. He has a Masters in Research for Design and Innovation from the ELISAVA School of Design at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production from the University of British Columbia. Today with Onlea’s LX Labs, he works with a wide range of organizations, educators and creatives to develop innovative, engaging and accessible online learning experiences and strategies.
Social Innovation – Programs Promoting Indigenous People
WINNER:I-STEAM
Initiative: I-STEAM Pathways Environmental Education and Research program for Indigenous Undergraduate Students
Dr Makere Stewart-Harawira, Faculty of Education
Dr Greg Goss, Faculty of Science – Biological Sciences
Jessica Vandenberghe, Asst Dean, Indigenous Engineering – Faculty of Engineering – University of Alberta
I-STEAM – Providing opportunities for Indigenous youth to participate in experiential post-secondary environmental research at the University of Alberta and pathways to advanced degrees; Providing hands-on mentorship or students by experienced researchers who undertake training in reconciliation. Introducing and interweaving western science and Indigenous knowledge systems throughout the program, drawing on Indigenous elders as well as scientists.
Since launching in a pandemic in 2019, I-Steam Pathways has provided 49 Indigenous students from across Canada with four months of fully-paid, mentored internships in cross-disciplinary environmental research.
Social Innovation – Programs Promoting Women (Gender Inclusion)
WINNER: AWSN, Team Submission
Initiative: AWSN Equitable Scholarship
AWSN designed an innovative scholarship program for undergraduate and re-engaging STEM students using an intersectional lens. Through the guidance of a gender-based analysis plus (GBA+), the program allows AWSN to distribute the awards in an equitable manner, limiting unconscious bias, stereotypes, and other barriers commonly faced by underrepresented groups.
Social Innovation – Programs Promoting Autism (Neurodiversity Inclusion)
WINNER: Autism CanTech!
Initiative: Empowering Autistic Individuals and Employers to Build More Inclusive Workplaces
A federally funded program to teach employability and technical skills to Autistic individuals, while also working with and training employers to diversify their workforce. This successful initiative is improving employment outcomes for Autistic individuals, with 48% of our participants employed in technical roles – while employer data shows that they too are benefiting from the operationalization and growth of their inclusive policies.
Autism CanTech! is a recipient of the Higher Ed XR Innovation Grant through Unity Technologies and Meta and will be presenting at the Disability and Work in Canada 2022 Conference, the Cannexus 2023 Conference, the Future Works of Canada Conference, and the ASU+GSV Summit.
FINALIST: EACH+EVERY: Businesses for Harm Reduction
Initiative: National Business Coalition Supporting Harm Reduction & Drug Policy Reform
Euan Thomson, Executive Director, EACH+EVERY: Businesses for Harm Reduction aims to reduce preventable drug poisoning deaths and help build a more fair and compassionate community by adding the voice of businesses to accelerate drug policy reform.
FINALIST: Technology North Corporation
Initiative: RoboCoach and Technology North Digital Services Autism Employment Program
Technology North Corporation is an adaptable training, employment, and service delivery vehicle that concentrates on empowering youth with barriers. Utilizing assistive tech and AI to facilitate workflows and training efficiency, TN currently accept neurodiverse individuals and those suffering from adverse socio-political circumstances with a focus on autism. Autistic employees in the TNDS gain confidence and the teamwork skills needed to work in industry and hold down a career, while job coaches, customers, and managers will gain unique experience and insights from working with neurodiverse participants while creating happy family. It is a win-win-win for citizen, family and government.
Ling Huang, CEO, A senior security and management consultant who has been recognized as an innovative, quality-focused professional
FINALIST: Dr. S. Monty Ghosh
Initiative: Creating a Systems-Based Approach for Mitigating Drug Poisonings in Canadian Communities
Dr. S. Monty Ghosh Physician; Assistant Professor, University of Alberta/University of Calgary
As a Doctor of Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, Dr.Ghosh specializes in patient advocacy and community capacity building for vulnerable populations in Alberta. Dr. S. Monty Ghosh has been recognized as a 2021 Top 40 Under 40 for changing social and health systems to reduce the inequities harming marginalized populations. Co-founded the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) to help mitigate drug poisonings in Canadian communities. Co-developed AHS’ Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) program. Supports Calgary’s AHS Recovery Coach program. Helped the Alberta Government with the creation of the Digital Overdose Response Service.
FINALIST: The Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Department of Health
Initiative: Online opioid awareness and community-based naloxone training course
The Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Department of Health works to provide culturally appropriate, self-directed health and wellness opportunities that address the unique health profile of Métis Albertans and their communities. Recognized as a voice for Metis people, the MNA has received recognition for both their Metis-specific research and community wellness initiatives across a variety of health related topics that centre the voice and experiences of Metis people living in Alberta.
Reagan Bartel, Director of Health. As the Director of Health, she works to strengthen her community through health research, advocacy and public programming.
FINALIST: AI Pathways Partnership (AIPP)
Initiative- AI/ML/ data analytics – Collaborating with Industry and Post-Secondaries to Develop new AI and ML training pathways.
AI Pathways Partnership (AIPP) is a consortium of post-secondary institutions committed to working collaboratively with industry partners to train learners and retain graduates for Alberta’s dynamic AI and ML industry. The consortium includes NorQuest College, Athabasca University, Concordia University of Edmonton, and Bow Valley College, in collaboration with Amii and made possible through funding provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada. – now known as PrairesCan.
Shaunaugh Whelan, Technology Program Chair and AI Pathways Partnership Coordinator
In support of an Alberta-wide post-secondary collaboration (AIPP) – Shaunaugh developed and launched a new machine learning analyst diploma accessible to entry-level workers, the first of its kind in Canada. As coordinator of the AI Pathways Partnership (AIPP) she continues to lead projects to develop new AI training pathways for all Albertans and increase the ML workforce. Shaunaugh is a champion working hard to smash barriers to AI careers faced by groups chronically underrepresented in tech and STEM.
2022 ASTech Award Winners – Awards of Distinction
Applications in Agri-food Production
WINNER: G2V Optics Inc.
Initiative: Agriculture, Solar – Improving Horticulture through LED Light Technology
G2V Optics Inc. – G2V was founded because the world’s leading researchers, engineers, designers, and dreamers are creating a better future — and that future revolves around the power of the sun. To create scalable, real-world solutions, dreamers need precise solar simulations. Product: Precise LED solar simulators.
Richard Glen Uhrig, Principal Scientist-G2V Optics Inc, Assistant Professor – University of Alberta
Publication record in applying biochemistry and molecular biology to elucidate the biochemical characteristics and biological function of proteins. Focus on use of precise LED plant lighting technology to increase plant productivity with zero increase in energy inputs – improving vertical farming and controlled growth environment sector’s productivity and economic feasibility.
Michael Taschuk, Ph.D, P.Eng., Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Taschuk is a renowned expert in optoelectronic systems, managing multi-disciplinary teams to develop advanced lighting, electronics, and characterization systems including sensing and forensic techniques in collaboration with industry partners. He is the named inventor on several patents, and author of a textbook and 50 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Programs Promoting Youth
WINNER: NXT-GEN
Initiative: NXT-GEN (Youth) Accelerator Program
NXT-GEN is a University of Alberta student group whose members have a passion for education and entrepreneurship with a mission to address the gaps in business education in high schools. NXT-GEN inspires the entrepreneurial spirit through experience-based learning and competition – and has gained recognition from several organizations.
Colin Tran, Founder & President of NXT-GEN, VP Corporate Affairs of Trust Science
Recognition of Significant Achievement in Academia
WINNER: Dr Thian Yew Gan, University of Alberta
Initiative: Climate Change Impact and Mitigation
Dr. Gan was one of two Canadian professors invited by the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) to serve as a lead author of its AR6-WGI (Assessment Report #6 – Working Group I) published in 2021 on the global water cycle change under the impact of climate change. The report demonstrated that future hydrologic extremes are expected to occur more frequently and in greater severity, including the Canadian Prairies. The IPCC report is the basis of most studies on climate warming impacts, mitigations, and adaptations conducted worldwide.
Early Adoption of Alberta Innovation
WINNER: Zero Point Cryogenics and National Research Council(NRC)
Initiative: Manufacturing of Dilution Refrigerators to Support the Development of Quantum Technologies
Zero Point Cryogenics – Zero Point Cryogenics manufactures cryogenic equipment called dilution refrigerators, which are the primary low-temperature platform for quantum computers. The company is focused on designing robust and reliable dilution refrigerators to enable quantum technology research and innovation. ZPC is the only manufacturer of its kind in Canada and is working to support Canada’s National Quantum Strategy.
Dr. John P. Davis, Founder and CTO, an accomplished researcher in the field of low-temperature physics and recipient of multiple international awards, his vision is to improve the size and operability of dilution refrigerators. Through innovation, Zero Point Cryogenics has improved the ease of use and cost-effectiveness of dilution refrigerators with a mission to enable researchers to advance quantum technology.
Christopher Cassin CEO, Zero Point Cryogenics – leads Zero Point Cryogenics’ talented team and manages the planning, organization and general controls to optimize the operational activities of the company. Chris is a serial entrepreneur and is actively involved in the Edmonton tech community.
Indigenous-led Leadership in Community & Entrepreneurship
WINNER: IndTech Program Norquest College
Initiative: Ohpinitotan Social Enterprise / IndTech Program at Norquest College
ōhpinitotān – Meaning: Lift Each Other Up
IndTech Program Norquest College is a social enterprise helping Indigenous peoples access the digital economy, find & better themselves. We know that with the right support, we can help remove any barriers to employment for Indigenous youth and help employers fill those worker shortages. Participants work online and in small class environments to develop employability skills. Graduates learn communication, teamwork, and technical skills in data processing, data management, and software literacy.
Tim Carwell, Entrepreneur, Investor, Community Supporter
Timothy (Tim) Carwell is the President of The CommAlert Group of Companies and a citizen of Beaver First Nation. A social entrepreneur by nature, he devotes considerable time on projects that create goodwill and visibility for under-represented people and communities. He has a keen interest in technology and its ability to create opportunity for everyone, no matter where they reside.
Recognition of Leadership in Alberta-wide Community Building
WINNER: AltaML
Initiative: Championing Alberta’s Tech and Innovation Momentum with the “I Heart AB Tech” Campaign
AltaML was named the winner of Start Alberta’s Most Significant Cross-Community Collaboration of the Year award for the Applied AI Lab; a Canada’s Companies-to-Watch in Deloitte’s Fast 50 awards; and a winner of a Responsible AI Award by the Responsible AI Institute. In 2022, AltaML placed 18th on the Globe and Mail’s national ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies.
Nicole Janssen, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at AltaML. A serial-entrepreneur currently tackling AI/Machine Learning and Online Media. Nicole is an Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Award Recipient, a member of Forbes Technology Council and on multiple Canadian tech community leadership initiatives.
Cory Janssen, Co-founder and Co-CEO of AltaML. Co-founded Investopedia.com in 1999 and helped to grow it into one of the web’s largest financial sites devoted to investor education, selling the company to Forbes Media in 2007. Cory has built multiple companies and is on numerous Canadian tech community leadership initiatives.
Recognition of Significant Achievement in Innovation: Start-up Company
WINNER: Sarcomere Dynamics Inc.
Initiative: Making the Most Advanced Robotic Hand in the World
Sarcomere Dynamics Inc. is bringing to market a near-human robotic hand. Weighing only 800 grams, with 19 degrees of freedom and generating over 2.25 kg of force at the fingertips, the ARTUS Dex is 80% lighter and over 200% stronger than the best robotic hand on the market today. Avtar’s patent pending shape memory material actuators are at the heart of this accomplishment, with force to weight ratio an order of magnitude better than conventional actuator.
Avtar Mandaher, Founder/CTOSarcomere Dynamics
Avtar went to school in St Albert, graduating as AP Scholar with Distinction. He graduated from the University of British Columbia, with a degree in Integrated Engineering, specializing in Mechanical and Computer Engineering – and has won top prizes IGEN.
He is now working with a cross-provincial team to build his robotics company, Sarcomere Dynamics – returning to St. Albert to grow his business.
Recognition of Significant Achievement in Innovation: Growth Stage Company
WINNER: Attabotics
Initiative: Maximizing Throughput of the Attabotics Robotic Fulfilment Platform Using AI
Attabotics replaces the rows and aisles of traditional fulfillment centers with a patented storage structure and robotics shuttles that use both horizontal and vertical space, reducing a company’s warehouse footprint by 85%. This year, Attabotics engaged the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), a world leader in artificial intelligence (AI) research and commercial adoption, to leverage machine learning to help improve both speed and efficiency without sacrificing safety or reliability.
Sean Murphy, Director of Innovation
A high energy, entrepreneurial technology leader who is passionate about creating and unleashing innovative disruptive technology to drive business results. Deep understanding of how adaptably leveraging technology creates competitive advantage.
2022 ASTech Awards – Recognition of Regional Innovation
REGION: Peace River – NAIT’s Centre for Boreal Research (CBR)
Initiative: Applied Research in Land Reclamation, Reforestation and Forest Management
NAIT’s Centre for Boreal Research (CBR) provides scientific findings, methods, and technologies to advance the capacity of industry to lessen its environmental footprint through best practices in mitigation of disturbance through front-end planning and interim reclamation, reforestation and forest land management and ecological restoration of disturbed lands. The CBR operates within a network of forest products companies (woodlands), oil and gas companies (environmental, decommissioning, and reclamation groups), environmental service firms, reclamation enterprises (e.g., contract planting, vegetation management), and commercial greenhouses.
Dr. Jean-Marie Sobze, NAIT, Applied Research Chair in Plant and Seed Technologies, Manager Boreal Forest Plant and Seed Technology Access Centre. Jean-Marie is focused on developing practical technologies for native plant propagation and seed delivery, and is experienced in forest management and oil and gas industry-related reclamation research. Jean-Marie received his Ph.D. in Forestry in Germany, and is a registered Professional Forester with AAFMP. (AAFMP).
Dr. Amanda Schoonmaker, NAIT, NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Boreal Reclamation and Reforestation. Amanda received a Ph.D. in Forest Biology and Management (University of Alberta) and a BScF in Forest Sciences (University of British Columbia). Amanda and her team work on a wide range of research topics involving forest reclamation of post-industrial sites, reforestation and forest management as well the use of native plants as passive dewatering and treatment strategy for oil sands mine-tailings. Since joining the centre, Amanda has mentored over 30 students as well as several research assistants and associates, seeing many move on to other exciting roles in both the private and public sector.
Dr. Bin Xu, NAIT, NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Peatland Restoration. Bin is a peatland ecologist with a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Calgary. His research focuses on the impact of human activities on the ecology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem functions of boreal peatlands. He works closely with university collaborators, industry partners and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop science-based, techniques and methods to reclaim disturbed peatlands in Alberta’s boreal region.
REGION: Athabasca And Beyond – Athabasca University’s IDEA Lab
Initiative: Athabasca University’s IDEA Lab – Leading in Digital-first Research Solutions
IDEA Lab is a collaborative venture between the Athabasca University Research Office and the IT Cloud Research Architecture team – recognizing the collective achievements of the group and celebrating the ongoing insights and discoveries of faculty and students.
As Canada’s only open and online-by-design university, Athabasca University’s IDEA Lab is leading in this space by crafting digital-first research solutions to enable researchers to go further, faster – and investing in Alberta’s emerging talent through training and application of cloud technologies for research and innovation through IDEA Academy.
IDEA Lab enables researchers to leverage cloud computing assets—virtual servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and innovative A.I. and machine learning tools – and is discipline agnostic. Partnering with researchers of any field or specialty to design solutions that are innovative in their approach and impactful in their outcomes – work to date has included: intelligent agents to query complex data sets on COVID-19 research; machine learning to assess barriers to inclusion in RCMP survey data; remote field hydrology sensor networks; bias detection in nursing notes; network solutions for digital twinning of telepresence robotics in smart labs.
The activities and aims of IDEA Lab and Academy support key elements of both the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy and Alberta 2030.
REGION Medicine Hat – TRAD Industries Ltd
Initiative: Economic and Environmental Waste Recovery Through On-site Vermicomposting
TRAD Industries Ltd – Through a circular approach to organic waste utilization TRAD’s on-site vermicomposting modular system provides a financial and environmental advantage – turning contaminated waste into a biologically-rich soil amendment, in a fraction of the time. Using site-produced vermicompost reduces the dependence of synthetic fertilization, transportation costs (and associated GHG’s) and ground water contaminating leachates. Trad has worked with Medicine Hat College on programs and new ways to track, recover data, and promote waste stream diversion.
Roxanne Doerksen, CEO – Trad Worm Industries, Medicine Hat 2022 Leading Edge Winner Chamber of Commerce 2021 Small Business Winner Chamber of Commerce 2020 New Business of the Year Chamber of Commerce 2020 Draper University top 16 Pitch Finalist.
REGION: Lloydminster – Lakeland College (Indigenous Student Supports)
Initiative: Lakeland College Indigenous Student Support Services
Lakeland College (Indigenous Student Supports) embraces cultural diversity and provides a space where Indigenous students feel safe, acknowledged and at home. With a direct connection to the President of Lakeland College, Indigenous learners have the opportunity to express the impacts of their learning experiences. Indigenous learners have access to cultural spaces, traditional experiences, and connections to Elders that support their education at Lakeland College.
Rikki Ducharme, Manager of Indigenous Student Support Services, Lakeland College
Rikki is part of the team that provides a supportive and welcoming environment for Indigenous learners, through a grassroots approach – where Elders, students, and staff develop activities that support student success. By identifying the needs of Indigenous students – Indigenous Student Support Services has evolved to support Reconciliation and the educational Calls to Action.
REGION: Nisku – 20/20 Seed Labs Inc.
Initiative: Molecular Diagnostic Innovation of Commercial Seed and Soil Testing
20/20 Seed Labs Inc. Bridging the gap between research and commercial implementation, the R&D team has a 20 year record of developing, validating, and introducing timely new molecular-based diagnostic test services for use by the Canadian agriculture community. The developed portfolio includes many commercial industry firsts such as Fusarium graminearum, blackleg, virus, and bacterial pathogen testing of seed; clubroot, aphanomyces, and soybean cyst nematode testing of soil; varietal identification, and quarantine weed species differentiation. DNA-based diagnostics have been revolutionary in an industry that has traditionally relied on microbiological culturing and visual recognition. On-going adaptations of technology have led to use of refuge and resistance genetic matching to protect genetic resistance and crop yields.
20/20 Seed Labs Team Submission: Dr. Kimberly D. Kenward; Alex Playdon; Holly Hamilton; Katie Ingvardsen; Trevor Blois; Samiya Fatima; Joel Wenaus.
The team’s work has been recognized in a nomination for the Manning Innovation Award, receipt of an AgInnovation Award, and named as one of Germination Magazine’s Top 10 Innovations of 2022.
Region: St. Albert – Wilson Analytical
Initiative: Building Rugged Field and Laboratory Instrumentation for Cleantech Measurements.
Wilson Analytical – Building rugged field and laboratory instrumentation for clean tech measurements. Unique offerings include the flexible Open Platform System (OPS), for fluorescence, absorbance, transmission or reflectance measurements on solids, liquids, gases, or slurries -requiring only quick adjustments of the “Lego-style” spectroscopy system. A new system under development will automate rugged excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopy (EEM) for wastewater cleanup in agricultural, pulp and paper, or oil and gas wastewater streams before and after water treatment. Wilson’s OPS is a centerpiece for two NSERC funded research projects: a multi-university project on microplastics in Canada’s Great Lakes and a project working on development of a hydrogen sensor. Wilson’s light sources and detection systems are now being developed to measure greenhouse gases such as CO, CO2, CH4, H2S, NOx, and SF6. Joint project partners include: ACAMP, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, University of Toronto, University of Windsor, Concordia University of Edmonton, Thompson Rivers University, Lakehead University, Oklahoma State University, and the Northern Alberta Business Incubator.
Kathy Janzen BSc, PChem,Vice-President and Founder. Kathy Janzen is a Professional Chemist with 25 years of experience with the RCMP as a forensic scientist, followed by 2 years as one of the principles of the analytical services side of Wilson Analytical. Also involved in several high tech start-ups, she worked with entrepreneurs at the Northern Alberta Business Incubator (NABI).
Ken Schmidt, PhD, PChem, President and Founder. Ken Schmidt completed his PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Calgary – and over the last 25 years, he has worked with universities and the mining and energy industries to solve industry specific problems in sulfur chemistry, catalysis, ceramics, chemical vapour deposition (CVD) coatings and spectroscopy.
REGION: Red Deer- Women in Manufacturing (Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation)
Initiative: Women in Manufacturing (Centre for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation).
Women in Manufacturing (Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation) – Supporting women and gender diverse people as they grow their skills and knowledge in manufacturing and energy innovation directly affects their success. This team provides mentorship opportunities for girls and women to help them to succeed in technical fields such as engineering and technology, which enables a broader range of solutions for Alberta businesses.
Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Director, Centres for Manufacturing and Energy Innovation Red Deer Polytechnic
Dr. Tonya Wolfe is the Manager of the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing, as well as an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta. Tonya is responsible for directing the use of the CIM-TAC’s advanced manufacturing capabilities to design, simulate, create, and validate prototypes as well as to solve the processing and productivity challenges faced by Alberta’s manufacturing industry.
Team Submission: Alicia Cafferata-Arnett; Jennifer Dornstauber; Eryn Beddoes; Prateeksha Aggarwal; Dylann Sikstrom; Sherri O’Muir
REGION: Vermillion – Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland, Lakeland College
Initiative: Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland
On the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland, Lakeland College students have the rare opportunity to manage a working commercial farm. They lead commercial-scale crop, livestock and ag research enterprises. With access to modern ag facilities and equipment, hundreds of head of livestock and 3,000+ acres of crop and pastureland, the real world comes to Lakeland’s ag students before they graduate.
Students are integrated early and often with industry, leading to strong industry collaborations and partnerships. Graduates are highly sought after and help address the labour shortage in the agricultural industry.
Lakeland College earned a Silver Award of Excellence for college-industry partnership from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP).
Region: Cremona – GP Restoration Solutions Inc.
Initiative: Design of Floating Islands to Remediate Contaminated Water
GP Restoration Solutions Inc. has created an innovative type of floating island that maximizes growth of native wetland plants to remediate contaminated water. With a mobile design these islands can be pre-planted at a nursery and shipped stacked. they are designed to be able to be moved from wetland to wetland with a focus on ease of installation and use.
Dr. Steven Tannas, President
A senior Vegetation Ecologist, Reclamation Specialist and Wetland Scientist and a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) through the Alberta Institute of Agrologists. In addition, he is a qualified wetland science practitioner (AIA). His primary areas of focus have been in Western Canadian ecosystems including: Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut. He has extensive experience working with industry oil and gas, electrical grid, mines and agriculture.
