Meet the Finalists of the 2024 Annual ASTech Awards!
Note: Finalists will be announced throughout August and September 2024. Stay tuned and follow us on LinkedIn for the most up-to-date information.
Aerospace Innovation • Agriculture • Indigenous-led Entrepreneurship and Contribution to Knowledge
Initiative: Enhancing Aerospace Training with AI and Virtual Reality
Finalists:
Joseph Wang, Illumia Labs Inc (Alan Tay),
Illumia Labs of Calgary, developed an integrated virtual platform, blending an online ground school with a 3D flight simulator. This initiative has equipped aspiring aviators with a comprehensive tool to learn, socialize, and engage in flight simulation in a singular, accessible space. By leveraging AI, our product not only improves pilot training but also adapts to diverse learning styles, enhancing educational delivery.
Initiative: Innovation in Uncrewed Vehicle solutions: military training and cleantech weather detection
Finalists:
Landing Zones Canada (Spencer Fraser),
Landing Zones Canada (LZC) in Medicine Hat, has developed the ‘Eagle’ and ‘Gitpo’ drones, advanced RPAS solutions that address modern threat representation and replace single-use radiosondes for weather detection.
Initiative: Pioneering high-resolution hyperspectral imaging from space
Finalists:
Wyvern Inc (),
Wyvern in Edmonton, addresses Earth observation challenges by developing proprietary optical systems for high-resolution hyperspectral imaging, launching three satellites as of June 2024, and forming strategic partnerships to expand data collection. The company is also advancing next-generation deployable optics and optimizing end-user data processing and delivery systems.
Initiative: QinetiQ Target Systems Rattler Team
Finalists:
QinetiQ Target Systems Canada (QTSC) (Cody Evjen, Sarunas Ilgevicius, Clayton Penzes, Vivek Ram, Geoffrey Paulgaard, Sunayan Mullick, Mike Mulder, Akarsh Mallya, Ikram Hussain),
QinetiQ’s Rattler MK1, with its customizable payloads, offers a versatile solution for testing counter-measures against evolving threats such as UAVs, electronic warfare, and hypersonic missiles, enhancing operational readiness.
Initiative: Regenerated Cellulosic Fibre from Hemp and Post-Consumer Textiles
Team Members: University of Alberta, Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, TechFibre Industries, DaveyTextiles, Mark’s Work Wearhouse.
University of Alberta: Patricia Dolez, Associate Professor; David Bressler, Professor; Jane Batcheller, Faculty Service Officer
TechFibre Industries: Wade Chute, President
Davey Textile Solutions: Dan King, Vice-President, Production, R&D; Lelia Lawson, Research & Development Specialist
Mark’s Work Wearhouse: Iain Summers, Vice-President, Industrial, Footwear & Innovation
Initiative: AI-Driven Computer Vision: The Future of Livestock Assessment
Company: iClassifier
Reza Sabbagh, CEO
Ghader Manafiazar, CFO & CINO
Amir Reza Alizad-Rahvar, CTO
Initiative: AI-Driven Sustainable Water Use Irrigation Control Technology for Agriculture
Company: InteliRain Inc.
Cam Cote, President
Saad Warraich, Project Lead
Delowar Hossain, AI Engineer
Initiative: A Dynamic Digital Food Safety Documentation and Analytics Platform
Company: Provision
Erik Westblom, CEO
Initiative: iGEM: Revolutionizing Agriculture with Nanobodies and Drones
Team: iGEM- Student Team at the University of Alberta:
Marina Lazic, Trust Research Academic Staff
Nina Deschner, undergraduate student/lab director
Neel Patel, undergraduate student/tech director
Rachael Rieberger, admin director
Preston Tran, undergraduate student/lab technician
Soren Skaret, undergraduate student/admin
David Stuart, principal investigator.
Initiative: Champion for Breast Cancer Awareness and Innovation
Founder: Tracy Persson
Company: My Breast Day
Initiative: Revolutionizing Industrial Automation with RIPA™ Technology
Founder and CEO: Vicki Knott
Company: CruxOCM
Initiative: Showcasing “Good Relations” and Disrupting Settler-Colonial Binaries and Hierarchies
Individual: Kim TallBear-Dauphine, Professor and Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Peoples, Technoscience, and Environment, Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta
Initiative: Sustainable Solutions: Agile’s IT as a Service for Non-profits and Small- and Medium-sized Businesses
CEO and Founder: Harlee Courtepatte
COO: Patrick Binns
Company: Agile Industries
