Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca
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Established in 2004, the NSERC Innovation Challenge Awards were awarded as a way to encourage students pursuing graduate studies in the natural sciences or engineering to develop their entrepreneurial spirit. The awards successfully helped student entrepreneurs on the road to achieving their goals: around twenty start-up companies were established; and more than 80% of those who received the award said it had a positive influence on their career. As there are now many award options available to budding entrepreneurs, the NSERC Innovation Challenge Awards are no longer available.
Past Winners
$10,000
Michael Montgomery
$5,000
Martin Bernier
Viet Hung Vu
Maintaining and Monitoring Industrial Machinery in Operation
École de technologie supérieure$1,200
Azadeh Yadollahi
Application of respiratory sounds for sleep apnea monitoring and assessing upper airways
University of ManitobaDr. Yadollahi developed a monitoring device that patients can take home to detect signs of sleep apnea.
Masha Talebpourazad
3D TV content generation and multiview coding
University of British ColumbiaDr. Talebpourazad developed software to convert 2-D television content into a 3-D format.
Prithula Prosun
Low income flood-proof technology (LIFT) housing
University of WaterlooPrithula Prosun developed the LIFT design, a home that rises with flood waters and then lowers once flooding recedes, preventing damage to the home and its contents.
Rylan Lundgren
New catalysts for Palladium coupling reactions
Dalhousie UniversityDr. Lundgren developed novel chemical compounds, known as ligands, which are generating significant interest from pharmaceutical companies.
Fernando Luciano
Mustard as a natural food preservative
University of ManitobaDr. Luciano has shown that using mustard meal in dry sausage can eliminate E. coli bacteria.
Geoffrey Holmes
A cost-effective air contacter for direct atmospheric capture of carbon dioxide
University of CalgaryGeoffrey Holmes is making breakthrough discoveries in the field of air capture of CO2 that could help combat climate change.
Laurent Moss
An integrated tool suite for electronic embedded system design
École Polytechnique de MontréalDr. Moss has contributed to the development of a commercially viable software tool suite known as SpaceStudio. The technology has garnered significant interest from the European Space Agency, leading to research and development projects.
Mohamed Hamid Mohamed
Sequestration of naphthenic acids from oil sands process water using B-Cylodextrin-based polyurethanes
University of SaskatchewanDr. Mohamed is studying the use of polymer chemistry to help remediate tailing ponds created by the oil sands industry.
Yoan LeChasseur
New optrode for neuronal recording
Université LavalDr. LeChasseur is creating a new type of electrode that can be used to study individual neurons within a living organism. His work combines expertise from the fields of photonics and neuroscience, with the goal of creating new technologies for biomedical research that could lead to breakthroughs in new drugs and therapies for people with brain disorders.