Category: Labs4 Updates

Labs4 will leverage the applied research expertise and industry connectivity of Canada’s colleges to drive innovation and productivity across sectors. The impact stories below highlight how institutions that lead Labs4’s regional hubs are already advancing the productization of research and commercialization of new technologies—from clean energy and advanced materials to health innovation and Indigenous entrepreneurship.

These examples demonstrate the real-world capacity of colleges, polytechnics, and universities to deliver solutions that support industry, serve communities, and strengthen Canada’s innovation economy.

Manitoba Hub

RRC Polytech and Les Verts Living grow urban innovation

With support from RRC Polytech’s Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) and the Prairie Research Kitchen, urban agriculture researchers at Les Verts Living developed TerracePro: a pesticide-free hydroponic growing system designed for indoor urban farming. The product moved from concept to market through applied research, prototyping, and faculty mentorship, showing how hands-on support can help scale sustainable agri-food innovations.

RRC Polytech expands composites research capacity

RRC Polytech’s Advanced Composites Development Centre is partnering with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Magellan Aerospace to advance and validate NRC’s composite forming technology for industrial use. The project applies NRC’s innovation directly to Magellan’s aerospace production line, demonstrating its readiness for large-scale integration while exploring a future business case for adopting automated layup and forming technologies. Supported through Labs4, this initiative strengthens RRC Polytech’s automation capabilities and exemplifies how applied research facilities help accelerate the commercialization of IP by testing technologies in real-world manufacturing environments.

Revitalizing Métis foodways through applied research

Rayne Ryle Côté, a Métis researcher and food innovator, is working with RRC Polytech and the Prairie Research Kitchen to reclaim traditional Métis food practices. Her work blends cultural knowledge with recipe development and product testing to create marketable food products rooted in Indigenous traditions, while strengthening community-based entrepreneurship.

British Columbia Hub

BCIT MAKE+ collaborates with Providence Research on medical innovations

BCIT’s MAKE+ group collaborated with Providence Health Care’s Providence Research to co-develop new medical devices through the annual Skunkworks innovation challenge. One result was a 3D-printed diabetic foot pad designed to relieve pressure and prevent injury, illustrating how applied research and clinical insight can accelerate patient-focused healthcare innovation.

BCIT students build AI model to support smarter airport operations

Students from BCIT’s Business Information Technology Management program worked with Vancouver International Airport to build an AI model predicting hourly demand for taxis and carshares. The project used real-time flight data to improve traffic flow and reduce emissions, offering both technical learning and a direct contribution to more efficient airport services.

Northern Alberta Hub

Turning plastic waste into industrial-grade materials

Dr. Muhammad Arshad’s research team at NAIT is working with Heartland Polymers to improve the quality and usability of recycled plastics. By developing new blends of polypropylene and scaling from lab to pilot production, the team is advancing sustainable alternatives for packaging and manufacturing and showcasing the circular economy in action.

NAIT research team develops peat alternatives for land and garden use

Researchers at NAIT are partnering with Plantae Technologies and the Métis Settlements Development Corporation to develop peat replacements made from crop residues like hemp, wheat, and barley. Supported by the Scotiabank Net-Zero Research Fund, the project aims to reduce emissions and create sustainable materials for reclamation and horticulture.

NAIT partners with startup to develop industrial batteries that use saltwater

At NAIT’s Centre for Grid Innovation, startup Aqua-Cell is developing a large-scale industrial battery that uses saltwater instead of rare or hazardous materials—offering a low-cost, locally made energy storage solution for the clean energy transition. With support from NAIT’s applied research staff, the company has refined and scaled its prototype into a grid-ready system that can operate even in extreme temperatures.

NAIT Applied Research partners with Lakeland College for a safer, stronger bison industry

To improve animal health monitoring and reduce stress-related losses in the bison industry, NAIT partnered with Lakeland College to develop BisonSense—a remote sensing system that collects real-time data on weight, muscle and fat development, and signs of illness. Designed to withstand Alberta’s harsh climate, the solar- and wind-powered system allows ranchers to monitor herds non-invasively, improving decision-making while reducing labour and animal handling.

Southern Alberta Hub

SAIT and IS Energy co-develop real-time flow monitoring tool

At SAIT, researchers worked with IS Energy to design and field-test FLOW, a compact flow meter that measures oil, gas, and water ratios in real time. Using optical sensor technology adapted from NASA, the device increases safety and accuracy in wellsite operations while reducing emissions and downtime, making energy innovation more efficient and sustainable.

Medical delivery using drones

Researchers at SAIT’s Centre for Research and Innovation in Unmanned Systems came together with researchers at University of Calgary’s W21C Research and Innovation Centre and the TeleMentored Ultrasound Supported Medical Interventions (TMUSMI) Research Group to provide Indigenous communities and remote access sites immediate real-time at-the-scene emergency response and health care delivery through the fusion of drones, medical devices, tele-mentoring and point-of-care testing and treatment.

Hybrid water desalination system integration for hydrogen production

SAIT’s Centre for Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions partnered with Arrowhead Abandonments to repurpose and optimize an existing Hybrid Water Desalination System to produce pure water for sustainable hydrogen production. By integrating advanced technologies such as ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration, the system is now capable of treating river water and ensures high purity water production for hydrogen electrolyzers.

Kuugalaaq cultural campus

In partnership with Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq / Kitikmeot Heritage Society, SAIT’s Green Building Technology Access Centre played a pivotal role in creating Kuugalaaq, a first-of-its-kind modular cultural workspace in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. This initiative seeks to bridge traditional Inuit knowledge with sustainable building practices, addressing the challenges of constructing energy-efficient infrastructure in Arctic conditions. Kuugalaaq serves as a hub for traditional activities, local innovation, and renewable energy testing while targeting high-performance building goals.

Saskatchewan Hub

New fibre processing line supports clean manufacturing in Saskatchewan

Sask Polytech’s Innovative Manufacturing Centre has added new capacity for processing agricultural biomass like flax and hemp. Located at the B-TAP facility in Hafford, the equipment enables the conversion of farm waste into high-quality fibres, supporting local manufacturers and creating new circular economy opportunities for the agri-food sector.

Sask Polytech and BetterCart advance grocery AI solutions

The Digital Integration Centre of Excellence at Sask Polytech is working with BetterCart Technologies on AI tools that help consumers compare grocery prices more effectively. The project focuses on building machine learning models that distinguish price changes and predict trends, enhancing retail analytics while providing students with real-world AI development experience.

Ontario Hub

Humber Polytechnic explores the metaverse for post-secondary learning

With support from eCampusOntario, Humber is exploring how metaverse technologies can support immersive learning experiences. Faculty, students, and partners are testing virtual environments that enhance engagement and collaboration and laying the groundwork for scalable, inclusive models of digital education.

Real-world learning drives innovation at Humber

At Humber, applied research is embedded across disciplines, giving students the chance to solve real industry problems while building their portfolios and career connections. From social innovation to new product development, these hands-on projects demonstrate how post-secondary institutions can drive community and economic impact.

Humber students design the future of driving with LeddarTech

In collaboration with automotive tech company LeddarTech, Humber students in industrial and interaction design helped prototype advanced driver assistance systems. The project challenged students to integrate AI-powered sensors into user-friendly vehicle interfaces, blending design thinking with industry needs to imagine the car of the future.

Healthcare access meets innovation in Humber’s mobile clinic project

Humber Nursing students and faculty co-designed a mobile, nurse-led health clinic to serve underserved communities in Toronto. Developed with community partners, the clinic model integrates health and social services in one accessible platform, showing how applied research and student leadership can address complex, real-world health inequities.

Québec Hub

Innovating in 3D manufacturing: COALIA and Fablab propel thermal innovation

COALIA worked with Fablab to improve the strength, efficiency, and sustainability of additive manufacturing. By expanding the use of biosourced and recycled materials and improving the reliability of 3D-printed components, this project demonstrates how applied research can accelerate industrial adoption and reduce environmental impact.

Revolutionizing workforce training by combining virtual reality and pedagogy

Modjo Solutions partnered with INÉDI to develop a virtual reality (VR) training system using digital twin technology. The platform simulates realistic manufacturing breakdowns, allowing learners to troubleshoot complex machinery in a safe, immersive environment. This applied research is now supporting the commercialization of scalable VR-based training solutions for both industry and education.

Modernizing fishing with a fish identification application powered by AI

Québec’s Ministry of the Environment partnered with CIMMI to develop iPêche, a mobile app powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision. Now widely adopted by anglers, iPêche is also generating valuable biodiversity data for conservation efforts, demonstrating how applied research can commercialize tech solutions that benefit both people and ecosystems.

The circular economy serving the recovery of contaminated soils and the energy transition

To address the dual challenges of contaminated soils and rising demand for critical metals, CTRI, COALIA, and Northex Environnement partnered to develop a mechanical separation method that recovers valuable metals without damaging soil integrity. This applied research collaboration is now enabling more sustainable, circular approaches to soil remediation and critical mineral recovery, advancing innovation with commercial and environmental impact.

Solidel and Novika Solutions: a partnership serving innovation

To advance the development of its innovative solar-powered Altitude streetlight, Solidel partnered with Novika Solutions to integrate wireless connectivity, remote programming, and other smart features into its multifunctional design. With support from Québec’s CCTT network and ERAC Centre-du-Québec, the collaboration helped accelerate product development while reducing errors and costs.

Kemitek helps Borale Soap Factory go from small batch to market-ready manufacturing

Kemitek partnered with Borale Soap Factory to scale up production using its new pre-commercial manufacturing facility, helping the company meet growing market demand. By providing access to pilot-scale equipment and technical support, Kemitek enabled Borale to move from small-batch production to a more efficient, commercially viable process.

Kemitek helps Visionaturolab scale natural bio-descaler

Kemitek supported Visionaturolab Inc. in developing and scaling up its new natural bio-descaler, playing a key role in moving the product toward commercialization. The collaboration reflects Kemitek’s ongoing role in helping innovative entrepreneurs bring sustainable products to market.

Atlantic Hub

NSCC researchers develop solar windows for smart buildings

At Nova Scotia Community College, researchers are partnering with GlasOcean Electric to develop semi-transparent solar windows that generate energy while letting in light. The project offers students hands-on training in clean energy and contributes to the commercialization of building-integrated solar technology.

Plug-and-play energy monitoring for marine vessels

Led by SEATAC at NSCC, this project developed a ready-to-use vessel monitoring system that helps operators track fuel use and reduce emissions. With real-world testing aboard working boats, the project delivered a practical, industry-ready tool for improving sustainability in Canada’s marine sector.

Portable energy generators scaled for market by NSCC team

NSCC partnered with GlasOcean Electric and COVE to help a local entrepreneur scale up portable renewable energy generators. The project refined prototype designs and improved production processes—supporting clean tech adoption while giving students experience in product commercialization.

At the inaugural Labs4 National Summit, hosted by RRC Polytech in Winnipeg, leaders from Canada’s colleges, universities, and innovation ecosystem gathered to mark a new chapter in the country’s productivity and commercialization agenda. The event underscored how Labs4 is connecting applied research and entrepreneurship through nationally coordinated, regionally delivered programs that give researcher-entrepreneurs the tools to commercialize new technologies and strengthen Canadian competitiveness.

Labs4 is Canada’s applied research commercialization engine, connecting colleges, polytechnics, and universities to turn intellectual property into market-ready products and services. By embedding IP generation, data stewardship, and commercialization training into every stage of applied research, Labs4 is helping Canada capture and retain the value of its own innovation.

Hosted by RRC Polytech — the national lead for Labs4 — the summit brought together innovation partners from across the country, including Labs4 leadership, regional hub managers, researcher-entrepreneurs, industry collaborators, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. Together, they celebrated how the network is mobilizing intellectual property, expanding access to commercialization training, and advancing a more inclusive, hands-on model of innovation leadership.

“Labs4 represents the next chapter in Manitoba’s innovation story, with RRC Polytech as a principal author,” said Fred Meier, President and CEO of RRC Polytech. “Leading this collaborative network validates that applied research is a vital link along Canada’s chain of innovation and increases our ability to support entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises across the country to transform their novel ideas into reality. Together, we’re accelerating the commercialization of intellectual property that boosts productivity, creating good jobs and spurring economic growth.”

Building Canada’s Bridge from Research to Market

Labs4’s rapid progress over the past year marks its transition from start-up to full national delivery. In just twelve months, the initiative has built a unified, coast-to-coast system that mobilizes intellectual property through applied research — linking 38 institutions, hundreds of researchers, and industry partners into Canada’s first truly integrated commercialization platform. In doing so, Labs4 is strengthening Canada’s ability to turn research into domestically owned ventures and technologies, and ensuring that intellectual property and economic returns stay within the Canadian innovation ecosystem.

Through two flagship programs — the Technology Readiness Level-Up (TRL) and Market to Lab (MtL) initiatives — Labs4 connects student and graduate researcher-entrepreneurs with mentors, applied research teams, and industry collaborators to advance prototypes, validate market opportunities, and launch ventures that serve real-world needs. These programs are nationally standardized but regionally tailored, ensuring that innovation support reflects local economies while supporting consistent quality, inclusivity, and impact.

This coordinated model is not just theoretical — it’s already producing measurable innovation outcomes across Canada. Each regional hub is demonstrating how national consistency, local delivery, and applied research excellence combine to move ideas from discovery to deployment.

For instance, a research team based at the University of Calgary and SAIT is scaling a nanobubble-based cleantech system that enhances wastewater treatment and improves environmental performance. In Saskatchewan, a PhD researcher in entomology is developing an AI-powered mobile app that helps Prairie farmers identify insect pests and beneficial species to improve crop management and reduce pesticide use. In Ontario, a participant is developing a spray-on EEG applicator to expand access to brain health diagnostics. And in Québec, a PhD researcher is developing low-cost, durable electrodes to make green hydrogen production more affordable. These are just a few examples among many.

“What makes Labs4 different is how it blends the strengths of colleges and polytechnics with the ambition of research-based start-ups,” said Dr. Jolen Galaugher, Executive Director of Research Partnerships and Innovation at RRC Polytech and Chair, Labs4 Executive Committee.

“This unprecedented network of 38 colleges and universities is mobilizing the transition of intellectual property to markets across Canada through the productization of research, delivered through applied research units that also serve SMEs and strengthen their competitive advantage. By building relationships across disciplines, sectors, and regions, we’re creating a model of innovation that turns collective intelligence into real-world solutions.”

At the summit, participants saw firsthand how this model works. Panels and workshops highlighted Labs4’s progress in developing national data-tracking systems, standardized reporting, and bilingual digital platforms that connect hubs, participants, and partners nationwide — ensuring transparency, accountability, and scalability. Together, these systems make Labs4 a sustainable, measurable engine for Canada’s innovation and productivity growth.

Scaling Innovation: Collaboration, AI, and Inclusion

The Labs4 National Summit wasn’t just a showcase, but a forward look at how Canada can connect research, entrepreneurship, and technology to build a more resilient, productive economy.

Joel Semeniuk, President and CEO of Primal, opened the conversation by challenging participants to rethink how innovation happens. He called for a shift from a “one-brain” model — where ideas advance in isolation — to a “many-brains” model that scales knowledge through collaboration, iteration, and shared infrastructure.

“Canada is historically exceptional at providing the world with practical solutions, but with change accelerating exponentially, our competitiveness will depend on how fast we can mobilize collective intelligence,” Semeniuk said. “Labs4 is proving what that looks like in action — connecting hundreds of innovators and applied researchers into one network that learns and grows together.”

The conversation on transformation continued with Paul Cheek, Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship & AI. Artificial intelligence and data sovereignty are critical to Canada’s future competitiveness. Cheek’s AI-Driven Enterprises (AIDE) workshop reframed entrepreneurship for the AI era, showing participants how artificial intelligence can compress the entire innovation lifecycle — from idea to product — into weeks instead of months. Using real-world examples and the Startup Tactics AI toolkit, Cheek demonstrated how entrepreneurs can now use AI agents to perform tasks that once required full teams: market research, financial modeling, product design, and customer validation.

“We’re not just building AI-driven companies,” Cheek explained. “We’re redefining how business itself operates: using AI to bend the vector of innovation, accelerate clockspeed, and create more solutions than problems. By developing AI-enabled commercialization models that are both ethical and Canadian-governed, Labs4 is helping establish the foundations of sovereign AI infrastructure, and ensuring that the benefits of machine intelligence are captured within our economy.”

For Labs4, the implications are immediate. By embedding AIDE principles into its TRL and MtL programs, Labs4 is equipping Canada’s researcher-entrepreneurs with AI literacy, decision-support tools, and productivity systems that dramatically shorten the path from lab to market. This integration of human creativity with AI-enabled efficiency positions Labs4 as a national engine not only for commercialization, but for the reinvention of how innovation happens. “AI is a powerful tool that will change work, not eliminate work – together, we must quickly mitigate the risks and embrace it to drive the kind of progress that we’re all committed to,” said Raj Deol, Regional Program Manager, Labs4 Southern Alberta Hub at SAIT. “This week’s presentations and relationship-building activities have been invaluable. With a deeper understanding of AI opportunities along with the approaches and capabilities at other hubs, we’re better prepared and more eager than ever to engage our spoke partners in our respective regions.”         

Embedding Inclusion: Indigenous Innovation at the Centre

A recurring theme throughout the summit was that true innovation must also be inclusive. In July, leaders from Labs4’s Indigenous Entrepreneurship Hubs — Mittohnee Pogo’ohtah (RRC Polytech), pawâcikêwikamik (SIIT), and FlintHub (United College) gathered in Winnipeg for an Opening Pipe Ceremony led by Grandmother Helen Settee to ground their innovation journey with culture and shared purpose. Since then, the hubs have welcomed new cohorts of Indigenous researcher-entrepreneurs, recruited the network’s first Indigenous Program Manager, and convened the inaugural Indigenous Advisory Circle, formalizing community-led governance within the Labs4 framework.

These hubs have advanced a truly Indigenous-led approach to commercialization — one that begins with ceremony, guided by Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and extends into mentorship, training, and community-based entrepreneurship.

Indigenous entrepreneur Zachary Flett, attending the summit, said that his experience with Mittohnee inspired him to expand that spirit of collaboration through his own venture. From Sagkeeng First Nation, Flett is the founder of IndigiHub, a Winnipeg-based Indigenous-owned platform that connects entrepreneurs, communities, and investors to accelerate Indigenous innovation and economic growth.

“Being part of Mittohnee has been a powerful experience that reminded me how much impact collaboration can have when we come together as Indigenous entrepreneurs,” he said. “Through IndigiHub, my goal is to make funding and resources more accessible in one place, so others can take their ideas further without feeling lost in the process. Programs like Mittohnee and partnerships like Labs4 show what’s possible when we create spaces that empower Indigenous innovation and real opportunity.”

Darion Ducharme, founder of Teqare and a member of Lac Seul First Nation, also attended the summit. His company delivers digital safety and cybersecurity workshops to more than 70 First Nations communities and 100 schools, developed with guidance from RRC Polytech. By blending technology with cultural understanding, Teqare helps elders and youth navigate the internet safely — proof that inclusive, community-based entrepreneurship can build both social resilience and digital sovereignty.

“Being part of the inaugural Mittohnee cohort has been deeply meaningful. As the owner of a First Nations technology education company, I know how important it is to have support that understands our context. We feel supported not just as entrepreneurs, but as people first. They listen, they adapt, and they make sure we have what we need to keep growing. Mittohnee and Labs4 are helping us build strong Indigenous businesses in a way that feels respectful, empowering, and truly rooted in community.”

According to Nasil Nam, Labs4’s National Director, the organization’s future will be defined by this blend of technological adoption, collaboration, and inclusion.

“Everything we’ve built over the past year has laid the foundation for what comes next,” said Nam. “With national systems and partnerships now in place, Labs4 is entering a phase defined by scale, collaboration, and measurable impact. Today, we’ve moved from that start-up phase into full national delivery. We’re no longer testing the idea — we’re living it. Our goal is simple: to make Canada the best place in the world to turn research into real-world solutions.”

Learn more about Labs4 programs, including the Winter 2026 TRL cohort and MtL pilot, at labs4.ca.

Labs4 acknowledges the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through its Lab-to-Market program funding.