Dalhousie University and the University of New Brunswick (UNB) have come together to deliver the Lab2Market Validate program. This exciting collaboration supports the next generation of entrepreneurial researchers.
19 teams from six universities have been accepted into the Fall 2024 Lab2Market Validate cohort. Comprised of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers, these teams span diverse fields such as environmental sustainability, engineering, and healthcare. Despite their varied disciplines, they share a common goal: transforming groundbreaking research into viable market solutions.
“Lab2Market develops the skills talented young people need to commercialize research, start ventures, and think like innovators,” said Jeff Larsen, Assistant Vice-President, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Dalhousie. “We are thrilled to be expanding our Lab2Market Validate program across Atlantic Canada.”
The 16-week Lab2Market Validate program equips participants with the skills to explore the business potential of their research through a rigorous, data-driven customer discovery process.
“Lab2Market Validate gives me the opportunity to engage directly with industry, government, and affected communities to figure out how we can advance our water monitoring methods to help keep waterways and coastlines safe,” said Dalhousie researcher Cat Evans, who is using satellite images and AI to create a tool to visualize and predict harmful algal blooms. “It’s been amazing to hear firsthand from those on the ground about what they need, what resources they have, and how we can help.”
Meet the impressive lineup of Lab2Market Validate teams for Fall 2024
| Validate Teams | Academic Institution | Venture description | |
| 1. | Ali Ebrahimi, Dr. Stephen Czarnuch | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Enhancing subsea video quality with cutting-edge AI to enable superior visual inspections for offshore oil and gas, marine research, and subsea robotics and imaging industries. |
| 2. | Aloyna Chris Mendonce, Dr. Anna Ignaszak | University of New Brunswick | Revolutionizing HER2 metastatic breast cancer marker monitoring with cutting-edge aptasensor technology. |
| 3. | Anu Adamson, Dr. Michael Metzger | Dalhousie University | Helping Battery Manufacturers save time and money by providing a way to test the inactive components of their cells and reduce self-discharge. |
| 4. | Aylar Abouzarkhanifard, Dr. Lihong Zhang, Dr. Mohammad Al Janaideh | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Harnessing ocean wave energy through innovative vibration technology to power remote sensors, ensuring sustainable and reliable energy for environmental monitoring in harsh and inaccessible regions |
| 5. | Benjamin Dringoli, Dr. David Cooke | McGill University | TRAQC takes advanced laser technology used in research labs and builds high-sensitivity quality assurance tools for high-volume manufacturing. |
| 6. | Cat Evans, Dr. Chris Whidden | Dalhousie University | Satellite monitoring, analysis, and reporting tool for harmful algae blooms: Introducing SMART-HAB, a machine-learning tool for near-real time algae bloom identification. |
| 7. | Daniel Ndegwa Kimani, Dr. Marya Ahmed | University of Prince Edward Island | Development of nanogel-based delivery systems to enhance the efficacy and stability of cosmetic products for skin care. |
| 8. | Haitham Shoman, Dr. Ahmed Aoude | McGill University | Advanced imaging technology: Qalam Health, a medical device company, aims to transform how surgeons identify and remove bone cancer during surgery to improve patient outcomes. |
| 9. | Japhet Anesu Machipisa, Dr. Stephanie Shaw | University of Prince Edward Island | Innovative waste management: transforming wastepaper biomass into sustainable solutions for agriculture, energy storage, water and air purification. |
| 10. | Justin Greige, Dr. Jeremy Brown | Dalhousie University | Minimally invasive surgical devices: developing miniaturized ultrasound imaging endoscopes and miniaturized ultrasound therapeutic devices using an in-house micro-fabrication facility. |
| 11. | Kevin Henry, Dr. Antonio Bolufe-Rohler | University of Prince Edward Island | Connecting businesses with student talent to provide affordable, high-quality AI and tech services while advancing practical learning opportunities for the workforce of tomorrow. |
| 12. | Mariana Toro Ramirez, Dr. Tsz Ho Kwok | Concordia University of Montreal | Utilizing tiny machine learning, edge computing, and IoT to develop a smart wearable for livestock welfare and location monitoring, to improve farm sustainability, traceability, and productivity. |
| 13. | Michael Giacomantonio, Dr. Patrick Murphy | Dalhousie University | Redefining cell culture research with streamlined, error-reducing kits that enhance data reliability and boost research productivity. |
| 14. | Mirvala Sadrafshari, Dr. Lihong Zhang, Dr. Octavia Dobre | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Revolutionizing chip design with AI-driven placement tools that enhance efficiency and precision in integrated circuit development, making advanced electronics more accessible and sustainable. |
| 15. | Mostafa Javaheri Moghadam, Dr. Stijn De Baerdemacker | University of New Brunswick | LigandQI uses quantum technologies to help pharmaceutical companies design better, more effective drugs by understanding how molecules interact, improving the drug development process. |
| 16. | Muhammad Adeel Ahsan, Dr. Oscar De Silva | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Deploying drone swarms with AI to quickly locate missing persons in dense forests, enhancing search and rescue operations while supporting environmental conservation and sustainable forestry management. |
| 17. | Poppy Riddle, Dr. Philippe Mongeon | Dalhousie University | There are over 200 million scientific works globally. I’m working on making this searchable, understandable, and useful for education. |
| 18. | Kusal Tennakoon, Dr. Oscar De Silva | Memorial University of Newfoundland | ARMIS (Autonomous Real-time Mapping and Imaging System) uses advanced robotics and AI technology to offer a groundbreaking way to navigate inside buildings without getting lost. |
| 19. | Zohreh Zeidy, Dr. Katie Wadden | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Developing a fertility application that employs behaviour change science and personalized health tracking to enhance reproductive health outcomes, providing users with continuous support and data-driven insights. |
The Lab2Market Validate Fall 2024 cohort is delivered by Dalhousie University and the University of New Brunswick and made possible with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Mitacs, and Springboard Atlantic.
About Lab2Market
Lab2Market™ (L2M) envisions Canada as a global leader in turning academic research into innovative solutions for social impact and economic growth. Through its national suite of programs, L2M equips academic researchers with the practical skills to spark their passion for entrepreneurship, validate their ideas, and successfully launch innovative new businesses. With 50 research institutions and 150 collaborators, L2M is leading Canada’s effort to translate research into real-world solutions. Lab2Market is funded by the Government of Canada, Mitacs, NSERC, and the Ocean Startup Project. Learn more at Lab2Market.ca.
About Lab2Market Validate Atlantic
Lab2Market Validate is part of the continuum of programs offered through Dal Innovates, and part of Dalhousie’s innovation and entrepreneurship network which aims to support students and researchers along each step of the venture-creation journey – from the first spark of an idea to rapidly scaling up a successful enterprise. Designed to give researchers a strong foundation for building a venture, Lab2Market Validate teams benefit from:
- Instruction from leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship
- Hands-on support to test ideas in real-world markets
- Access to industry experts and experienced mentors
- The opportunity to receive $15,000 in funding to advance their projects
About the University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is Canada’s oldest English-language university and one of the first public universities established in North America. Founded in 1785, the multi-campus institution is home to over 60 research centres and institutes, groups and ongoing projects. The university offers over 75 undergraduate and graduate programs in 14 faculties to more than 10,500 students at campuses in Fredericton and Saint John from more than 100 countries, and several thousand more take UNB courses online and at partner institutions around the world. As the largest research institution in New Brunswick, UNB conducts more than 70 per cent of the province’s university research. Learn more at www.unb.ca.
About Dal Innovates
Dal Innovates provides opportunities for students and faculty to explore entrepreneurship and develop the skills to translate new ideas into innovations. Since its formation in 2020, over 900 students and faculty from 25 universities across Canada have participated in Dal Innovates programs. Dal Innovates alumni have gone on to raise $19 million in private and public funding.