Seneca Applied Research Newsletter

May 2025

Hello Sally,

As we embrace the warmth and energy of May, let's take a moment to celebrate the remarkable activities and achievements from the first quarter of the year. Our team has been on the move, making significant strides and forging new connections.

Highlights from the past few months include:

Our team had the privilege of attending and showcasing our research centres at the OCI DiscoveryX event, where we engaged with industry leaders and explored innovative solutions that are shaping the future.

Krishma Chagani, a student research assistant, had the opportunity to travel to Ottawa to present her findings to our funders (Employment and Social Development Canada) from a longitudinal impact study of social enterprises on supporting racialized Canadians and communities. This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our work and mobilize key knowledge on topics of societal importance.

We are thrilled to announce that we have secured several grants from Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, Ontario Centre for Innovation and Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) that collectively provide $330,000 in grant funding for projects with industry partners on a wide range of topics in materials chemistry, AI development, life sciences and cosmetics ingredient research. These grants are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.

We have started planning our annual Applied Research Symposium for Fall 2025 and would value your input to help us shape conversations. Please take a minute to add your responses to this quick survey.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories in the coming months. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

Namrata Barai,

Director, Research Partnerships

NEW PROJECTS

Can Grow Here Inc., based in Toronto, aims to expand Canada’s year-round supply of local farm-to-table produce by designing energy-efficient low-carbon growing facilities.

To support this goal, Can Grow Here is partnering with Seneca Polytechnic to develop and test prototypes for their novel low-energy greenhouse specifically designed for Canadian climates and latitudes.

A research team led by professors Jane Davey and Beck McSorley, from the School of Health Sciences, is working with Can Grow Here to validate grow room layouts for the novel greenhouse. The goal is to create layouts that support high crop density and output, maximize the use of natural sunlight and maintain access for tending the plants.

Duration: 12 months

Seneca Co-Principal Investigators: Jane Davey and Beck McSorley

Geoform Systems is located in Oakville, Ontario and specializes in solving construction challenges faced by large-scale public infrastructure and mining projects in Ontario.

As part of an ongoing partnership with Seneca Polytechnic, Geoform is working with professors Barkev Keoshkerian and Soura Anabtawi from the School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry to test and enhance polymer systems and methodologies for ground stabilization and water ingress mitigation in construction projects.

Through this partnership, the company aims to optimize highly customizable solutions that can become the new industry standard. These solutions would be implemented locally and could reduce delays, generate cost savings and create new jobs in the North American construction sector.

Duration: 13 months

Seneca Co-Principal Investigators: Barkev Keoshkerian and Soura Anabtawi

Venngo Inc. is a Toronto-based company that provides employee perks programs for both large enterprises and growing businesses in Canada.

These programs — accessible through Venngo’s Workperks online platform — are designed to boost employee engagement and financial wellness with unique discounts and deals sourced from big brands and local businesses.

Venngo has partnered with Seneca Polytechnic to enhance Workperks with AI technologies that can increase brand visibility and drive greater customer engagement. To support this, Seneca researchers, including Dr. Amit Maraj from the School of Software Design & Data Science, are prototyping an AI-based search engine for integration into Workperks that can enable more accurate search results and tailored recommendations.

Duration: five months

Seneca Principal Investigator: Amit Maraj

APPLIED RESEARCH AT SENECA (April 2024 - March 2025)

UPCOMING FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Request for Industry Partners - NRC IRAP-CTO grants

Calling all life sciences businesses that are NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) clients – contact research manager Ira Sherr to be considered for an IRAP-CTO grant. Interested Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) can get expert assistance in the form of research and development services, or consultation services, to develop new products and methods in a de-risked, low-cost partnership model with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and skilled researchers with industry experience.

Request for Industry Partners - Develop new IP, Progress on Commercialization – OCI C2C Program

Apply for an Ontario Centre of Innovation – Collaborate to Commercialize grant, that supports collaboration between industry and academia to solve industry-based problems and drives commercialization of Intellectual Property (IP). Contact Namrata Barai for more information.

Request for Industry Partners - AI & Software Engineering Capstone Projects

Two courses from Seneca’s School of Software Design & Data Science are looking for partner organizations with challenges, which could benefit from student-led projects providing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. Please reach out to Namrata Barai if you are interested in collaborating.

The Artificial Intelligence graduate certificate course equips students with the hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge needed to transform data into strategic, evidence-based business decisions for companies, by leveraging machine learning algorithms, cloud technology, data visualization and advanced AI, including generative AI and prompt engineering.

The Software Engineering graduate certificate course equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to design, build, implement and maintain complex software solutions and architecture that are efficient, reliable and secure.

SENECA APPLIED RESEARCH NEWS

As part of the Regional Municipality of York’s Circular Economy Working Group from 2022-2024, Applied Research Manager Andrew Paton contributed to the development of circular economy resources and processes, including community engagement initiatives for businesses and residents – results summarised in the “What You Said Report”- that will help inform implementation and update of York Region’s Circular Economy Roadmap and SM4RT Living Plan.

Seneca researchers help overcome construction challenges with polymer chemistry.

Seneca research supports growth mindset in education with non-profit Let’s Get Together.

Seneca researchers and marketing agency webTactics build a new AI tool to support job recruitment.

Applied Research Principal Investigator Sabine Weber co-authored a comprehensive report on consumer perceptions of greenwashing in fashion, in collaboration with sustainability non-profit Fashion Takes Action.

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