Honouring Canada’s Changemakers in Research and Innovation
Mitacs Innovation Awards 2024
tl;dr
Recognizing Excellence: The 2024 Mitacs Awards celebrated Canadian researchers and entrepreneurs transforming ideas into impactful innovations.
Trailblazers Highlighted: Honorees excelled in AI, healthcare, sustainability, and advanced technologies, addressing critical challenges globally.
Driving Impact: Mitacs fosters real-world change by supporting talent, partnerships, and innovation across Canada's research ecosystem.
This was a big year for Canadian innovation. The Mitacs Innovation Awards on Nov. 19 recognized eight trailblazers for breakthroughs in healthcare, sustainability, AI innovation, and technology. Each year, Mitacs—a leader in Canadian innovation—shines a spotlight on researchers and entrepreneurs across the country who are turning ideas into impactful solutions.
“Not only do these awards recognize achievements of exceptional innovators across Canada, but they also highlight the infinite potential for impact when creative leaders work together,” said Mitacs CEO Dr. Stephen Lucas.
This year’s Outstanding Research Leadership Award winner is Dr. Bishnu Acharya, Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, for transforming agricultural waste into valuable bioproducts.
David Black, a University of British Columbia PhD student, received one of four Outstanding Innovation Awards for improving healthcare access with his tele-ultrasound technology that allows a novice to perform an ultrasound on a patient with guidance from an expert in a remote location.
Equally impressive is work led by Dr. Nazanin Vafaei, a University of Manitoba postdoctoral researcher developing a sustainable method for extracting high-quality oils and producing a solvent-free canola meal—ideal for use in the plant-based protein industry.
Dr. Timsy Bhando, a McMaster University postdoctoral researcher, was recognized for her discovery of KCB-100, a promising fungi-derived compound for treating neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions—now being advanced by Vancouver-based start-up Kapoose Creek Bio.
Marine Queffeulou, a Université Laval PhD student, received the Canadian Start-Up Innovator of the Year award for her leadership in launching Kalego Solutions, a start-up specializing in next-generation plasma technology.
Dr. Susanne Ouellet, founder of Lumidas, was also celebrated for her work to improve mine safety through an advanced monitoring system that allows operators to ‘see’ how tailings dams are performing before problems occur.
Inclusive Innovator of the Year, Dr. Paul Onkundi Nyangaresi, a postdoctoral researcher from UBC, was celebrated for his work to devise a water treatment solution using ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) disinfection. This research has brought clean water to a local community and school in Kenya.
The Mitacs Innovation Awards also celebrated industry leaders driving change on a national scale. Thales Canada won Canadian Enterprise Innovator of the Year for its work building world-class AI solutions, putting humans at the heart of principal decision-making.
Mitacs’s unique formula—talent, partnerships, and financial support—continues to drive real-world change across Canada and around the world. By celebrating the best in the innovation ecosystem, Mitacs is helping to turn new knowledge into impact.
To learn more, visit mitacs.ca.
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