Two Simon Fraser University researchers and their teams have been selected as recipients of the Innovate BC awards through its Ignite Program. A total of $1.2 million was awarded to four research projects that are driving innovation in B.C. Computing science professor Martin Ester and mechatronic systems engineering professor Edward Park, along with their industry partners have been awarded $300,000 each to further their research projects.

Ester and his team, which includes industry partner Terramera, will use their award to continue to develop a new computational platform to predict the efficacy of antifungal formulations on significant crop diseases in Canada. Using Terramera’s proprietary Actigate™ technology, Ester and his team will generate machine learning models to predict the best formulations to kill specific fungi on specific crops.

Park and his industry partner, Human in Motion Robotics Inc., will use their award to research and develop Exomotion, a wearable lower-limb exoskeleton that is designed to help individuals with limited mobility to walk again. Applying advanced medical technology, Exomotion is developed with a goal to improve the quality of life for mobility-challenged individuals by helping them gain independence.

Read the media release from Innovate BC >>