Grants and Contributions

This innovative project will be the first to introduce a fully autonomous, AI-driven Clean-in-Place (CIP) system, designed to improve performance, capacity, reduce labour dependency, and minimize service and maintenance requirements.
At the core is a bespoke AI Copilot, equipped with smart monitoring capabilities, cameras, and real-time data analysis to proactively detect and prevent system issues before they escalate. The AI will learn from operational data to optimize system performance and provide detailed reporting, troubleshooting guidance, and remote support for staff and technical teams. This project will help accelerate Bench's growth while contributing to Canada’s clean tech sector through the development of AI Enabled technology.

• Boost sales of BioSustainable Additives via demonstration of fast biodegradation of microplastics litter from recycling of BioSustainable PET, PE, PP, PS
• Develop and commercialize BioSustainable PET trays with extended produce shelf life via:
o Mechanical anti-microbial coating from OSY
o Atmosphere modifying compostable pads
• Develop and commercialize Compostable BioSustainable bio-PET film as a replacement for BOPP
• Develop and commercialize Atmosphere modifying shelf-life extending BioSustainable PVC cling film
• Develop and commercialize Atmosphere modifying shelf-life extending BioSustainable PE cling film
• Develop and commercialize Compostable cling film based on PBAT
• Set-up production & sales of products developed

The project is to develop innovative hair care products tailored to the Canadian climate, addressing existing market gaps while aligning with current trends in the hair care industry.

The gypsum industry uses polysiloxanes or paraffin wax to impart water resistance to their products. These additives are highly effective in providing water-resistance but have limitations. For example, polysiloxanes are subject to regulatory pressures. Conversely, paraffin wax dispersions suffer from relatively high cost as they are manufactured and transported at relatively low solids content. We propose a disruptive alternative to these traditional manufacturing methods by producing an on-site, on-demand paraffin wax emulsion for the manufacture of water-resistant gypsum wallboard.

Youth - Data Analytics & AI work

Splice N Connect is developing an integrated hardware-software solution for monitoring cable connections in power systems. The software component is crucial for collecting, analyzing, and visualizing sensor data to provide actionable insights for predictive maintenance and system health monitoring.

The software development is focused on establishing and testing the core functionality alongside data provided for system validation by a development partner Splice N Connect has signed an agreement with. A large part of the software innovation includes developing back-end algorithms and calculations for determining the predictive failure analysis for cable failures.

Sustainable Process Optimization and Innovative Product Development for the overland recreational vehicle market.

BACKLAND Expedition Gear will optimize its internal processes and develop innovative, modular products to improve efficiency, protect margins and support Canadian manufacturing suppliers to expand into new Canadian markets. This project focuses on streamlining workflows, reducing waste, and integrating new systems to increase scalability and sustainability.

This project is a feasibility study to analyze the Canadian AI ecosystem and identify key resources and deployment sites for a sovereign AI capability. The study will produce a plan for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) demonstration of a "Sovereign AI Switch," complete with a risk assessment, a deployment timeline with milestones, and a proposed EUREKA-like framework to govern supply chain contributions and mitigate risks.

PurePave Technologies is a green infrastructure technology and manufacturing company. This project is to identify international co-innovation partners who manufacture specialty surfacing equipment and have capacity to expand into the permeable paving market.

Adaptation of an AI educational content generator based on multiple Canadian curricula, using existing modules.