Grants and Contributions

The project aims to develop a compact optical surface activation system for biosensor wellplates. Based on Norcada's UltiFlow technology, UltiPlate will use broad-spectrum, multiwavelength light to clean and hydrophilize surfaces in 96- and 384-well formats, without the use of vacuum. Unlike plasma clean, it offers non-destructive, selective treatment - preserving delicate features such as gold electrodes and flexible silicone membranes. Nanion will integrate and benchmark UltiPlate design of such system across its chip platforms, including patch clamp, impedance, and nanopore systems. The goal is to deliver a cost-effective, "automation-compatible" solution that enhances chip reproducibility, enables reuse, and supports commercialization.

The purpose of this CanExport SMEs agreement is to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for activities related to export market development that are part of an export business case for a specific target market, particularly where activities are targeting departmental priority markets and sectors.

The Project aims to develop the Interband-Cascade-Laser (ICL) technology, to enable the design and fabrication of ICLs in the 4.2-4.6 μm wavelength range. A portable multi-gas sensing platform will be developed using the ICLs for environmental monitoring applications. ICLs are highly desirable for tunable laser gas sensing applications due to the strong absorptions of many gas species in the mid-IR region, making them ideal for compact laser gas sensors. In this collaborative research project, the mid-IR laser team at the NRC QN Research Centre (QNRC) will focus on developing ICL gain chips targeting 4.23 μm wavelength for CO2 sensing, while Norcada will carry out packaging and testing work to assess performance and support the ICL gain chip development work at QNRC. Norcada will further develop its tunable laser gas sensor into a portable multi-gas sensing platform and move towards commercialization by targeting air quality and continuous emission monitoring applications.

The purpose of this CanExport SMEs agreement is to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for activities related to export market development that are part of an export business case for a specific target market, particularly where activities are targeting departmental priority markets and sectors.

Participation in the Canadian smart materials co-innovation mission to Japan – January 27 to 31, 2025. Delegation led by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to explore the Japanese market and to develop international partnerships and potential project ideas under the Japan Program. In Partnership with the Trade Commissioner Service Canadian Technology Accelerator (TCS CTA), and Deep Tech Canada, the Canadian delegation will also receive coaching and mentoring by industry leaders, support for their international business and market-entry strategies, as well as get introductions to other potential partners and clients during the mission.

The purpose of this CanExport SMEs agreement is to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for activities related to export market development that are part of an export business case for a specific target market, particularly where activities are targeting departmental priority markets and sectors.

This project aims to develop a laser-based OEM gas sensing module with high performance and low cost for methane detections. The goal is to have a plug-and-play module suitable for both stationary installation and mobile deployment using drones or land vehicles. Norcada will leverage its rare ability to develop 3.27um lasers with NRC, which can provide 100 times higher sensitivity than the current technology, enabling more compact designs for methane sensing applications. Norcada will also exploit its expertise in photonic packaging and its ability to control laser chip and packaging supply chain, to drive down the sensing module production cost. The same OEM module platform can also be configured for other gas sensing applications.

Participation in the NRC IRAP’s EFECS mission held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 23-25, 2022, led by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to develop international partnerships and potential project ideas for the 2022 Xecs Call for Proposals.

The project will focus on development of mid-infrared laser products for gas sensing applications and improved packaging platform to enhance laser reliability for operations in harsh environment including aerospace applications.

This project aims to develop new processes and design features to improve the reliability of existing laser packaging platform process.