Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Services Annual Report 2021-2022

RETURN ON INNOVATION
Strengthening Our Foundation
Applied Research, Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Services (ARIES)
Annual Report (FY2021–22)

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Centennial College is proud to be a part of a rich history of education in
this province and in this city. We acknowledge that we are on the treaty
lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and pay
tribute to their legacy and the legacy of all First Peoples of Canada, as
we strengthen ties with the communities we serve and build the future
through learning and through our graduates.
Today the traditional meeting place of Toronto is still home to many
Indigenous People from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have
the opportunity to work in the communities that have grown in the treaty
lands of the Mississaugas. We acknowledge that we are all treaty people
and accept our responsibility to honour all our relations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message From The Dean. . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . ..2
Applied Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship .... ...... ...... ....4
ARIES by the Numbers..... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ....7
Our Research Areas .. ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ....11
Entrepeneurship. . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . .... . ..17
Applied Research Innovation Fund ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... 24
Key Projects and Contributors... ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .27
Our Acclaimed Faculty Researchers .... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ....33
Research at Centennial.... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ....38
Our Team ..... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ....42
ARIES Annual Report | 1

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
This Annual Report showcases the incredible work
the Centennial College community is doing in applied
research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Working
through the COVID pandemic has been challenging.
We have demonstrated resiliency, and found new ways
of working with industry partners to support them
as they seek to become more innovative and costcompetitive.
We have re-located much of our activity
to new lab facilities, while continuing to grow our
footprint and impact.
Over the past two years, Centennial has grown
beyond our traditional strengths in wearable medical
technologies, energy and aerospace research, to
embrace new challenges in autonomous vehicles
technology, data analytics and cybersecurity. We have
developed a comprehensive model to support both
“for change” and “for profit” entrepreneurial mindsets,
and we continue to map all of our research and
entrepreneurship activity against the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In July 2020, we launched the Social Innovation
Research Centre (SIRC) to support our communities
and to develop innovative solutions to complex
social problems. Our commitment to this research
goes beyond SIRC, and it is deeply embedded in the
College’s priority initiatives to transform lives and
communities.
In September 2021, we introduced a reinvented
sustainable entrepreneurship program — complete
with opportunities for work-integrated learning. We
also expanded the activity from our SDG Innovation
Lab, further increasing our reach through a virtual
co-curricular suite of offerings. Our goal is steadfast:
to prepare tomorrow’s leaders and changemakers
to succeed in their careers and business ventures.
Our students’ response has been impressive, with a
high turnout and meaningful feedback that reflects a
newfound confidence in their career readiness skills.
Since joining Centennial College in April 2019,
I have been very impressed with the quality
and the practicality of our approach to applied
research and entrepreneurship. While the
department of Applied Research, Innovation
and Entrepreneurship Services (ARIES)
serves as the hub of much of this activity, we
greatly benefit from our faculty’s vision and
collaboration with industry research partners.
Innovation does not occur in a vacuum. It is
amplified and made more powerful by diverse
perspectives and by enabling equitable
participation for all.
Recognizing that involvement strengthens
research, we make the student experience one
of our most important metrics. I am thrilled
to share that Centennial has been recognized
as a national leader in providing paid student
internships in applied research.
2 | ARIES Annual Report

In 2022 and beyond, we will build on our areas of strength through further collaboration with
industry associations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and through partnerships
with other post-secondary institutions.
That to innovate means to invest in the future, and we are committed to growth through a lens
of sustainability and inclusivity in all that we do. We look forward to sharing our Return on
Innovation with you, our community, without whom our activity would not be possible.
Jonathan Hack
Dean, Applied Research, Innovation
and Entrepreneurship Services (ARIES)
Alone we can do so little,
together we can do so much.
— Helen Keller
ARIES Annual Report | 3

APPLIED RESEARCH, INNOVATION,
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Learn from yesterday, live for today,
hope for tomorrow. The important
thing is not to stop questioning.
– Albert Einstein
4 | ARIES Annual Report

Centennial's professors and students collaborate with business, industry members,
and community organizations across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to undertake
applied research projects that provide real-world solutions to challenging issues.
Our impact is directed back into the College’s classrooms and curricula to ensure
students acquire the most up-to-date skills. Our entrepreneurship activities also
provide students — and small businesses — with the tools to start and to grow new
business and social impact ventures.
Our History
Centennial College is located in one of the most ethnically-diverse urban areas
in North America. We attract students from around the world, and this rich
international heritage provides us with diverse perspectives and enhances our
approach to partnership-building and industry-facing applied research.
Centennial is regularly recognized as one of Canada's top colleges for research,
innovation, and entrepreneurship. In recent years, we have substantially enhanced
our engagement capacity, and we now have six primary research areas. We also
facilitate new, cutting-edge entrepreneurship programs, among which are social
impact entrepreneurship (changemaking) activities.
Our Role
ARIES brings together students and faculty to solve industry problems. Our research
focuses on offering solutions that are both practical and cost effective. In the
process, we provide students with real-world experience. Our entrepreneurship
programs provide we use practical training to teach students how to build both
“for profit” and “for change” ventures. We seek to empower our students to
become changemakers by exposing them to these research and entrepreneurship
opportunities through both paid internships and experiential learning opportunities.
ARIES also works to support a consistent College-wide approach to the research
enterprise. We do this through the Centennial Applied Research and Innovation
Fund (ARIF); research and training workshops held throughout the year; and the
activities of the Centennial College Research Board (CCRB) and the College’s
Research Ethics Board (REB).
Students
Industry
Faculty
ARIES Annual Report | 5

Our Priorities
With our new research initiatives, we are strengthening our commitment to addressing the changing
world of work. Our research seeks to push the limits of what a college can do by recognizing the
concerns our community faces and by championing issues marginalized groups encounter. We
map all of our activities to the global canvas of sustainability, as defined by the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our entrepreneurship activities, which we also map against
the UN SDG framework, focus on both social and traditional entrepreneurship offerings. We also
support established business ventures through our business innovation and growth program.
In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals. They are a universal
call to action to end poverty, to protect the planet, and to ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. ARIES maps all of
its activity against the 17 Goals.
6 | ARIES Annual Report

ARIES BY THE NUMBERS
ARIES Annual Report | 7

Our Scorecard
Over the past two years, Centennial College has been very successful in securing large, longer term
research grants to support and grow our applied research activity through ARIES. In March 2020 we
received $1.75M to extend funding for our Technology Access Center (TAC) for another five years.
Other large grant awards included Innovation Enhancement Grants in Sustainable Energy Systems,
and Digital Medical Technology, and an invitation to join the FedDev supported SONAMI network in
April 2021. In April 2021 we also were provided with an additional $2M from NSERC to launch a new
Centre for Data Analytics.
In July 2020 we launched our Social Innovation Research Centre (SIRC), which seeks to engage in
research to address complex social problems, and to support marginalized and equity seeking groups.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are focus areas of activity across everything done at Centennial, and in
April 2021 we received the NSERC EDI capacity building grant to continue this important work.
In April 2022 it was announced that Centennial was part of two innovative consortia groups (SONAMI
and FIBRE) to receive a total of $4M in funding for post-COVID industry support in the advanced
manufacturing and wearable health technology sectors.
Our research funding comes mostly through federal government grants (68%), and is supported by
cash and in-kind contributions from our industry partners. The majority of the funding is allocated
to our large research areas: Technology Access Center (WIMTACH), and our Aerospace/Advanced
Manufacturing Activity.
Sources of Funds
Government Grants – $4.3M
Research Partners Cash Contribution – $0.5M
Research Partners In-Kind Contribution – $1.5M
8%
24%
68%
8 | ARIES Annual Report

Below is a visual comparative summary of our key research metrics. We have continued to grow
the scope of our activity over the past several years, which has provided a continued increase
in our partner cash contributions for applied research. Over 85% of partner cash contributions
come from small- and medium-sized companies, a metric which confirms the value that these
companies see in engaging with Centennial for project work.
Research Partners’ Cash Contribution: Actual 3-year History
Contribution Amount
$800K
$700K
$600K
$500K
$400K
$300K
$200K
$100K
$0
$750K
$582K
$496K
2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Percentage of Cash Contributions from Small- and Medium-Sized Companies
100
80
80.9%
84.7%
64.4%
Percentage (%)
60
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
ARIES Annual Report | 9

Number of Research Staff
Paid Student Engagement in Research
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
101
106
86
69
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
571
474
515
286
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Centennial College structures our grants to provide maximum opportunities for paid student internships
in applied research. Students are interviewed, and hired into roles which provide focused mentorship, and
training. The number of research staff involved in our activities increased modestly over the most recent
year, reflecting the additional areas of engagement and awarding of new research grants.
Number of Research Partnerships
Cash Value of Research Activity
120
100
80
60
40
20
83
93
104
68
5M
4M
3M
2M
1M
$2.986M
$3.607M
$3.646M
$4.127M
0
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
0
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
The overall size of our research portfolio continues to grow, reaching $4.127M of activity in 2021/2022.
The number of research partnerships however declined in the most recent fiscal year, as some companies
were unable to engage in planned project work during the pandemic.
10 | ARIES Annual Report

Canada’s Top College for Student
Research Engagement
Centennial College is a national leader in engaging students in paid
research opportunities. Research Infosource’s annual report of the
Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada for 2019-20 ranked Centennial
College No. 1 in providing paid student internships in applied research.
During this period, we engaged a total of 474 students. Once they
graduate, the students we hire for projects in health technologies,
aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy, data analytics, and
cybersecurity become highly sought-after by industry.
Centennial’s priority remains centred on preparing our students for
career success. Our research activity reflects this, as the number
of students we have engaged in applied research at the College
continues to rise year over year.
ARIES Annual Report | 11

OUR RESEARCH AREAS
Starting and growing a business is as
much about the innovation, drive and
determination of the people behind it as
the product they sell.
– Elon Musk
12 | ARIES Annual Report

What We Do: Areas of Research
ARIES has six major research portfolios, each
of which is interdisciplinary, focusing on solving
industry and community problems through
established centres and academic schools at the
College. Our research activity augments areas of
academic strength, industry and community need,
and faculty expertise. Each area of engagement
also incorporates an established network
of partners and collaborators from industry,
community groups, and associations.
Our research collaborations are supported by
strong faculty and student engagement. Students
who engage with ARIES gain critical skills that help
them to thrive in the changing world of work.
Wearable
Interactive
Medical
Tech
Social
Innovation
Aerospace
and Advanced
Manufacturing
Centennial
College
(ARIES)
Research
Activity
Sustainable
Energy
Systems
Transportation
Data
Analytics
ARIES Annual Report | 13

Technology Access Centre: WIMTACH
WIMTACH is one of 60 Technology Access Centres in Canada, and the only health-focused
Technology Access Centre in the GTA. WIMTACH’s areas of expertise include wearable and
medical device development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, software development,
mobile applications, and gamification.
WIMTACH concentrates on meeting the needs of smalland
medium-sized digital health technology and medical
device companies, providing them with access to new
technologies and multidisciplinary expertise. By delivering
flexible solutions, research funding support, and training
opportunities, WIMATCH helps to increase our partners’
innovation capacity. The Centre offers technology and
product development support from concept ideation
through to testing and validation. To provide industry
partners with specialized assistance based on their needs,
WIMTACH engages faculty experts and students.
Since it was established in April 2015 with five-year
funding from the Natural Science and Engineering
Research Council of Canada (NSERC), WIMTACH has
supported 376 companies, developed more than 200
innovation products, of which a large number have been
commercialized for industry partners, and hired more than
750 students as paid interns.
14 | ARIES Annual Report

Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing
Ontario manufacturers are part of the global supply chain for virtually every passenger aircraft in
the world. The aerospace industry works closely with academia to develop and commercialize new
products and technology. Applied research activity in this sector is helping to keep Canada at the
forefront of aircraft technology research and development, while also providing Centennial students
with direct experiential learning.
Aerospace research projects at Centennial leverage a strong pool of expertise from the School of
Engineering Technology and Applied Science (SETAS) and the School of Transportation (SOT). A
significant portion of our aerospace applied research activity focuses on the landing gear supply
chain. In this area, researchers support industry partners by developing electrical actuation
technology and weight reduction that substantially decrease
our carbon footprint. Multi-year funding from NSERC supports
this activity.
In April 2021, ARIES became a member of the Southern
Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation
(SONAMI), a Niagara College-led consortium of
postsecondary institutions that provides technology and
product development support to small- and medium-sized
companies in southern Ontario. As part of SONAMI, ARIES
supports advanced manufacturing technologies in the
aerospace sector.
ARIES Annual Report | 15

Transportation
Transportation research activity utilizes the expertise of our School of Transportation (SOT) to build on
Ontario’s position as a world-leading automotive manufacturing and supply jurisdiction. SOT is home to
the largest on-site transportation training facility in Canada. Our automotive labs contain the latest in
technology for cars, trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles.
Ontario is now also poised to become a leader in autonomous vehicle technologies and smart mobility
solutions. Applied research in transportation supports local SMEs in developing innovative solutions that
explore the potential of autonomous vehicle innovation and advance our transition to a zero-carbon future.
Our transportation research is funded by NSERC as well as local and global industry partners.
16 | ARIES Annual Report

Data Analytics
Data analytics represents a new applied research area at Centennial
College — one that will contribute to the growth and recovery of Ontario’s
retail sector. Funding from NSERC’s College and Community Innovation
Program (CCIP) will support the development of intelligent systems
for SMEs.
Applied research activity in this area will support SMEs that are struggling
as a result of the ongoing pandemic. The goal is to empower SMEs in
making informed business decisions through data analytics. We will
achieve this by developing solutions that integrate business, behavioural,
and operational data in a simplified format for retail SMEs; developing
highly adaptive advanced analytics solutions; developing infrastructure for acquiring and managing
knowledge and best practices in real-time analytics; and promoting faculty and student engagement
through projects and training in data management and explainable data analytics.
Energy
Sustainable energy applied research at Centennial brings together faculty
and students with industrial partners to develop innovative solutions in
renewable energy, energy usage optimization, and energy storage. These
efforts support our transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon future.
Research projects are based on close collaboration with our partners,
from initial concept development and execution to delivery and project
closeout.
We continue to expand our energy research portfolio to include
partnerships with GTA-based enterprises in the renewable energy field.
These partners provide advice for course design, hire Centennial co-op
students and graduates, and engage in applied research and technology development with our faculty.
Social Innovation
Centennial College’s Social Innovation Research Centre (SIRC) relies
on faculty expertise, student talent, strong community partnerships,
and leading-edge applied research projects and initiatives to develop
innovative solutions to complex social problems. SIRC is committed to
partnering with the community and sharing the outcomes, findings, and
learnings of its projects. SIRC also expands and informs Centennial’s
social innovation research capacity, playing a critical role in the College’s
work to improve social conditions.
The centre’s core function is to increase research literacy through ongoing
training activities and workshops. This activity enhances our ability to
better understand and improve social conditions. It also contributes to the College’s learning goals.
SIRC reinforces Centennial’s commitment to bring together applied research, social innovation, community
outreach, and student opportunities to drive change, build capacity, and shape the activist college.
ARIES Annual Report | 17

ENTREPENEURSHIP
Your work is going to fill a large part of
your life, and the only way to be truly
satisfied is to do what you believe is
great work. And the only way to do
great work is to love what you do. If you
haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t
settle. As with all matters of the heart,
you’ll know when you find it.
– Steve Jobs
18 | ARIES Annual Report

New in 2021: Reinvented, Expanded Entrepreneurship
Programming for Skills Development
Our entrepreneurship programming is designed to provide practical assistance to students and
community members in starting or growing a business or social impact venture. In 2021, the Centre of
Entrepreneurship (CoE) launched a new suite of co-curricular programming for entrepreneurs of all levels.
CoE also introduced a new roster of expert coaches and mentors. For the first time, the centre also
provided targeted offerings to students across Centennial’s various academic schools.
Entrepreneurship Programs and Streams – For all levels
Our entrepreneurship programs and streams are designed for any stage of the entrepreneurial
journey. All of our programs are based on leading-edge methodologies, thereby providing our
students, alumni and community members with excellent coaching and mentorship to start or
grow their business venture.
Programs for Early Explorers: Workshops and Speaker Series
During the fall and winter terms, CoE organized 80 workshops covering a full range
of topics. Selected combinations of these workshops are grouped for Solopreneurs,
Changepreneurs, Techpreneurs, Foodpreneurs and Artpreneurs.
Programs for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Design Sprints and Weekend Challenges
In 2021, CoE launched a series of intense, hands-on, team-oriented and mentored
weekend programs with Canadian partners and support from United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) and Digital Society School of Amsterdam. Participants work
to identify root problems and explore solutions in teams using human-centered design as
well as lean methodology to plan, build and pitch strategies for collaboratively-hatched
ideas addressing the SDGs and the diverse challenges of the world.
Programs for Budding Entrepreneurs: Incubation Experience Program
A 10-to-12-week program providing real-world, hands-on, experiential learning to evolve
an enterprise idea, scope out target impact and beneficiaries, design and execute a
validation process, and map a prototype deployment plan. Participants use curated
open-source resources, leading-edge methodologies. This program is modelled on Steve
Blank’s Customer Development process and is offered with support either one-on-one or
in-cohort as required.
ARIES Annual Report | 19

FALL/WINTER 2021-2022 DASHBOARD
Consolidated data for 2021-2022 (Fall and Winter Semesters)
Consolidated data for 2020-2021 (Fall, Winter and Summer Semesters)
Number of events
Number of workshops
80
56
31 258% increase
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
29 193% increase
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Number of total registrations
Number of total participants
2403
1064
485 495% increase
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
194 548% increase
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
2-Day SDG Training
Twice: September 2021 and March 2022
Once: September 2020
3-Day Weekend Challenges
Global Goals Jam Fall 2021 (October) and Winter 2022 (March)
Global Coals Jam Fall 2020 (October) and Winter 2021 (March)
10-Week Incubation Experience
September ‒ December 2021
January ‒ March 2021
Event Satisfaction (5-point scale) 4.77
*For 2021-22
Fall and Winter
semesters
20 | ARIES Annual Report

New in 2021 – Expanded Cohort of Expert Coaches and Presenters
COE has expanded our coaching cohort to include 12 experts with diverse backgrounds that better meet
the emerging needs of entrepreneurs and students, and their unique projects. These coaches provide
workshops, mentorship, advice and business expertise, giving students practical support on marketing and
sales, financial pitching as well as deep expertise in the food industry, STEM entrepreneurship and in social
impact entrepreneurship.
Ron Tsang Deborah Miller Janice Bartley
Duncan So Jennifer Andrews David Cohen
Tawny Autumn Jennifer Ladouceur Eloise Ashworth
Sunny Verma Kevin Boon Marisol Fornoni
ARIES Annual Report | 21

Designed for Centennial, Offered to All
In Fall 2021, we launched a series of online events targeted to students across Centennial’s various
schools. These one-hour workshops are designed to introduce participants to entrepreneurial
possibilities within their industries, and are open to everyone in the Centennial community and beyond.
Chefpreneur Series
Designed for students at Centennial’s School of Hospitality,
Tourism and Culinary Arts (SHTCA), our Chefpreneur series
provides guidance on starting a food business. These
workshops give students the confidence of knowing they have
thought through all the necessary steps to launch into the
marketplace. Students learn how to turn a recipe into a product
and how the process might differ for larger production.
Artspreneur Series
Centennial’s School of Communications, Media, Arts, and Design
(SCMAD) students can attend the Artspreneur series to gain
advice on entrepreneurial arts skills. The goal of these workshops
is to increase the likelihood of success and to define what
success can mean in creative fields.
Techpreneur Series
Students from Centennial’s School of Engineering Technology and
Applied Science (SETAS), School of Transportation (SOT), School of
Community and Health Studies (SCHS), and The Business School
(TBS) all benefit from these sessions. The workshops focus on tips
for finding a niche, identifying clients, and marketing a product.
Expertise covers both science- and business-based fields, with
students learning to simplify the complex into compelling messaging
that will convince audiences to buy.
22 | ARIES Annual Report

Sustainable Impact Entrepreneurship:
Creating and Preparing Changemakers
In 2020, COE launched social impact entrepreneurship activity designed to train students on how to
become changemakers. In 2021 we launched the Sustainability Institute which provides structured
training activities on how to tackle complex problems and make an impact, with the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the canvas of opportunity. Not only is this training all about
empowering our students, but it also provides practical means for students to gain key essential skills
to future-proof their careers. The Sustainability Institute supports five modules of programming offered
through our SDG innovation lab activity, where students can conceive of a business opportunity,
design and build the venture, and make it investment ready:
COE ‒ SDG Innovation Lab
Experiential programming to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills and motivation
to take action to contribute towards the achievement of SDGs.
Module 1:
SDG Training
Boot Camp
(1 day) Module 2:
SDGS
Challenge
(3 days)
Module 3:
Tech for SDG
Boot Camp/
Hackathon
(3 days) Module 4:
Build Your
Venture
(10 weeks)
Module 5:
Make Your
Venture
Investment-Ready
The SDG Innovation Lab offers impact entrepreneurship modules that provide an introduction to the
SDGs, offer the opportunity to participate in a design challenge weekend, and then participate in the
incubation experience and investment readiness aspects of the programming.
ARIES Annual Report | 23

Module 1: SDG Training
The SDG Training module consists of two afternoons of engaging presentations, discussion, skills training,
and group activities. The training is led by Steve Lee, a young climate change activist, policy advocate to the
United Nations and Julie Marshall, Canadian Spokesperson for United Nations World Food Programme. This
is followed by a localization and interactive action plan development workshop to earn a certificate upon
completion from our partners at the Foundation of Environmental Stewardship (FES).
Module 2: Global Goals Jam
The Jam is an intense, hands-on, team-oriented and mentored two and a half day program during which
participants work together to identify the root problem based on proposed themes and topics, and explore
solutions to world issues in teams using human-centred design and lean methodology.
Jams evoke strong student response, including participation from other post-secondary institutions, feature
faculty leadership and expertise from the community providing guidance and mentorship to the teams. At
the end of the Jam, winning teams are awarded prizes based on evaluation by a panel of judges.
24 | ARIES Annual Report

Quotes from our Students
Field Placement:
“One of the most valuable things I’ve gained from my field placement
experience is new found knowledge [which] has definitely helped grow
and further develop my business knowledge and skills.
I’m leaving this field placement experience with new connections, the
opportunity to test out my career field of interest, [and] a portfolio that
I’ve built and put together.”
Kimberly Naipaul
Incubation Experience:
“The Incubation Experience Program at Centennial College has
opened important doors for Nox Ware. Their program engaged
us with various approaches in business model development. I
would recommend this program to any early-stage startup, and in
particular, those at ideation stage.”
Omid Mokhtari
Global Goals Jam:
“The Global Goals Jam is the perfect space to gather professionals and
students from different disciplines to work together towards finding
sustainable solutions to global problems. I am surprised how in such
a short time, we were able to develop clear and creative ideas to solve
real problems. That means change is possible and with the proper
support, mentorship, and motivation, great ideas can become a reality.”
Erika Villarreal Munoz
“The Global Goals Jam at Centennial College is a jam-packed [event]
with activities, mentors and renowned speakers. This event stood out
to me as the best in networking opportunities, UN SDGs affiliation, and
in having an extensive mentorship roster from knowledgeable experts
in the STEM, communications, business and education field. This is
an enriching and unforgettable experience in my professional life, and
I hope to one day give back and lead the next future generation of
Change-Leaders.
Sherry Ing
ARIES Annual Report | 25

APPLIED RESEARCH
AND INNOVATION FUND
If I could give advice to my colleagues who want to get
involved in ARIF-funded projects, it would be to have a
good understanding of what you want to achieve, know
what the scope of your project is going to be, and make
sure it aligns with your initiatives. Understand what you
want to achieve, and ARIF funded research will help you
achieve that.
— Brendan Chapman, Centennial College Faculty (SETAS)
and ARIF recipient
26 | ARIES Annual Report

What We Do – Innovation Initiatives
Centennial’s Applied Research and Innovation Fund (ARIF) is an internal program that provides funding for
Centennial faculty- and staff-initiated projects. ARIF projects cover a wide variety of subject areas, from
biotechnology to nursing to arts education, and have a strong focus on providing students with experiential
research opportunities.
Since 2017, ARIES has provided funding for over 50 ARIF projects. Each project is eligible to receive up
to $30,000 of funding, depending on the scope of the work, and in 2022 round alone, $165,000 was
awarded.
2022 ARIF Projects
PROJECT LEADERS SCHOOL PROJECT TITLE
Melissa-Anne Bartrem
and Rosalind Mills
Siyam Subair
Kayode Oduse
SCMAD
SETAS
SETAS
Equity and Access to Post-Secondary Performing Arts
Programs
Development of a Novel Surface Sampling Device with
Imaging Technique for the Point of Care Detection of
Pathogens and Microbial Load
Development and Modification of Teff Grain
Physicochemical Properties for Improved Gluten Free
Baked Goods
Natalie Stewart SCMAD Musicianship App Development
Michelle Hughes
and Carol Stefopulos
SCHS
Collaborating with Students to Create an Open
Educational Resource on Building Virtual Gaming
Simulations: A Participatory Action Research Project
Anthony Harrison SCMAD Speaking Truth about Mental Health and Wellness
Sonia Tracey
and Concetta Buonaiuto
SCHS
The Lived Experience of Practical Nursing Students
Transitioning Through the COVID-19 Pandemic in
Preparation for Writing the REx Exam
ARIES Annual Report | 27

As faculty, you want to support each other so everyone
at the College is successful. I liked that I got to work
with my fellow Collaborative Nursing program faculty
members, as well as with colleagues from other SCHS
programs, all throughout the project. If you’re thinking
of getting involved in research, talk to your colleagues,
attend the ARIF workshops, and just give it a go!
— Michelle Hughes, Centennial College Faculty
(SCHS) and ARIF recipient
To my colleagues: Get involved in research. The
ARIF program is rewarding, and it will help you
become a better professor. You’ll pick up skills
to help you improve the quality of your teaching,
and the benefits will be passed down to your
students.
— Mihail Plesca, Centennial College Faculty
(SETAS) and ARIF recipient
At every step it was [the youth storyteller’s]
story, but I would bring some knowledge about
creating and adapting to VR. For example,
the youth might have the user standing in a
flat space, but I might decide to put them on
the edge of the cliff, as a metaphor for the
meaning of the story — a drop-off, precipice,
or threshold in the story. Most of the time they
would like choices I made after I understood
their story, and it would be a catalyst for them
to think of even better ideas. It was a really
good process.
— Thomas Detko, Principal Investigator
28 | ARIES Annual Report

KEY PROJECTS
AND CONTRIBUTORS
[This project] gave me an opportunity to be a team lead.
It provided an exposure into the software development
life cycle, into a set of technologies to accomplish
specific tasks in software engineering. I was able to get
a job offer in my first interview thanks to the experience.
— Rithesh D’Cruz, student researcher
ARIES Annual Report | 29

Centennial seeks to equip our students to become agile self-navigators who are resilient in their
educational and career journeys. Student involvement in research offers practical support in a safe
environment, encouraging students to explore, test, and to learn. Below are some featured projects which
ARIES supported in the previous fiscal year.
Electric Vehicle Charging Plug Maturation and Validation
Elocity’s HIEV System is a “smart” add-on for electric vehicle chargers that allows users
and utilities to wirelessly monitor the charging process. Centennial worked with Elocity
to validate the performance of the company’s latest HIEV device. Together, we tested
it under a range of charging loads and climatic conditions, and we identified potential
failure modes under extreme conditions. The HIEV plugs are now being tested at the
solar car charging port at Centennial’s Progress campus.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Mihail Plesca, SETAS
Industry Partner: Elocity
Other Other Faculty Involved: Prof. Slava Rolinsky,
SETAS
Students Engaged: 6
Project Value: $90,000
Funding Sources: NSERC IE grant, Elocity contribution
Estimating Vital Parameters using a Smart Medical Watch
VitalTracer Ltd., based in Ottawa and Montreal, developed a smart medical watch with
the ability to continuously measure vital physiological parameters. The company wanted
to improve its watch by incorporating artificial intelligence, or AI. In this collaborative
project, Centennial researchers developed a state-of-the-art, AI-based software
application to be implemented either on the cloud or on the watch itself. The software
performs real-time analysis and prediction of blood pressure and heart rate using
data collected from non-invasive sensors. To ensure the underlying AI algorithms were
accurate, the research team benchmarked the developed application with publiclyavailable
clinical datasets. This further helped VitalTracer to validate the smart medical
watch with its hospital partners in the Ottawa region.
Principal Investigators: Yashodhan Athavale, ARIES,
and Prof. Vijayalakshmi Angamuthu, SETAS
Industry Partner: VitalTracer
Students Engaged: 3
Project Value: $25,000
Funding Sources: NSERC ENGAGE grant
30 | ARIES Annual Report

Evaluation of High-Temperature Pressure Sensors for Engine
Optimization
Fibos designs and manufactures optical sensors for use in high-temperature,
high-pressure environments. The company wished to validate its sensors for jet
engines, in which operating pressures affect fuel consumption but are difficult to
measure. Centennial worked with Fibos to test its sensor on a small passenger jet
engine at our Downsview campus, collecting data in a wide range of conditions. The
research team also designed a test rig to simulate the oscillating pressure conditions
found in jet engines.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Praveen Pulattu Jose, SETAS
Industry Partner: Fibos
Other Faculty Involved: Prof. Sean Fleming, SOT
Students Engaged: 1
Project Value: $25,000
Funding Sources: NSERC ENGAGE grant
Redesigning and Enhancing Alpha Global-IT’s Electronic
Medical Records
In 2020, Alpha Global IT requested Centennial researchers’ assistance to enhance
its existing electronic medical records (EMR) system (GlobeMed 2.0). The WIMATCH
research team redesigned the EMR system’s user design and user experience. It coded
the web application in the latest version of an industry standard app-building platform,
enhancing the system’s frontend. The team also redesigned the backend architecture,
and changed it from a monolithic application to a combination of micro services. The
resulting GlobeMed 3.0 application was easily migrated to the cloud.
Principal Investigators: Prof. Genco Cebecioglu, SETAS,
Dr. M. Tanvir Alam, SETAS, Prof. Ersan Cam, SETAS,
and Majura Maheswaran, ARIES
Industry Partner: Alpha Global IT
Students Engaged: 45
Project Value: $732,141
Funding Sources: NSERC TAC and IE grants, Alpha Global IT
contribution
ARIES Annual Report | 31

Development of a Data Analytics Application for McCray
eCommerce
McCray’s business requirement was for Centennial researchers to develop a software
solution for online product recommendations. During this seven-month project, students
used web application development, AI, and natural language processing tools to design
and develop the software. This system observes the behaviours of previous consumers
and recommends similar products during new consumer searches. Its aim is to increase
user satisfaction and enhance user experience while consumers search for products on
the company’s website — leading to improved customer retention and greater revenue
generation for McCray.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Mayy Habayeb, SETAS
Industry Partner: McCray Optical Supply Inc.
Other Faculty Involved: Prof. Merhrdad Tirandazian,
SETAS
Students Engaged: 5
Project Value: $119, 683
Funding Sources: NSERC IE grant, McCray contribution
Gender Affirming, Life Affirming: Centering Gender-
Independent, Trans, Nonbinary, and Intersex Youth in Puberty
Education with Adaptive Interactive Media
In partnership with Artscape Toronto, this research utilized virtual reality (VR) storytelling
to raise the voices and explore the lived experience of inner-city youth in Toronto. It
provided valuable insight into how the youth see themselves in the spaces in which
they live. As well, the project allowed us to foster technical skills in the community, with
Centennial faculty, staff, and students working alongside youth creators to build VR
experiences. The community got to witness these VR experiences in October 2019 at
the Artscape Daniels Launchpad during Toronto’s Nuit Blanche, and in November 2019
at the Regent Park Film Festival.
Principal Investigators: Dr. Chris Jackman, SCMAD; Thomas Detko, SCMAD
Industry Partner: Artscape Toronto
Other Faculty Involved: Dr. Purnima Tyagi, ARIES; Dr. Lauren Wolman,
ARIES; Donna Mozaffarian, Consultant; Suzanne Kanso, Consultant
Students Engaged: 16
Project Value: $210,000
Funding Sources: NSERC CCSIF grant
32 | ARIES Annual Report

Fibos Development of Industrial Control System (ICS)
Centennial College collaborated with Fibos to develop an industrial control system (ICS)
cybersecurity tool. Fibos required our expertise to support field data collection. The
company also did not have multiple programmable logic controllers to accommodate
specific testing it required. For this, it turned to Centennial, which tested Fibos’s
experimental security tools in representative industry scenarios. We were pleased to
provide the proper facilities and know-how to assist Fibos with its testing, in addition to
offering practical development advice.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Keyvan Ghazaie Alamdari, SETAS
Industry Partner: Fibos
Students Engaged: 2
Project Value: $49,493
Funding Sources: SONAMI (FedDev Southern Ontario)
CRJ 200 Landing Gear Test Rig Construction for Polymeric
Bearings and Bushings
In 2017, Centennial received $4.3 million in research funding from NSERC, the
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) to
investigate electrically actuated landing gear in collaboration with France’s Safran
Aerospace. In this project, Centennial research teams worked with partner Marsh
Brothers Aviation to test their AeroTough (ATGF) bushings, which allow mechanical
parts in aircraft landing gear to rotate without lubrication while also minimizing
vibrations. Final results will demonstrate the feasibility of replacing metallic bushings
with lightweight, corrosion-proof polymeric materials.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Florin Nijloveanu, SETAS
Industry Partners: Safran Landing Systems and Marsh Brothers Aviation
Other Faculty Involved: Tim Repetski, SETAS; Samir Mustafa, SETAS;
and Zia Mahboob, SETAS
Students Engaged: 4
Project Value: $140,000
Funding Sources: NSERC IE grant
ARIES Annual Report | 33

Working with the ARIES has been such a fulfilling learning experience.
I truly believe that I would have graduated Centennial with a fraction of
the knowledge and experience I know now if I hadn’t worked on applied
research projects.
— Matthew Thurston, student researcher
Wax-Based Linear Thermal Actuator Optimization
Actuators are components that move and control mechanisms in machinery.
Thermal actuators — which use the expansion of waxes during heating to control
movement — are a promising alternative to complex hydraulic actuators. In this
project, an inductive heating system was investigated for its ability to improve
efficiency in thermal actuators, with a focus on optimizing the speed of response of
the actuator, the loads it can produce, and wax sealing, with the goal of reducing
component weight in aircraft landing gear.
Principal Investigator: Praveen Pullattu Jose, SETAS
Industry Partners: Safran Landing Systems
Other Faculty Involved: Tim Repetski, SETAS
Students Engaged: 5
Project Value: $150,000
Funding Sources: NSERC IE grant
34 | ARIES Annual Report

OUR ACCLAIMED
FACULTY RESEARCHERS
ARIES Annual Report | 35

Brendan Chapman, Ph.D.
School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science (SETAS)
Professor Brendan Chapman teaches in the biomedical
engineering department at Centennial College. His research
journey at Centennial began during a visit to his acupuncturist. It
was then that Brendan’s practitioner told him about a treatment
option, which did not yet exist, that she felt could benefit many
of her patients. In response, Brendan mentioned that Centennial
partners with small businesses, like his acupuncturist’s company
AcuMade, to turn ideas into real-world applications. A multiyear
partnership was born — with Brendan and ARIES continuing
to collaborate with AcuMade to the present day. Brendan and
his research team are working to create a device that performs
acupuncture treatments, without any needles. This novel, noninvasive
design has the potential to mimic acupuncture through
ongoing treatment at shorter intervals. “According to the partner,
acupuncture works best when people get regular treatments,”
says Brendan. “What we are creating … has the potential to
really transform the treatment that AcuMade can provide and
help those patients.” The ARIF program, WIMTACH expertise, and
NSERC grants have supported Brendan’s research.
AcuMade’s founder is a practitioner, so she was able to understand
the market, what was missing within the market, and an idea that
was able to meet that need. She came to us with that idea, and we
came to her with a solution.
36 | ARIES Annual Report

Mihail Plesca, Ph.D.
School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science (SETAS)
Professor Mihail Plesca joined Centennial in 2010. Since then,
he has worked on more than two dozen research projects. In
recent years, Mihail’s research — working with partners such as
Elocity Technologies Inc., a Canadian-based cleantech company,
and New Dawn Energy Solutions, a GTA-based solar energy
equipment supplier — has impacted areas related to sustainable
and renewable energy solutions. Mihail takes pride in completing
his research projects on time and on budget — and this has been
the case throughout his career journey. Meeting milestones was
especially important for his project with Elocity Technologies.
Centennial research teams coordinated with the partner to update
and improve new versions of an electric vehicle plug that could be
used around the world. Mihail and his research team optimized
each version of the product. To do so, they utilized new equipment
at our Downsview campus, including an environmental chamber
capable of simulating cold, harsh Canadian winters and hot, humid
Indian summers. With each test and version, the product became
more efficient. Mihail continues to work on sustainable energy
research. He is eager to explore the potential of charging electric
vehicles using solar or wind energy and the possibilities of creating
connected, renewable energy grids.
Being a teacher is not just about teaching. Plus, research is exciting.
As a researcher, you will run into issues and you will have to find
solutions. The most exciting thing is that after you solve your issues,
and after you find solutions, you have a successful project and a happy
industry partner telling you things like, ‘You helped us out so much!’
I am always telling my students about these projects and what I
learned, and my students are always excited to hear it.
ARIES Annual Report | 37

Michelle Hughes, RN
School of Community and Health Studies (SCHS)
Registered nurse Michelle Hughes is a professor at Centennial’s
SCHS, teaching in our Collaborative Nursing Degree program at
Ryerson University. As an accomplished ARIES researcher who
has leveraged ARIF funding to develop her projects, Michelle
has led projects in collaboration with Canadian and Belgian
institutions. Over the last couple of years, the focus area for
Michelle and her research team has been infection prevention in
clinical settings. It was a topic with which her students were not
entirely comfortable before being thrust into mastering it during
the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Michelle’s team designed an
online module to teach infection prevention control, partnering
with the City of Toronto’s Department of Public Health to build
foundational skills. The module includes videos featuring the
students who worked closely with Michelle throughout the
project. Today, faculty in numerous Centennial SCHS programs
are using the module — available online as an open educational
resource — to ensure students enter their placements and the
workplace with a strong foundation and skills endorsed by the
City. Michelle’s colleagues abroad have also utilized the module.
A lot of people have the vision that nurses only work in hospitals.
It’s good to let students see the other side of things. All of my
research here has been implemented into other courses, and
being an open educational resource means that it will continue
to be available for nurses and nursing students everywhere to
adapt and reuse so they are better prepared.
38 | ARIES Annual Report

Our Superstar Students
Being a student researcher is challenging, as you will face new
questions each day, and I learned a lot in the process of finding
solutions. I can't state enough the joy of applying my knowledge
gained from the class to real-world problems. Working alongside
engineers in Elocity (our project partner), one of the stakeholders in
the EV sector, was a fantastic experience. Thank you, ARIES, for this
opportunity!
— Arun Varghese, Energy project
Working at ARIES allowed me to work with actual industry
engineers and discuss the company's expectations concerning
documentation and testing practices. The most important skill
that I learned on the project was managing a complex R&D project
... Using the skills learned in class, I could expand on the previous
knowledge and use it in an actual practical application.
— Daniel Henning, Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing project
Working [with ARIES] acted as a bridge for students. It gave me
confidence. It gave me a different environment that we’re not able
to get in classes, so I believe that this is going to help me in getting
a job. No matter what type of [role] you are in, you are going to
learn new things and you are going to use it in the future. The more
experience you get at [ARIES], the better it is for you.
— Tanvi Gupta, WIMTACH project
ARIES Annual Report | 39

RESEARCH BOARDS
AND PARTNERSHIPS
40 | ARIES Annual Report

Research Ethics Board
Centennial’s Research Ethics Board (REB) is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical and legal
standards for research taking place at the College. The REB, which is composed of Centennial faculty, staff,
and external community members, reviews all proposed research involving human or animal subjects to
ensure compliance with the policies of Canada’s major federal granting agencies. Approval from the REB is
required before research can begin.
Centennial College Research Board
The newly-formed Centennial College Research Board (CCRB) promotes all research-based activity at
Centennial. It also champions promising practices and common approaches in research methodology for
the purpose of elevating Centennial’s reputation as a high-performing college research institution.
ARIES Annual Report | 41

Fabric-Based Research
Platform
FIBRE is a first-of-its-kind academic research platform
in the field of textile-based technologies. It involves
the Kite Research Institute and University Health
Network in collaboration with post-secondary institutes
(University of Toronto, Ryerson University, Ontario
College of Art and Design University, and Centennial,
Humber, Sheridan and George Brown colleges).
The primary focus is on human-centred design,
accessibility, and health. The group is committed to
creating textile-based technologies as solutions to
support a healthier world.
SONAMI: Southern Ontario
Network for Advanced
Manufacturing Innovation
Funded by FedDev Southern Ontario, SONAMI is
a network of post-secondary institutions. Through
their respective research and innovation centres,
these schools collaborate with SMEs to turn
innovations into commercialized products. SONAMI
is led by Niagara College, with McMaster University,
Centennial, Conestoga, Fanshawe, Lambton,
Mohawk, and Sheridan colleges as partners.
Centennial College became a SONAMI network
partner in April 2021.
42 | ARIES Annual Report

EaRTH Initiative
University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC)
and Centennial College are teaming up to establish
the EaRTH District, aimed at advancing the cleantech
sector through research, academic programming,
and commercialization. As part of Centennial’s
EaRTH District activity, a collaborative research
framework has been established between partnering
post-secondary institutions. It connects Centennial
researchers with those from UTSC, Trent University,
and Ontario Tech University to collaborate on the
development of sustainability projects.
CivicLab TO:
City of Toronto Partnership
CivicLab TO is a partnership between the City
of Toronto and its eight major higher education
institutions. It is an opportunity to engage in
strategies for change and innovation, to test
theories, to conduct research, to use experiential
learning, and to increase networking. CivicLab
TO brings together students, faculty, researchers,
and City staff who seek opportunities to share
information and best practices.
ARIES Annual Report | 43

OUR TEAM
In addition to our core team members below, ARIES also includes hundreds of dedicated students,
faculty, staff, and industry partners. Their support is essential to the projects that advance Centennial’s
commitment to change lives and transform communities.
Administrative Team
• Jonathan Hack, Dean, Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Services
• Bonnie Chung, Administrative Coordinator
• Joanne Pan, Manager, Finance Operations and Risk
• Yeshi Dolma, Finance and Administration Officer
• Anna Monaenkova, Research and Policy Compliance Officer
• Sayyeda Masood, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Research and Innovation Team
• Dr. Eric Blaise, Director, Applied Research and Innovation (Aerospace, Advanced Manufacturing)
• Dr. Purnima Tyagi, Director, WIMTACH, Data Analytics and Digital Health Technologies
• Dr. Jordan Wosnick, Manager, Research and Innovation Engagement
• Jeziel Vidad, Research Project Manager, WIMTACH
• Dr. Lauren Wolman, Manager, Social Innovation Research
• Dr. Pouria Tavakkoli Avval, Research Associate
• Majura Maheswaran, Research Associate
• Erika Oliveira, Project Coordinator
• Sandra Munoz Ortegon, Project Coordinator
• Milad Hoorzad, Project Coordinator
• Umar Javed, Project Coordinator
• Andrea de Fatima Cavalheiro, Project Coordinator
• Ava Afrane, Administrative Assistant, WIMTACH
Entrepreneurship Team
• Lalit Guglani, Manager, Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Gabriella Zoltan-Johan, Manager, Startup Programs and Services
• Vicky Huang, Entrepreneurship Coordinator
44 | ARIES Annual Report

WITH THANKS
We, at ARIES, continue to be impressed by the power of collaboration at Centennial College. We are
grateful to every student who contributed their time and expertise to our projects while juggling midterms
and assignments. To our faculty and colleagues, who provided guidance and leadership while mentoring
our students in research and entrepreneurship, we appreciate you.
We would be remiss to not mention our community partners in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and around
the world, who joined us for meetings across borders and time zones. We are deeply appreciative of your
support in strengthening our activity to the level it is at today. Thank you all.
ARIES Annual Report | 45

GET IN TOUCH
centennialcollege.ca/aries
aries@centennialcollege.ca
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