OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION, sponsored by Syncrude Canada Ltd.
WINNER: DR. GEORGE SHIMIZU, Calgary
Key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is affordable carbon capture (CC). Dr. Shimizu has discovered and, with academic and industry partners, de-risked the most promising solid for CC in the 10-50% range, broadly applicable for capture from cement, steel and chemical reforming industrial gas streams. Learn more.
FINALIST: DR. MILANA TRIFKOVIC and EnviCore
Learn more.
EMERGING CHANGE MAKER sponsored by RSM Canada
WINNER: DR. ALI TELMADARREIE, Calgary
Dr. Telmadarreie co-founded CNERGREEN in 2019, a start-up looking to commercialize one of his patents designed to help the transition to a low carbon future by recovering more oil and storing more CO2. CNERGREEN tailors nanoparticles and commercial chemicals to make CO2 foam stable in any reservoir. Learn more.
FINALIST: DR. CATHERINE LEBEL, Calgary
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OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN INNOVATION sponsored by TSGI Corporation
WINNER: DR. DEBORAH KURRASCH, Calgary
Dr. Kurrasch’s lab developed a novel drug screening platform designed to uncover therapies with unexpected mechanisms of action, with their lead program focused on pediatric epileptic encephalopathies. Learn more.
FINALIST: DR. BEATRIZ MOLERO-SANCHEZ, SEEO2 ENERGY, Calgary
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RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Innovate Calgary
WINNER: DR. WALTER HERZOG, Calgary
Dr. Herzog’s research has revolutionized the understanding of muscle contraction and biomechanics. His discoveries have changed how scientists think about muscle contraction and force production. Learn more.
FINALIST: DR. HONGBO ZENG, Edmonton
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INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Bennett Jones
WINNER: DR. JIANHUA ZHU, Edmonton
Dr. Zhu had a dream in 1989 of developing a technology to replace sugar to improve public health by developing and commercializing healthy new food and beverage products. His lifelong ambition led to a patented technology for VitaFiber, a natural, low calorie plant-based alternative sweetener to replace sugar. VitaFiber is both a prebiotic and a dietary fiber which contributes to a solution to two global health problems: weight management and gut health. Learn more.
FINALIST: DR. MICHAEL TASCHUK, G2V OPTICS INC., Edmonton
Learn more.
Special thanks to Reality Engine for designing the digital badges for the winners.
32 Years: ASTech Retrospective
We’ve are honoured and privileged to celebrate stories of success in the Alberta innovation ecosystem over the past 32 years.
Here’s a brief look at some of those moments, from 1990 through 2021.
