We are excited to announce the Winners & Finalists of the
37th Annual ASTech Awards!
Their work, described through their submissions below, has made them this year’s finalists.
2026 ASTech Awards Finalists for the Agriculture and Agrifood category.
Hubert Lau, Alberta Food Security Inc.: Advancing Circular Food Systems in Alberta
Kajal Latimer, Canadian Angus Association: Advancing Sustainable Livestock Production Through Genomics and Precision Innovation
Samuel Mugo & Mohammed Elmorsy, PimaSens, MacEwan University: Real-Time Soil Intelligence for Accessible Precision Agriculture
Marleny Doris Aranda Saldaña, University of Alberta: Novel Green Processes to Convert Agri-food Waste to Value-Added Products
Felippe Karp, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology: HyperLayer Data Concept
Tanay Kumar, Aqtiva Inc.: Microbubble-Enhanced Plasma Technology for Crop Health and Productivity
2026 ASTech Awards Finalists for the Advanced Manufacturing & Smart Cities category.
Harpal Mandaher, Sarcomere Dynamics Inc.: Dexterous Robotic Manipulation for Complex Manufacturing Automation
NTWIST: Sunil Vedula, Co-CEO, Sriraj Meenavilli & Team; and TAQA Drilling Solutions: Wayne Pilgrim & Jan Prasad: AI-Driven Dynamic Scheduling for Industrial Manufacturing Optimization
Ying Hei Chui, University of Alberta: Advancing Mass Timber Construction Through National Research Leadership
Dr. Rajbir Bhatti, Mount Royal University: Built AI-Powered Supply Chain Tools and Calgary’s First Smart Integrated Transportation Hub
Daniel Kamau, SketchDeck AI: AI-Automated Bill of Material Software for Structural Steel Estimating
Luis Juarez, LE Robotics, Grande Prairie: AI-Powered Welding Solutions Across Canada, USA and Mexico
2026 ASTech Awards Finalists for the Energy Innovation Category.
Ahmad Raza Khan Rana, Integrity Products & Supplies Inc.: Revolutionizing Material Protection and Performance
Wesley Paterson, Paterson Consulting Inc.: Repurposing Orphan Oil Wells into Community Solar Energy Facilities
Roland Lee, MacEwan University: Sustainable Technology for Water Management, Waste Conversion, and Revitalization
Tariq Siddique, Ania Ulrich, Hao Wang & Team, University of Alberta: Tailings Reclamation and Mitigation of Toxic and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mirko van der Baan, Juliana Leung, David Eaton & Team, Consortium for Distributed and Passive Sensing (C-DaPS): Understanding and Mitigating Human-Induced Seismicity
Jeong Woo Kim, University of Calgary: Gravity-Based Earthquake Detection and Subsurface Monitoring
Mohamed Gamal El-Din & Team, University of Alberta: Engineered Passive Cleantech for Sustainable Oil Sands Mine Closure
2026 ASTech Awards Finalists in Digital, AI and Quantum Technologies Category.
John P. Davis, Zero Point Cryogenics: Dilution Refrigerators: The Essential Cryogenic Cooling Infrastructure for Quantum Technology
Brent Lane & Team, BigGeo: Spatial Computing Infrastructure for Artificial Intelligence
Shabir Barzanjeh, University of Calgary, Founder – QuantaSense: Building the Future of Quantum Technologies in Alberta
Garnette Sutherland & Team, OrbSurgical Ltd.: Pioneering Sensors, AI, Digital Innovation & IoT-Systems in the Neurosurgical Operating Room
Josh Malate, Ultimarii Ltd: AI-Powered Regulatory Intelligence for Complex Infrastructure Permitting
Adam White, University of Alberta; RCLCore CSO, AMII Fellow: Advancing Reinforcement Learning for Scientific, Industrial, and Ecosystem Development
Muhammad Ali Khan, SuperQ Quantum Computing: Lowering Barriers to Commercial Quantum and Advanced Computing Adoption
2026 ASTech Awards Finalists Aerospace and Defence Category.
Thomas Jones, Jones Microwave Inc.: High Frequency, High Power Solid State Switching for Communication and Radar Systems
Demet Cilden Guler, University of Calgary: Advanced Estimation and Control Systems for Resilient Spacecraft Operations
Spencer Fraser & Dylan Richards, Landing Zones Canada: AI-Driven Reusable Drone Systems for Atmospheric Monitoring
Thomas King, Technalogix Ltd.: Next-Generation RF Amplifiers for POTHR REV_4
Jeff LaFrenz, VizworX Inc.: Immersive Command and Control for Defence and Emergency Response
Emma Spanswick, Susan Skone & Team, University of Calgary: Space Environment Intelligence for Arctic Defense and Navigation Resilience
2026 ASTech Awards Finalists for the Hydrogen, Sustainability, and Cleantech Category.
Md Golam Kibria, CarboMat Inc.: Transforming Low-Value Materials to High-Value and Sustainable Carbon Products
Kyle Mulligan, Canadian Pacific Kansas City: Zero Emission Hydrogen Fuel Cell Freight Locomotives
Xiaohang (Leo) Fang, University of Calgary: Hydrogen Combustion and Safety for Clean Energy Systems
Jeff Wollin & Terry Wollin, Eximius Environmental Solutions: Mobile Filtration System Enabling Water Reuse and Eliminating Waste
Xiaolei Wang, University of Alberta: Next-Generation Sustainable Battery Technologies
Roland Lee, MacEwan University: Sustainable Technology for Water Management, Waste Conversion, and Revitalization
2026 ASTech Awards Finalists in Health, Medical, and Life Sciences
Laura Curiel, Samuel Pichardo, Sagid Delgado & Michael Pflug, NovusTX Devices Inc.: Development of a Non-Invasive Transcranial Ultrasound Neuromodulation Solution for Movement Disorders
Elena Di Martino, University of Calgary: Predicting Rupture Before It Happens: AI-Enabled Biomechanics for Safer Aortic Aneurysm Care
Michael Wilson, DrugBank: Connecting Scientific Insight and Commercial Strategy to Accelerate Confident R&D Decisions
Kevin Bainey, University of Alberta / Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute: Advancing Cardiovascular Care Through Clinical Research, Innovative Treatment Programs, and Improved Access to Evidence-Based Care
Garnette Sutherland & Team, OrbSurgical Ltd.: Pioneering Sensors, AI, Digital Innovation & IoT-Systems in the Neurosurgical Operating Room
Chris Bladen & Gerald Zamponi, Zymedyne Therapeutics Inc.: Developing Safer, More Effective, Non-Opioid Based Treatments for Chronic Pain
Douglas J. Mahoney & Team, Riddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy: Advancing Cancer Immunotherapy Through Research, Innovation and Translation
Khaled Barakat, Thoth BioSimulations: AI-MedCraft: Transforming Drug Development from Failure to Precision
