A closer look at the Banting & Best Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The Nobel Prize-winning discovery of insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best remains one of the most significant research achievements from the labs at U of T. But discovery alone is not enough; the drug is still saving the lives of diabetics around the world today because those researchers commercialized their discovery. “Banting wasn’t an entrepreneur. Best wasn’t […]
Engineering alumni startup Nanoleaf creating green jobs in Toronto, China
It started with a viral campaign for the world’s most energy-efficient light bulb in 2013. Now, international media are also calling Nanoleaf a “green job” leader. Founded by University of Toronto engineering alumni Gimmy Chu (ElecE 0T6), Tom Rodinger (IBBME PhD 0T7) and Christian Yan (ElecE 0T6), the company has grown from its days as a crowdfunded venture working from […]
University of Toronto joins U.S. engineering education initiative announced at White House
University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has joined more than 120 U.S. engineering schools leading a transformative movement in engineering education announced at the White House today—the only Canadian engineering school to do so. In a letter presented to President Barack Obama, the University of Toronto and peer institutions committed to establish […]
Portable HIV testing device developed at U of T Engineering receives $5 million in venture capital
Imagine having blood drawn for HIV-related testing, and then never finding out the results. In developing countries around the world, it can be common for patients not to receive test results for treatable diseases such as HIV. But what if the testing could be brought to them and performed on the spot? This is the […]
Engineering student brews business one cup at a time
A new startup from PhD candidate Rehman Merali (UTIAS PhD 1T5) enables tea-lovers to make a personalized cup of tea from a beverage-weilding robot in under 30 seconds. “It’s not just a great cup of tea, it’s also the experience,” said Merali, who co-founded teaBOT with his childhood friend, Brian Lee. “You see each ingredient […]
The organic LED age is here: Meet the U of T engineers behind OTI Lumionics
Originally published in the 2015 issue of Impact Magazine. Google “OLED,” and you’ll find scores of articles confidently predicting that this is the year of the organic light-emitting diode. Some of those articles are ten years old. Still, there are reasons to believe the OLED age is finally dawning. In fact, engineering alumnus Michael Helander (EngSci 0T7, MSE PhD 1T2) is betting on […]
Escape the cold with alumni startup FuelWear
It began with the polar vortex of 2014. That’s when University of Toronto engineering alumni Jason Yakimovich (CompE 1T3+PEY) and Alex Huang (ElecE 1T3+PEY), fed up with low temperatures, developed the first intelligent heated base layer. The “smart” shirt monitors body temperature to provide just the right amount of warmth for its wearer to enjoy outdoor sports—or simply walk […]
U of T Engineering alumni awarded $5.7 million to produce energy-efficient lighting solutions in Toronto
It’s about to get a whole lot brighter in Toronto thanks to a significant investment from the Canadian government in a U of T Engineering alumnus’ sustainable lighting company. OTI Lumionics, a company co-founded by alumnus Michael Helander (EngSci 0T7, MSE PhD 1T2), has been awarded $5.7 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to […]
The heart of the matter: BizSkule event to explore the future of wearable tech
Analysts have hailed 2015 as the “Year of Wearable Tech,” which bodes well for U of T Engineering spinoff, Nymi. The Toronto-based company, co-founded in 2011 by alumni Foteini Agrafioti (ElecE MASc 0T9, PhD 1T1) and Karl Martin (EngSci 0T1, ElecE MASc 0T3, PhD 1T0), has generated serious buzz with its Nymi Band, the world’s first wearable authentication […]
