Impact | Conestoga Applied Research

Supporting product development and commercialization for Terra Bioindustries

Terra Bioindustries, an Elmira-based food upcycling company, partnered with the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab to support the development of technical specifications and prototype formulations for one of their flagship ingredients, Recyclose.

Building an AI-powered matchmaking platform for enhanced business partner matches

This project focused on developing a prototype web application to help companies connect with one another during international trade events and missions. The goal was to create a tool that uses AI to recommend connections between companies with shared interests, helping them stay engaged beyond the event itself.

Embedding strengths-based learning in career development for trades students

By integrating the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment into course delivery, the project examined how this framework might enhance academic confidence, career clarity, and student engagement, especially in hands-on programs where reflective and interpersonal skills are often overlooked.

Examining the link between inflation and mental health in the KWC region

This study investigated the relationship between economic inflation and mental health outcomes in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge region from 2015 to 2022. Drawing on data from government sources, healthcare organizations, and housing authorities, the research analyzed how financial stressors such as inflation, housing affordability, and food insecurity contribute to rising mental health challenges in the region.

A pop up banner about the food stories project

Exploring food, belonging, and community through narrative with international students

This mixed-methods research project explored the connections between food, storytelling, and community-building among international students at Conestoga. In partnership with the Kuwait Aid Network, the team conducted a student survey, hosted community consultations, and gathered qualitative data through four writing pop-up events that invited students to share stories and reflections related to food, identity, and belonging.

Using a credit card to purchase something on a laptop

Advancing sustainable procurement through supplier evaluation at Conestoga

This project explored how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria could be applied to supplier evaluation to support more sustainable procurement practices at the college. A campus-wide questionnaire was distributed to Conestoga’s supplier base to establish a sustainability baseline, identify gaps and strengths, and strengthen the college’s alignment with responsible procurement goals.

Improving clinical care with real-time data integration at the Waterloo Regional Health Network

Conestoga partnered with the Waterloo Regional Health Network (formerly the Grand River Hospital) and the National Institutes of Health Informatics Canada on a Mitacs-funded project to improve data integration and real-time analytics in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The team addressed challenges such as fragmented systems, unstructured notes, and inconsistent documentation by developing tools to support more informed clinical decision-making.

Charting a path to net zero homes through optimized retrofits

Single-detached homes account for more than half of Canada’s residential buildings and consume more than twice the energy per capita compared to apartments. To help meet Canada’s 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets, this research focused on identifying the most effective retrofit strategies to reduce energy use in these homes, using a case study modelled on a house in Cambridge, Ontario.

Exploring peer-led healthy eating initiatives for Conestoga students

This project examined healthy eating programs at post-secondary institutions across Canada to identify successful models, particularly those that are peer-led, and assess their potential for implementation at Conestoga.

Bridging food security and food safety on Ontario campuses

This project explored food security initiatives across Ontario post-secondary campuses with two key objectives: to identify existing programs, especially creative or lesser-known hidden gems, and to apply a food safety and waste reduction lens to those initiatives.