First Ever Hackathon Taking Place At Trent University

Trent University is proud to host its first hackathon in Peterborough. Electric City Hacks (ECHacks) will include about 350 student tech leaders from across Canada and beyond who will design, build, demo and make their dreams a reality.

RIM and the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster are major sponsors for the Hackathon, which takes place November 4th to 6th. Electric City Hacks—comprised of a group of computer science students at Trent—partnered with Major League Hacking to do this 36 hour event taking place November 4th to 6th at Gzowski College on Trent’s Symons campus. This Hackathon will challenge student innovators to design, build and demonstrate their developments.

Electric City hack members (computer science students at Trent): Yashar Morabbi Heravi, Waun Broderick, Laura Mann, Matthew Barnes & Dexter Fichuk

ECHacks has invited all post secondary and high school students interested in the development, innovation and progression of technology to apply for this collaborative event, which will demonstrate the best of computer and engineering tech skills.

Creating an environment for students to learn, create and excel, Electric City Hacks will also be a fantastic chance to vie for future employment as many of their sponsors will be sending representative scouts to find student talent in the tech industry. Other sponsors include TD Financial, Fresh Books Cloud Accounting and TribalScale.
 
“We are extremely excited to support the first ever Electric City Hacks at Trent University," says Michael Skinner, President & CEO of the Innovation Cluster. "Hackathons are a fantastic way to expose talent, grow, recruit and bring new innovative companies to Peterborough.”

Over a dozen workshops will be taking place over the course of the weekend, targeting both university students as well as high school students to highlight the possibility of tech. Coding, robotics and a hackathon bootcamp for high school students are just a few examples of the amazing workshops that will be held throughout the 36 hour event.
 
“We decided to hold Electric City Hacks because we saw how many opportunities it brought to the schools that hosted them, and how it completely revolutionized tech industries in each community,” says Dexter Fichuk of ECHacks.
 
The entire event—breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks—will be provided to participants free of charge. The Innovation Cluster will also be hosting the "Chill Zone" with beanbag chairs for the hackers to think creatively and relax.
 
For more info and to apply, click here.

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A Peterborough Based Startup Has Launched A Device That Could Revolutionize Laboratory Systems

A Made in Peterborough device is set to become an essential component in medical laboratories around the world. Trent University-based Lab Improvements is launching the CapTrack, an innovative, benchtop medical specimen capping and archiving device into the U.S. market.

CapTrack is the brainchild of local entrepreneurs Alex Bushell, 28, and Steve Wright, 56, who have more than two decades of combined experience in the design, installation and servicing of lab automation systems around the world. 

From left: Peterborough Innovation Cluster's Rosalea Terry & Mike Skinner; Lab Improvement founders Alex Bushell & Steve Wright

Bushell and Wright saw a need for a compact, affordable solution for labs that could not justify a full-scale automation system.

“While small labs face many of the same issues as larger ones, the traditional automation systems used by high volume labs are not practical for smaller facilities, such as those found in hospitals," says Bushell.

The CapTrack is a portable device that manages refrigerated inventory and caps specimen tubes for medical laboratories. "Our patented technology uses a combination of robotics, process control and software that saves time and money while reducing risk and increasing the quality of laboratory results," says Wright.

Adds Bushell: "Our device allows for smaller labs to process samples automatically, reducing the risk of sample contamination and decreasing staff exposure to blood borne pathogens and repetitive strain injuries. We like to refer to the CapTrack as a ‘co-bot’, meaning a machine that works collaboratively with lab technicians to make their jobs easier, safer and more efficient. It does not replace them."

Bushell and Wright have been working out of the Innovation Cluster's incubator The Cube at Trent University for the past two years. Along with their team of five employees, the duo have taken the CapTrack from a bright idea to market readiness.

"Alex and Steve have had access to our incubation space located at Trent University as well as our knowledge partners and business experts who provided networking, patent application help and strategic planning," says Rosalea Terry, Entrepreneurship & Marketing Coordinator at the Innovation Cluster.

Members of the Lab Improvements team pictured at Trent University's The Cube

Here Is How CapTrack Works...

-> Once lab technicians have loaded the samples into the CapTrack, the device robotically caps the filled tubes before rotating them through a scanner, reading their bar codes and inputting the information into a database.

-> The samples are then placed into racks for storing. During this process, the device will illuminate any faulty sample that needs a closer look by surrounding it with red light, immediately notifying the lab staff of a problem.

-> Samples that require further testing are normal in any lab, says Bushell: “The CapTrack allows staff to look up a sample on the device and find where it is located within the fridge, versus the current method that could take a lab tech managing the cold in the fridge up to two hours at a time to locate just one sample."

Bushell and Wright recently inked an agreement with Holland, Michigan-based M2 Scientifics to market and distribute the CapTrack to the lucrative American health sciences sector. They plan to market to Canada’s 1,300 hospitals and the broader global market in subsequent phases of development.

"Lab Improvements will manufacture and service every CapTrack in Peterborough," says Wright, adding that the company currently has the capacity to build four devices a week. While traditional large-scale automation systems can cost upward of $3 million, the CapTrack retails for under $50,000 U.S., making it affordable for laboratories of all sizes.

You can watch a video to learn more about how it works here...

Lab Improvements has developed a portable, benchtop-sized device that manages refrigerated inventory and recaps specimen tubes for small-to-medium medical laboratories. Traditional, large-scale automation systems used by high volume laboratories are not practical for smaller facilities, such as those found in hospitals. As a result, laboratories of this size are forced to process samples manually, significantly increasing the risk of sample contamination, and exposing staff to bloodborne pathogens and repetitive strain injury. Our patented technology uses a combination of robotics, process control and software that saves time and money while reducing risk and increasing the quality of laboratory results.

"The invention of this device is a huge step forward for the medical industry and it is very exciting that the manufacturing of this product will continue to remain in Peterborough, which will help strengthen our local economy," says Michael Skinner, President & CEO at the Innovation Cluster.

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Innovation: Fleming College Students To Utilize New Space In Downtown Cube

The Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster (GPIC) has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Fleming College. Fleming will occupy 1,000 square-feet of dedicated space for use by business and technology students in the newly expanded downtown incubator located in the newly launched VentureNorth building at 270 George St. N.

“At Fleming, we are always seeking new ways to enhance work-integrated learning," says Maxine Mann, Dean of the School of Business and the School of Trades and Technology. "We know the actual nature of work is changing with innovation, entrepreneurism and synergies amongst technology and business being keys for the future success of our students and our communities. This space recognizes this change and allows our students to gain the skills needed for this cultural shift."

The Applied Project space will be integrated into the current youth zone for entrepreneurs under 29 years of age, which is located on the 3rd floor of the VentureNorth building.

“We’re very excited about the deep level of collaboration between GPIC and the Fleming College staff and students," says Michael Skinner, President & CEO of the Innovation Cluster. "Our past partnership through the FastStart program has already proven to help generate the awareness among students about entrepreneurship as a career path."

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City Of Peterborough Now Offering Super Handy 2016 City Construction Interactive Map

The City Of Peterborough has just released a new interactive map which identifies road construction work throughout the city.

The City’s Utility Services Department Engineering Division announced the launch of the new “2016 City Construction Interactive Map”, which you can find here.

Screengrab from interactive map

The map is a super handy reference tool for residents, businesses and visitors to get information about City roads projects and to plan their transportation routes accordingly.

The interactive map shows the road construction projects throughout the City—listing project contact information, anticipated completion date and details on the type of work being performed. The map also identifies new subdivisions currently under development.


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Peterborough Police Outfitted Traffic SUV With Automated Licence Plate Recognition System

The Peterborough Police Service’s Traffic Management Unit just unveiled its newest crime prevention and proactive policing program: The Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) system.

Three cameras installed on traffic SUV's roof

HOW IT WORKS...

-> Using infrared technology, the ALPR system—consisting of three sophisticated cameras installed to the roof of a Traffic Unit SUV (see pictures)—scans licence plates at a rate of three plates per second.

-> The system looks for violations including but not limited to expired validation stickers, stolen licence plates and suspended and unlicensed drivers.

-> The ALPR works in conjunction with the new in-car tablets which also contributes to the officers’ efficiency.

Traffic Sergeant Jeff Chartier and Traffic Constable Cameron Kenny demonstrate the technology

Traffic Sergeant Jeff Chartier says that the camera system reads licence plates and compares the plates to a known list that is downloaded daily. This includes information regarding stolen plates, unattached plates, prohibited and suspended drivers.

The system also allows for officers to input licence plate information for various alerts, including AMBER alerts where time is of the essence.

Traffic Constable Cameron Kenny demonstrates the new technology

Police say the system is not replacing officer interaction with the public and that traffic officers are still very much required for interaction and action with the public. If a plate scans a suspended driver, the officer will still have to speak with the driver as it may be another person, other than the registered owner of the vehicle, driving that vehicle.

The ALPR system allows officers to multitask and conduct other traffic enforcement initiatives, such as speed enforcement, while the ALPR system is running in the background.

“The new system increases officer efficiency, officer safety and road safety,” Traffic Sergeant Chartier says. “This system is all about road safety, crime prevention, investigation and proactive policing.”

The Peterborough Police Service has the one traffic SUV (pictured) outfitted with the ALPR technology with the hope of expanding to additional vehicles in the future. The funding for the ALPR system was provided by the Ministry of Attorney General via a Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities grant.

—guest post by Lauren Gilchrist, Peterborough Police

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AgTech Startups Booming: Innovation Cluster Partners With Peterborough Agriculture Society

Seeing the vast potential in the booming AgTech sector locally, The Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster (GPIC) has announced an innovative new partnership with the Peterborough Agricultural Society (PAS).

It was a perfect fit with the Innovation Cluster as The Peterborough Agriculture Society has outlined a new strategic plan which clearly identifies the desire to promote agriculture awareness with an emphasis on advanced agriculture processes and technology, something the Innovation Cluster has championed in the community.

Entomo Farms

Indeed, the Innovation Cluster has been working with companies to aid in the commercialization of agriculture research and in promoting innovation in the agriculture sector with companies such as Noble Tech Inc., Entomo Farms and Chimp Treats.

“There are a growing number of AgTech start-ups in the region and this partnership will be crucial to the development of our local agriculture sector and economy,” says Michael Skinner, Interim CEO of the Innovation Cluster.

Andrea Lacerda from Noble Tech

The Innovation Cluster will kick off this unique affiliation with PAS by hosting a demonstration area—coined "Innovation Agriculture Zone"—at the Peterborough Exhibition in August for Innovative Agriculture related companies, and Chimp Treats will be there launching a new product.

We're teaming up with local farmers to bring a healthy, frozen treat to the @ptboex 🍌 + 🍓 -> 🍦 #nicecream @InnovationPtbo @PtboCanada

— Chimp Treats (@chimptreats) June 9, 2016

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Downtown Peterborough To Have Free Outdoor Wi-Fi

**UPDATE (June 21st)** Free outdoor Wi-Fi is still definitely happening in downtown Peterborough but its launch has been delayed, the DBIA tells PTBOCanada. "We've hit a number of snags along the way that have slowed the project down, but it is still very much in the works and will launch this summer," Communications Manager Joel Wiebe tells PTBOCanada. No specific launch date is given, but they're aiming for July.

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ORIGINAL POST

Awesome news for Downtown Peterborough as free outdoor Wi-Fi is coming to the downtown core later this spring, likely in May.

"Wi-Fi and smartphones are becoming integral to the way people shop, dine, work, live and enjoy a night out," says DBIA Communications Manager Joel Wiebe. "Downtown continues to offer a rewarding local experience and modernizing with free Wi-Fi will add to that experience."

The free Wi-Fi will cover much of the main commercial area downtown with potential to expand it if it's a success.

"Wi-Fi is one more way for us to show value to our members and make downtown more competitive," adds DBIA Executive Director Terry Guiel.

This exciting venture is a partnership between the DBIA, Community Futures Development Corporation, Peterborough Utilities Group, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism, the City of Peterborough and other potential partners.

The Wi-Fi will be similar to most free networks in that you'll have to hit "agree" on a landing page but you won't need to have a password.

After you sign in, your can tweet and instagram away about our beautiful downtown!

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Noble Tech Inc. Announces $20-Million, 50,000-Square-Foot Clean Tech Algae Plant In Peterborough

Peterborough-based start-up Noble Tech, parent company to Noble Purification, has announced plans for a $20 million, 50,000-square-foot production facility, offering sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment, nutritional and pharmaceutical sectors while expanding Ontario’s green economy.

Noble Tech Inc. founder Adam Noble announced the plans for the company’s growth Monday (February 8th) at Trent University—with a goal to become the premier tenant of the new Trent Research and Innovation Park.

Adam Noble @NPurification to expand & ramp up production with goal to be 1st @TrentUniversity research park tenant pic.twitter.com/89t3TdCvlo

— Trent University (@TrentUniversity) February 8, 2016

“We see algae differently. We want to create a more sustainable future," Noble says. "We are going to change the way the world treats water and we want to do that right here in Peterborough."

Noble Tech Inc. is a next generation bioproducts company with a goal to create a more sustainable future. It researches, cultivates and markets unique microalgae strains and their derivatives for various market applications from wastewater treatment to nutritional products, and eventually, pharmaceuticals.

Adam Noble acknowledges support from @TrentUniversity researchers in leading to @NPurification success to date. pic.twitter.com/v1JZ9M2kbC

— Trent University (@TrentUniversity) February 8, 2016

Noble Tech plans to begin construction on its new facility in Spring 2017. The new facility will have a capacity to produce more than 10,000 tonnes of algae per year. The timing is dependent on the construction of servicing to the Trent Research and Innovation Park by the City of Peterborough and Trent University, and the City of Peterborough finalizing the management structure for the park.

Very proud to hear of @AdamN22 & @NPurification's plans at @TrentUniversity in the years ahead. #Ptbo pic.twitter.com/08Cr52CWt3

— Michael (@vanderherberg) February 8, 2016

Noble currently employs six people with plans to grow its team to 12 people in 2016. When Noble’s new research and production facility is completed, its workforce is projected to increase to 25 positions.

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