July Wrap Up: Innovation Summer in Waterloo

The Waterloo region is always moving forward with something new. The past month has been filled with new starts for the region, from new funding to major innovations and research. Let’s recount some of the highlights of July here in Waterloo.

Westinghouse and Eclipse partner on nuclear innovation

Westinghouse and Eclipse Automation signed an agreement to work together on advanced nuclear technologies both in Canada and internationally. The agreement aims to use automation solutions to enhance manufacturing processes and improve operational safety in nuclear facilities. Headquartered in Kitchener and Cambridge respectively, the two companies are leaders in the Waterloo region nuclear ecosystem.

The agreement marks another milestone in Westinghouse’s strategy of strengthening ties with Canadian industry aiming to bolster the domestic supply chain for nuclear infrastructure. Eclipse Automation leverages its seasoned background in engineering, manufacturing, and digital innovation to support the new projects. This initiative highlights the region’s growing role as a hub for nuclear innovation and clean energy development.

UWaterloo advances quantum communication security

New research from the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) lays the foundation for secure quantum communications through efforts to certify Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) devices. The goal of the project is to create a verifiable security proof that third parties can assess.

The research team, headed by IQC executive director Dr. Norbert Lütkenhaus, examined one of the most widely used techniques for distributing quantum-encrypted keys and evaluated the mathematical proofs that support its security.

Cobionix secures funding to launch medical robot

Waterloo-based Cobionix closed a strategic funding round worth $3-million USD to put the company’s collaborative medical robot on the market. The all-equity round was led by TitletownTech, who is connecting Cobionix with new healthcare providers and aiding with the company’s international manufacturing network.

Cobionix was founded by University of Waterloo engineering alumni in 2021. The medical robot is designed to help diagnostic ultrasound procedures and is backed by research and pilot projects from across Canada, the US and the United Kingdom. Its design allows for tools to be switched out on the fly and over the air software update. Future goals for the company include expanding the robot’s ability to aid with logistical tasks within hospitals.

GeoMate maps Kitchener for autonomous shuttle project

Kitchener startup GeoMate Inc. has partnered with the City of Kitchener to begin work on autonomous shuttles in the city’s downtown area. GeoMate’s role in the project is to make highly detailed maps that are key to autonomous driving technology. These maps include data that will guide the autonomous shuttles through the city safely.

Kitchener’s long-term goal for the project is to use autonomous shuttles to connect public spaces around the downtown area to the region’s light rail transit system, giving people a more efficient option to travel across the community. Additionally, building the digital infrastructure for the city now will allow for new innovations to be made going forward.

Waterloo-backed study finds boost in colon cancer survival

Researchers at the Waterloo Regional Health Network Cancer Centre and the University of Waterloo contributed to the results of a two-decade long study led by the Canadian Cancer Trials group. The study found that colon cancer patients who regularly exercised had an increased survival rate by 37%. Since 2009, 33 patients from the Waterloo region were treated as part of this research study. The study’s results were only able to be reached in part due to the Waterloo Regional Health Network’s involvement.