“Celebrating the Successful Completion of the 5th Round of NSERC SMART CREATE Entrepreneurship Workshops
The NSERC SMART CREATE program at the University of Alberta proudly celebrated the successful completion of the 5th round of its Entrepreneurship Workshop series, held from January 23 to April 10, 2026. The program concluded with an exciting Pitch Competition Day on April 10, where participants showcased innovative solutions to a pressing healthcare challenge.
This year, the workshop series brought together 28 participants from across Campus Alberta, including students and trainees from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge, Red Deer Polytechnic, and NAIT. Throughout the program, participants strengthened their entrepreneurial mindset, explored pathways to innovation, and collaborated in interdisciplinary teams to tackle real-world healthcare issues.
The Pitch Competition Challenge
For the final challenge, four teams developed and pitched innovative healthcare solutions aimed at supporting patients living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and reducing the frequency of emergency room visits.
The teams impressed the audience and judges alike with their creativity, passion, teamwork, and commitment to improving patient care. All four teams delivered outstanding presentations that demonstrated strong interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative thinking, and a shared commitment to improving healthcare outcomes.
Congratulations to Team “Gills” for winning the Pitch Competition trophy. Team members included Effatsadat Faregh, Hans Jarales, Merwa Al-Rasheed, Michael Yoo, Niloufar Mir Fallah, Saugat KC, Soroush Soleymani, and Yasaman Mashayekhi. The winning team was supported by workshop facilitator Chris Small.
Workshop Leadership and Guest Speakers
The workshop series was led by Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, with facilitation support from representatives from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Red Deer Polytechnic, and the University of Lethbridge.
Participants also benefited from an exceptional group of guest speakers and panelists who shared their experiences in entrepreneurship, healthcare innovation, and business development. Speakers represented academia, startups, healthcare organizations, and industry, inspiring participants through real-world stories and insights into innovation and commercialization.
Featured speakers included:
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Jalene Anderson-Baron, Founder and COO, Future Fields Cellular
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Dr. Megan Strickfaden, Professor, Human Ecology, University of Alberta
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Marley Alles, Founder, Rax Clothing Rental App
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Tony Briggs, Executive Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta
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Dr. Giovanni Ferrara, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta
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Benveet (Bean) Gill, Co-Founder and CEO, ReYu Paralysis Recovery Center
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Andrea Urbina, CEO, ELIXR Simulations
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Riccardo Baldini, Owner, Strathcona Microgreens – Urban Farm
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Markian Bahniuk, Alberta Innovates
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David Cheng, Director of Innovation and Partnerships, University of Alberta
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Victor Shewchuk, President, VisionWorks Consulting Group
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Jodi Goebel, Health Transformation Executive, AltaML
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Kurian Tharakan, StrategyPeak Sales & Marketing Advisors
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Pitch Competition Judges and Networking Event
The Pitch Competition took place on April 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and was followed by a social networking dinner that allowed participants, judges, speakers, and facilitators to connect and celebrate the achievements of the cohort.
The competition was evaluated by an outstanding panel of judges representing academia, healthcare, innovation, and industry, including:
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David Cheng, Director, Innovation & Partnerships, Vice-President Research & Innovation, University of Alberta
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Megan Strickfaden, Professor, Human Ecology, University of Alberta
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Brian Ruptash, Chief Experience Officer, My Viva Inc.
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Quang Tran, Associate Director, Technology Transfer, Vice-President Research & Innovation, University of Alberta
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Jake Hayward, Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta
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Markian Bahniuk, Senior Business Partner for Health Innovation, Alberta Innovates
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Vivian Mushahwar, Director, iSMART
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A special thank you goes to HealthEverywhere for funding the social networking dinner and supporting travel to Edmonton for Campus Alberta participants attending the final workshop day and Pitch Competition.
The SMART CREATE Program offers new, immersive workshops that expose students to the breadth of interdisciplinary topics involved in creating smart rehabilitation technologies.
The workshops occur on an annual basis and are a mandatory component of the CREATE program. Students will work in an interdisciplinary cohort to learn cooperative team skills and are engaged as workshop assistants in subsequent years. Each workshop including debrief sessions for students to share their experiences, provide feedback and revise their personal learning plans based on what they learned during the week.
Get Ready for the Next Round of the NSERC SMART CREATE Entrepreneurship Workshop!
Are you interested in innovation, entrepreneurship, and creating real-world impact? Join us for the upcoming Winter 2026 NSERC SMART CREATE Entrepreneurship Workshop!
Date: 10 Friday afternoons, Jan 23 to Apr 10, 2026
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (MT)
Location: ECHA 2-140 (University of Alberta, North Campus) and Online via Zoom (for participants outside Edmonton)
We are excited to announce that this upcoming round of the CREATE Entrepreneurship Workshop will be offered as an iSMART Micro-Credential Course under the University of Alberta’s Continuing Education (CE) platform. Participants who successfully complete the 10-day workshop will receive a digital badge recognizing their achievement!
This unique workshop is designed primarily for graduate students and early-career professionals interested in entrepreneurship and startup ventures. Last year, participants from across Campus Alberta joined virtually, and many attended the Pitch Presentation Day in person, thanks to the support of A-MEDICO.
The registration fee for the entire workshop series is $75 for students. Thanks to several sponsorships, we are able to offer student scholarships to cover this fee through a simple application process. Industry partners and community organizations are also welcome to participate at an industry rate of $810. For more information, please email the NSERC SMART CREATE Program Coordinator at the University of Alberta.
Google Form Application for Student Scholarship to Cover Registration Fees
Pitching for Impact: Alberta’s Brightest Minds Tackle Healthcare Innovation!
Earlier this year, the NSERC SMART CREATE Pitch Presentation Day marked an inspiring finale to our 4th round of the Entrepreneurship Workshops. Students from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge, Red Deer Polytechnic, and NAIT pitched innovative healthcare solutions demonstrating the creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit that define this program.
What’s Next?
We can’t wait to see what new ideas and collaborations emerge in Winter 2026! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can be part of the next wave of innovation and entrepreneurship in Alberta.
For registration, please email Mahdieh Khoshniat, the NSERC SMART CREATE Program Coordinator at the University of Alberta (khoshnia@ualberta.ca).
Entrepreneurship Workshops
Guided by industry leaders, our Entrepreneurship Workshops are industry-informed and expose trainees to the essential knowledge and skills necessary for career success. Topics include economics, policy, consumer behavior, pitching technology ideas and translating devices to the market.
These workshops are offered annually, providing ongoing opportunities for trainees to engage with real-world entrepreneurial concepts and practices.
For a sample of our content, please see the uploaded webinars available on YouTube.
Knowledge Workshops
Our Knowledge Workshops are led by expert researchers in areas related to rehabilitation technology and blend interactive lectures and demonstrations. Students will be exposed to the breadth of knowledge and interdisciplinary integration required to successfully apply rehabilitation technology, and to stimulate interest for students in additional independent learning projects or in seeking collaborators to augment their current projects.
These workshops are offered annually to ensure students build a strong foundation in key areas that support their academic and professional development.
Skills Workshops
Our Skills Workshops provide students with hands-on projects in lab spaces. Students are assigned to small groups and work collaboratively to plan and implement a project goal. The intent of the skills workshop is to understand the importance and role of each skill set in collaborative projects, and will be able to identify areas of skill development for their personal learning strategy and independent training plan.
These workshops are offered annually to ensure students build a strong foundation in key areas that support their academic and professional development.
Foundational Workshops
Our Foundational Workshops orient students to basic topics that will be revisited and applied throughout training experiences. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training will include exercises on incorporating EDI principles into projects, mentorship and outreach activities. Other foundational topics covered include ethics, interdisciplinary teamwork, leadership, organization change and science communication. Students will have the opportunity to share insights and reflections and to apply these principles to their own projects and personal learning goals.
These workshops are offered annually to ensure students build a strong foundation in key areas that support their academic and professional development.
