Innovations with High Market Potential

Smart garment for real‑time 3D monitoring of scoliosis

A smart garment integrating innovative textile sensors to measure, in real time, the progression of scoliosis, without rigid components or ionizing imaging. Soft and non‑invasive, it allows continuous monitoring of spinal curvature and brace effectiveness.

This innovation addresses a major limitation of current practices, which still rely heavily on periodic X‑rays, exposing adolescents to repeated radiation and providing only a limited, momentary view of postural evolution.

Researcher and photo credit: Aruny Pathammavong (Ph.D. student)

RnB: A selective method for isolating brain oscillations

The RnB algorithm improves EEG and SEEG analysis by isolating true brain oscillations while removing aperiodic noise. It facilitates the detection of neurological events and the identification of reliable clinical biomarkers for diagnosis and health monitoring.
The result? A clearer, more precise, and scientifically usable signal.

Researchers and photo credit: : Michael-Christopher Foti (Ph.D. student) et Jean-Marc Lina (Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering)

Physiological bladder simulator for controlled analysis of ureteral jets

This anatomically realistic, fully controlled in vitro bladder simulator precisely reproduces ureteral jets. It integrates advanced imaging tools, offering a reproducible platform for diagnostic research and for validating urological devices.

This technology provides an ideal environment for diagnostic research, medical device validation, and technological development in urology.

Researcher and photo credit:  Kyarash Mohammadi (M.Sc.A) et Giuseppe Di Labbio (Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering)

Automatic characterization of coronary artery tissues using OCT imaging

Leveraging deep learning combined with optical coherence tomography (OCT), this technology automatically detects and characterizes tissues layers inside the coronary arteries with high precision.

It enables early detection of tissue changes and supports clinical interpretation of OCT images.

Researcher and photo credit: Luc Duong (Professor, Software and IT Engineering Department)

Pump‑free nanoparticle system driven by centrifugation

This compact system enables pump‑free nanoparticle fabrication. Through a micromixer, reagents are precisely mixed and fractionated directly inside standard laboratory tubes using centrifugal force.

The solution significantly reduces challenges related to cost, complexity, and reproducibility.

Researcher and photo credit: Vahé Nerguizian (Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering)

Misting‑based 3D printing head for bio‑printing

This invention combines precise syringe-based dispensing with misting technology to uniformly deposit biomaterials for 3D bioprinting.

It reduces waste and improves printing quality for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Researchers and photo credit: Sara Badr (Ph.D. student), Ali Ahmadi (Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering)

Passive earplugs offering natural perception of one’s own voice

These earplugs use advanced acoustic architecture to reduce external noise without amplifying internal sounds, including the user’s own voice. Ambient noise is attenuated while the voice remains natural—without resonance or muffled sensation. Acoustic comfort is significantly improved, and communication remains clear. The technology is fully passive, integrated directly into the earplug, and is currently deployed in earplugs developed by PhonicLab.

Researchers and photo credit: Kévin Carillo and Olivier Doutres (Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering)

High-precision MEMS clock

This innovative MEMS clock combines a micro-oscillator and an extremely accurate temperature control system on a single silicon chip. Until now, this level of frequency stability was reserved for much larger and more power-hungry electronic systems. Being compact and energy-efficient, the technology can meet the needs of critical systems in telecommunication, geolocation (GNSS), data centres, and high-precision instrumentation.

This invention solves a major problem affecting existing high-precision clock components, which require bulky, energy-intensive, thermally-insulated housings to maintain their stability. With an integrated silicon solution, achieving similar performance in a considerably more compact format is now possible.

Professor Frédéric Nabki’s research team is widely recognized for their expertise and leadership in the field of MEMS oscillators. AxioChron is marketing the technology.

Printing photocatalytic surfaces for water treatment

Metal oxide-based active surfaces that decontaminate industrial water using light. Inktio has developed this innovative technology, which enables the crystallization of certain metal oxides, such as titanium dioxide, when exposed to visible light while consuming far less energy than conventional thermal processes.

This innovation addresses a major challenge in water treatment: producing high-performance photocatalytic surfaces on a large scale, while lowering the energy costs associated with their production. This technological breakthrough means it’s now possible to print these surfaces on plastic materials, facilitating industrialization of the technology and paving the way for new solutions to water-related environmental challenges.

The technology was developed by Jaime Benavides, Luis Felipe Gerlein Reyes, and Astrid Carolina Angel Ospina, with scientific support from Professor Sylvain Cloutier.

Micromotor-based optical MEMS scanner

Unleash the power of integrated optical components with rotary micromotors. Free rotation allows for unprecedented angular range or wavelength sweep. This innovative approach surpasses the current performance of micro-mirrors or micro-arrays. This technology is a promising enabler for optical MEMS platforms applied to LiDAR, spectrometers, AR/VR, etc.

Professor Michael Ménard’s research team is widely recognized for their expertise and leadership in the field of photonics integration.

THz polarimetric spectrometer

A compact and versatile polarization-resolved THz spectrometer and imaging system has been developed by integrating chopper wheel with polarization-sensitive frequency-selective surfaces and intensity detector. Inspired by visible/IR polarization imaging principles, this method eliminates the complexity of conventional THz polarimetric systems based on coherent THz-Time Domain Spectrometer (TDS) systems.

Professor François Blanchard’s research team is widely recognized for their expertise and leadership in the field of terahertz systems.

Compact 1 kVDC Auxiliary Power Supply

Designed for high-voltage DC systems, this compact isolated auxiliary power supply converts bus voltages up to 1 kVDC into regulated 24-48 VDC power for control electronics, sensors, communication modules, energy storage systems, EVs, charging infrastructure, renewable energy installations, and industrial equipment.

Its proprietary soft-switching technology delivers high efficiency, ultra-low EMI emissions, reduced thermal stress, and exceptional power density, enabling simpler integration, improved reliability, and lower system costs.

Developed from the world-renowned research of Professor Kamal Al-Haddad and his power electronics team at ÉTS, this technology is now being commercialized by the startup Ondulo.

Ultralight Low-Helium-Leakage Envelope

Designed for balloons and airships, this ultralight envelope improves the endurance and reliability of lighter-than-air platforms used for surveillance, telecommunications, scientific observation, and advertising. Compared with current solutions, it delivers a stronger balance of low weight, tear and puncture resistance, lower helium leakage than polyurethane, and better humidity tolerance, making it well suited for extended operations in demanding environments.

Invented by ÉTS professors David St-Onge and Ilyass Tabiai, with their student Afsaneh Kheirani, a specialist in lighter-than-air vehicle design.

Blade-Based Automatic Modal Hammer for Dynamic Testing and Non-Destructive Evaluation

This automated modal hammer delivers highly repeatable and accurate dynamic testing compared with conventional manual impact methods. Its innovative design combines a bi-directional actuator with a resilient blade mechanism that prevents double hits, resulting in cleaner measurements and more reliable modal analysis. Compact, configurable, and compatible with standard data acquisition platforms, the technology is well suited for material characterization, modal testing, and non-destructive evaluation of composite or layered structures, including applications in confined or climate-controlled environments.

This technology was developed by Professors Jean-Claude Carret and Martin Viens of ÉTS. Their complementary expertise in material characterization, dynamic testing, and non-destructive evaluation strengthens the development of advanced industrial inspection and measurement technologies.