Ontario Tech students pitch health-care AI-driven ideas with Lakeridge Health experts

The Brilliant Catalyst’s annual ideathon connects to PATH initiative between both organizations

February 10, 2025

Participants in the 2025 Catalyst Challenge, hosted by the Brilliant Catalyst, Ontario Tech’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub, in collaboration with Lakeridge Health.

OSHAWA, ONTARIO – Ontario Tech University students are using artificial intelligence (AI) and technology to propose innovative solutions for key health-care challenges, in collaboration with Lakeridge Health and the Brilliant Catalyst, Ontario Tech’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub.

Brilliant Catalyst joined forces with the Partnership for Advanced Technology in Health Care (PATH), to deliver this year’s Catalyst Challenge. PATH is an alliance between the university and Lakeridge Health launched in October 2024 to unite the strengths of Lakeridge Health, Durham Region’s integrated health system, and Ontario Tech University to improve patient outcomes, access, and sustainability in health-care services, using advanced technologies such as AI.

Over the course of the eight-day Catalyst Challenge, interdisciplinary student teams were challenged to collaborate and develop innovative ideas to address the most pressing challenges facing the health-care sector today through the lens of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Quadruple Aim*, adopted by Lakeridge Health.

The top nine teams were invited to the January 31 challenge finale to pitch their exciting innovations to a panel of Lakeridge Health and Ontario Tech judges.

The three winning teams will now have the opportunity to formally bring their ideas to life with the Brilliant Catalyst’s Business Incubator, where they will receive access to exclusive resources, including continued mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities. The winning teams were awarded $2,000 prizes to help with the development of their solutions. They will also have the opportunity to further validate their solutions through a Lakeridge Health tour and lunch with the organization’s leadership.

*Lakeridge Health’s ‘Quadruple Aim’

Improving population health outcomes, especially for diverse and aging populations.
Enhancing care quality, accessibility and co-ordination for seamless patient experiences.
Reducing costs and increasing health-care sustainability through resource optimization.
Enhancing provider well-being by reducing burnout and streamlining workflows.

Quotes

“The Brilliant Catalyst was thrilled to partner with Lakeridge Health and the PATH initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the health-care sector. Opportunities such as the Catalyst Challenge, and our other Experience Ventures programs, are great examples of how Ontario Tech students are future-ready, and eager to create a lasting impact through the ethical implementation of technology.”
-Dr. Osman Hamid, Director, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Ontario Tech University

“The Catalyst Challenge really highlighted the creativity and problem-solving skills of the student teams, and hearing their innovative approaches to health-care challenges was inspiring. This event reinforced the value of connecting education and research with health care to foster new talent and ideas. It was a perfect way to launch our collaboration with Ontario Tech, and we’re excited for the future of PATH – our Partnership for Advanced Technology in Health Care.”
-Dr. Ilan Lenga, Chief Information Officer, Lakeridge Health