Inspiring the next generation of engineers

Toronto Metropolitan University is a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship, and its reputation led to an important partnership with The Norman Esch Foundation.

In 2013, the foundation launched an awards program for undergraduate and graduate students of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS). Today, the Esch Awards are a cornerstone of the Faculty’s drive to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Through the awards, The Norman Esch Foundation has inspired several success stories. Seyed Nourbakhsh is one of them. A graduate of Ryerson’s chemical engineering program, he founded the company Formarum. The support he received from the foundation helped him create a device for swimming pools that can generate sanitizers to disinfect water, thereby eliminating the need for chemicals.

“The Esch Awards and the funding, mentorship and recognition that I received from it was the spark that kick-started Formarum and everything we have done since,” says Nourbakhsh. “The Esch Awards simply opened the doors for us to build this company.”

The purpose of the Esch Awards is to enable new, innovative ideas for products, inventions and technologies that are relevant to the Canadian economy. In addition to financial support, student winners also receive guidance and mentorship along the journey to develop their ideas.

In 2017, a total of 140 applications for Esch Awards were received and more than $300,000 in Esch funding was distributed to 37 winning student teams.

Sami Dalati was a previous award winner, and his Esch Award helped him at an important point in his company’s development. A Ryerson Electrical Engineering graduate, Dalati co-founded Brizi, a fan-controlled social camera technology used in major sports markets. Since 2015, Brizi has earned close to $1 million in revenue. 

"The funding from the Esch Awards helped us keep the lights on at the most crucial time of our venture,” says Dalati. The assistance he received from the Esch foundation has also encouraged him to pay it forward in the future. “I intend to use the influence I’ve gained to help fellow entrepreneurs through their journey.”