In an era defined by increasing volatility from climate change and complex infrastructure challenges, Canadian 6D simulation firm RUNWITHIT Synthetics is pioneering a novel approach to urban resilience. The company, a Certified Indigenous and women-led enterprise based in Edmonton, is building " live 6D AI-driven models of cities and regions" using its proprietary 6D simulation generative AI platforms.Myrna Bittner, Founder and CEO of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, describes the company's core mission as bridging the "critical gap between very complex data and real human experience." The goal is to make data accessible, enjoyable, and relevant for leaders-many of whom are not technologists-who are making critical policy and investment decisions around resilience, new energy technologies, and community welfare.The Power of the Living Digital TwinRUNWITHIT Synthetics does not rely solely on existing historical data, a significant differentiator in a field often constrained by data availability. Instead, their technology is built to thrive in scenarios where historical data is scarce or where anticipated events-like an extraordinary cold snap in a warm city-have never occurred."We shouldn't let data be our barrier when we need to be looking and planning in the future," Bittner states.The company's platform consumes diverse inputs-from spatial and satellite data to public census and research-to synthesize a "living form of reality." It then runs "superscalar simulations" on this digital twin, generating new, reliable data from configured, novel scenarios through emergent behavior modeling.This approach requires a highly diverse team, blending deep-tech social system engineers, AI programmers, game engine developers, designers, and animators. The inclusion of design is deliberate; as Bittner notes, making the future compelling and beautiful makes data more accessible.Furthermore, the company is highly focused on efficiency, utilizing clustering technology, parallel processing, and federated generative AI to minimize computing consumption, allowing complex simulations to be run even on a laptop.Versatility: Driving Strategic Decisions Across Multiple ScenariosThe power of RUNWITHIT Synthetics' platform lies in its modular and adaptable architecture, which allows customers to flexibly integrate modules for distinct strategic purposes. Applications span beyond disaster management to include long-term strategic advisory, community growth planning, and infrastructure design."Customers can choose a focus area and not even be limited by that one focus area," Bittner explains. The platform enables users to model the intricate connections between design response, energy resilience, public health, social infrastructure planning, and security environments. This interconnectedness allows clients to effectively navigate the comprehensive impact of various decisions on the built environment, the natural environment, and the community.Globally, the company is tackling major challenges such as modeling the impacts of extreme cold in Nashville and working with the Government of Canada to improve resilience in rural communities. This Canadian project, for example, models the interconnections between energy, health, and communication systems while assessing the benefits of implementing distributed energy resources like solar, wind, and virtual power.Asia Expansion: Applying Versatile Planning Tools in TaiwanA major focus for the company is market expansion, with Taiwan serving as a key strategic access point for Southeast Asia. The recent Hualien flood disaster provided a stark reminder of the challenges the region faces.In light of this, RUNWITHIT Synthetics has already established foundational relationships, notably with the Taiwan Indigenous Sustainable Development Association and the Council of Indigenous Peoples (TISDA). Their goal of joining the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) program is to advance digital twin applications for rural and indigenous communities in Taiwan, focusing on emergency preparedness, improved health access, and sustainable energy development-precisely the kind of interlinked systems analysis needed for planning and disaster recovery. They are also seeking to reinvigorate conversations with the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) regarding health research simulations involving population data, which is crucial for managing health crises following a natural event.Myrna Bittner, Founder and CEO of RUNWITHIT Synthetics. Credit: RUNWITHIT Synthetics

Ted Jin, founder and CEO of AuX Labs, is leading a charge in the food technology space with a mission driven by global impact and climate concerns. His company, which began operating around 2022, is pioneering the production of recombinant casein from yeast using precision fermentation to create animal-free dairy ingredients.Jin's journey into the bio-tech world comes after a decade in consumer packaged goods at companies like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, and prior experience in an earlier startup. His motivation isn't a personal dietary choice like being a vegetarian or vegan; rather, it's a deep-seated belief in the urgent need to solve food system challenges to sustainably feed a projected 10 billion people. "We aren't in a position that we can expand traditional animal agriculture," he stated, citing the finite nature of land and valuable resources.Precision Fermentation: A Non-Compromise AlternativeAuX Labs is focused on developing an ingredient: a casein powder that is functionally and nutritionally identical to the animal protein. This recombinant casein is produced by genetically manipulating yeast to express the protein. The goal is to provide a diversified protein source that doesn't force consumers to compromise on taste, function, price, or nutritional value.Jin sees their product as a necessary supplementation to-not a threat to-traditional animal agriculture. The company operates on a Business-to-Business (B2B) model, supplying this casein ingredient to consumer goods companies and food formulators to create end products like cheese.1. The Problem with "Wave One": Jin notes that the first wave of alternative proteins, which focused heavily on plant-based options, is subsiding as consumers demand products that are not just novel, but also taste good, are nutritious, and are priced comparably to animal products.2. Safety and Regulation: The company already holds a self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status in the United States, which is crucial legwork in substantiating the protein's safety for human consumption.Global Expansion: A Look to Asia and TaiwanAuX Labs' core launch markets are currently Canada and the United States. The company is venture-backed, having closed a pre-seed and currently in the process of closing a new seed round, ensuring financial stability for the "coming period".Taiwan is positioned as the company's "first test" and a potential proving ground for Asian markets. Jin believes the Taiwanese market offers the agility of local companies and a population with a positive bias towards nutrition and health consciousness. A successful launch here would give the company confidence to pursue similar approaches in adjacent markets like Northeast and Southeast Asia (including Japan, Korea, and mainland China).Challenges to Overseas SuccessScaling into new markets is not without its difficulties, which Jin identifies in two key areas:1. Operating Expertise: Mastering the logistics of manufacturing in Canada and then exporting the casein ingredient into Taiwan, subject to the appropriate regulations.2. Local Partnerships: Finding a committed local partner in Taiwan, not just for the short term but for a multi-year effort. Jin stresses that this ingredient is novel, not just to Taiwan, but "new to the world".While the immediate plan is to import the Canadian-produced casein ingredient, establishing a local manufacturing presence in Taiwan remains an option if there is strong demand. Before that, the company will also need to validate their GRAS dossier and notify or file with the Taiwanese FDA.The Ultimate Goal: Price ParityJin's ultimate aspiration for AuX Labs is to be recognized as a pioneer in recombinant proteins. While he sees technology as "mature," he admits that the pricing is not mature yet. The final goal is to bring these animal-free proteins to market at a price point that is similar to animal proteins-something the regular consumer can afford-over the next few years. Achieving this price parity will be the key to establishing yeast-derived proteins as a viable and sufficient supply source for the global food system.Ted Jin, founder and CEO of AuX Labs. Credit: AuX Labs

Illumia Labs, a Canada-headquartered pioneer in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) training, is targeting the Asia-Pacific market, with a specific focus on setting up a local presence and cultivating an advanced, AI-powered XR training ecosystem in Taiwan. The company, co-founded by two former Singapore Air Force pilots, is addressing a critical global labor shortage.Alan Tay, Illumia Labs co-founder and CEO, detailed the company's unique approach to immersive training with generative AI, their ambitious Series A funding plan and how the firm aims to leverage Taiwan's strong technological infrastructure in an interview with DIGITIMES.From Cockpit to Code: The Birth of a Digital HumanThe inspiration for Illumia Labs, according to Alan Tay, stemmed from a persistent real-world problem observed while running a flight school: a constant shortage of mechanics and flight instructors dating back to 2015, which significantly impacted the flight school's ability to produce trained pilots with reduced timeline.After successfully developing an initial Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in 2021 to digitize a flight instructor, the company began moving beyond aviation, realizing the potential for its technology across numerous vocations.Illumia Labs differentiates itself from traditional VR/AR training methods by focusing on human-centred AI. The core technology involves:1. Behavioural Replication: Training the AI to copy the human instructor's behaviour, subtle actions, and complex assessment methods using video data.2. Immersive Scenario-Based Learning: Placing the resulting "digital human" into immersive environments (VR, AR, or XR) where it can act as a mentor or role-playing partner.3. Sensor Agnosticism: The technology is not restricted to bulky goggles but can be integrated into AR/XR glasses or sensor-filled training rooms."We are not there to replace the human, but to make sure that the human is capable doing their jobs with much more proficiency," Tay stated.Beyond Maintenance: AI in Customer ServiceWhile founded in aviation and mechanics, the company has found diverse applications for its technology, particularly in customer service such as training flight attendants, banking staff and other customer facing staff. The AI is designed to ensure a "gold standard" of service that includes proper tone, language, and body language.A key unique feature is the AI's ability to conduct evaluation while the trainee is physically performing a task. For example, the AI can role-play as a "disruptive passenger" while a flight attendant trainee practices virtual food service in a confined space. This hands-on, contextual assessment offers a dynamic and individualized immersive training experience unlike simple chatbot conversations.Crucially, the system is designed to handle multilingual and culturally sensitive training.Alan Tay noted that the product is designed to be 80% complete, stating: "The other 20% I need the local experts to let us know what are the local customs. We can add on, and our AI learns from the video." This final, customized portion is built into the business model as a one-time Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) fee, alongside standard SaaS licenses and seed models for larger organizations.Aggressive Expansion and Taiwan's RoleIllumia Labs is executing an aggressive scaling plan, following its successful model in Singapore and a recent expansion into Malaysia. Participating in the CTA program, the company views Taiwan as a strategic hub for the Indo-Pacific rollout.The biggest challenge the company faces is not technological capability, but infrastructure and data connectivity. "Not everywhere has accessibility to 5G," Alan Tay lamented, citing issues with latency and computing power accessibility in various global markets. However, the co-founder expressed optimism about Taiwan, stating that its advanced infrastructure is expected to make the local rollout "a lot more smoother" than in other parts of the regions. "Taiwan's success stories", he added, "will serve as vital pilot cases for further international scaling."Alan Tay, founder of Illumia Labs. Credit: Illumia Labs