Mission ImPULSEible
Take on a real food challenge: Graduate food-science teams partner with leading food companies to solve pulse ingredient R&D challenges — with up to $5,000 in funded research per project.
-
About the Program
Mission ImPULSEible is a national, industry-driven applied research program connecting graduate student teams at Canadian universities with technical challenges defined by food companies.
Each participating company develops a mission brief — a defined product category, technical barrier, and curated portfolio of approved pulse ingredients — and student teams propose applied research to solve it.
The program is led by Pulse Canada in partnership with food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, with funding provided by the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC). Up to five projects are selected annually for funding of up to $5,000 each, executed during the winter term and presented in April.
-
Who Can Participate
The program is open to graduate student teams at Canadian universities, with up to four students per team, guided by a faculty advisor who oversees the research and approves the final proposal. You'll develop a proposal targeting a published mission brief in the fall term. If selected, you'll execute the research January–April and present your findings.
Why Participate?
Make direct industry connections
Work alongside food-company R&D teams and put your research in front of the people building tomorrow's products. |
Work on real challenges
Every mission brief is rooted in a real, timely technical barrier the pulse sector is working to solve — not a hypothetical exercise. |
Get exposure beyond the classroom
Midpoint reviews and final presentations put your work directly in front of industry partners and ingredient suppliers, not just your department. |
Program Timeline
The full Mission Briefs and Program Guide will be released soon, with the competition formally opening for proposals on September 7, 2026.
Ready to Sign Up?
The full Mission Briefs and Program Guide will be released soon.
Sign up below to get notified when they're available.
Promote Mission ImPULSEible On Your Campus
-
- Applications
Pea Protein as an Egg Replacer in Cookies
This case study evaluated pea protein as an egg replacer in cookie formulations, examining its effects on dough properties, finished product texture, and sensory attributes compared to traditional egg-containing cookies.
-
- Applications
Pea Protein as an Egg Replacer in Cookies
This case study evaluated pea protein as an egg replacer in cookie formulations, examining its effects on dough properties, finished product texture, and sensory attributes compared to traditional egg-containing cookies.
-
- Applications
Pea Protein as an Egg Replacer in Cookies
This case study evaluated pea protein as an egg replacer in cookie formulations, examining its effects on dough properties, finished product texture, and sensory attributes compared to traditional egg-containing cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate?
Mission ImPULSEible is open to graduate student teams at Canadian universities — up to four students per team, guided by a faculty advisor who provides research oversight and approves the final proposal.
Who owns the ideas our team develops?
Students and universities retain ownership of their work and may publish findings through academic channels. All project work is pre-competitive and non-confidential — participating companies may use insights internally, but do not gain exclusive rights.
How are finalists judged?
Pulse Canada, participating companies and ingredient suppliers score proposals against a structured framework:
- Problem understanding & mission alignment (20%)
- Experimental design & scientific rigor (25%)
- Inovation & problem solving (20%)
- Technical feasibility (20%)
- Budget & resource justification (10%)
- Proposal clarity (5%)
Is funding available?
Up to five projects are funded annually, at up to $5,000 each, to cover consumables and research costs during execution. Selected teams also get structured Q&A support during proposal development and a midpoint review during execution
Who do we contact with questions?
Contact Janelle Carlin, Director, Quality, Science & Food Innovation at jcarlin@pulsecanada.com.