Commercialization of the SHARP governance intelligence system - BC-1032

Project type: Research
Desired discipline(s): Computer science, Mathematical Sciences, Business, Social Sciences & Humanities, Economics
Company: Sharp Mind Sharp Style Strategy Inc.
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): South Surrey, BC, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: Master's
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

SHARP Mind, Sharp Style Strategy Inc. is a Canadian governance innovation company developing the SHARP Governance Intelligence System (SGIS), a technology-enabled platform that helps organizations strengthen governance, leadership accountability, responsible AI governance, and institutional trust. The company integrates internationally recognized governance principles with structured assessments, analytics, executive reporting, and implementation roadmaps to help organizations identify governance gaps and improve decision-making.
SHARP's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by translating governance standards into practical organizational tools. The platform combines governance diagnostics, AI-supported analysis, workflow automation, and evidence-based recommendations to support executives, boards, public institutions, and private organizations.
The proposed Mitacs project will advance the commercialization and technical development of the SHARP Governance Intelligence System through workflow automation, platform enhancement, market validation, and user experience optimization. The outcome will be a scalable Canadian governance technology platform that enables organizations to measure governance maturity, monitor improvement over time, and strengthen institutional resilience in an increasingly AI-enabled environment.

Describe the project.: 

The SHARP Governance Intelligence System (SGIS) is an innovative Canadian governance technology platform designed to strengthen governance maturity, leadership accountability, responsible AI governance, and institutional trust through evidence-based assessment methodologies.
The objective of this research project is to develop and validate an explainable governance intelligence methodology that enables organizations to systematically assess governance maturity and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. The research will investigate governance assessment models, responsible AI principles, governance metrics, and standards mapping to strengthen the scientific foundation of the SHARP Governance Intelligence System.
The intern will conduct literature reviews, analyze governance and responsible AI frameworks, develop and validate governance assessment methodologies, evaluate explainability approaches for governance intelligence, design governance metrics and scoring methodologies, and assess the reliability and consistency of governance assessments. The research will also include evaluating the methodology across selected organizational contexts to assess its applicability and identify opportunities for future refinement.
The expected outcome is a validated governance intelligence methodology supported by research evidence, governance metrics, explainability principles, and recommendations for future research and platform development. The project will contribute to advancing governance intelligence as an emerging interdisciplinary field while supporting the development of innovative Canadian technology for responsible governance and AI oversight.

Required expertise/skills: 

The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and research skills with an interest in governance, responsible AI, organizational research, and applied innovation. Experience with literature reviews, qualitative or quantitative research methods, framework analysis, data analysis, technical writing, and project management is desirable. Knowledge of governance, ethics, public policy, or risk management would be considered an asset.
Preferred technical skills include proficiency with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel and PowerPoint), Power BI or Tableau for data visualization, AI productivity tools such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, and familiarity with data management platforms such as Airtable or similar research and collaboration tools. Experience with governance framework analysis, standards mapping, research design, statistical or qualitative data analysis, workflow mapping, and project management is considered an asset.
Strong written and verbal communication, critical thinking, technical writing, stakeholder engagement, and presentation skills are essential. Knowledge of governance, responsible AI, organizational development, public policy, risk management, or ethics would be considered an asset. Experience supporting applied research projects, innovation initiatives, or interdisciplinary research collaborations is highly desirable.