May 16 2025 - University of Waterloo
Quick recap
The meeting began with introductions of new members and discussions about their backgrounds in agriculture and robotics. The main focus was on the University of Waterloo's cooperative education program and robotics research initiatives, including opportunities for industry collaboration and IP policies. The group also addressed scheduling matters, upcoming events, and the current state of venture capital in AgTech.
Next steps
Dan to finalize and communicate the adjusted meeting time for the June 20th event at Vineland.
Julian to send link in the chat for Electromate's cobot event in 2 weeks.
Andrew to connect with interested parties for meetings during his Western Canada and Indiana trip.
Working group members to attend next Friday's panel with chip and technology providers.
Summary
New Members and Agricultural Innovations
The meeting began with introductions of new members, including Graham Millen from Farm Credit Canada, Luana Fiorato from Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, and Visva Murugathasan from Vertical Data, who discussed their backgrounds and interests in agriculture and robotics. Joe Troutman from System Design Concepts introduced their company's focus on domestic battery solutions for specialty applications, including agriculture. The group also welcomed Matthew Great from Great Lakes Family Farms, an onions and garlic farm in Ontario. Dan mentioned that he would follow up on why Joe Troutman had not received membership emails. The conversation ended with a brief discussion about the upcoming presentation and the potential for lower attendance due to the long weekend.
Waterloo's Co-Op and Robotics Initiatives
The meeting focused on the University of Waterloo's cooperative education (Co-OP) program and its robotics research initiatives. Alyssa Curran from Waterloo's Co-OP department presented an overview of the university's innovative culture, emphasizing its strong startup ecosystem and extensive research capabilities. She highlighted the benefits of hiring Co-OP students, including their affordability, work experience, and ability to contribute to long-term talent strategies. Michelle Van Dyke, the industry engagement manager for the faculty of engineering, provided details on Waterloo's robotics research facilities and opportunities for industry collaboration, including a new professional partnerships program and a service-based offering for Ontario SMEs. The conversation ended with an announcement of an upcoming Ag Tech showcase on June 23rd at the university.
Waterloo IP Policy and Guidelines
Michele explained Waterloo's inventor-owned IP policy, which means IP ownership is negotiated between parties rather than being automatically university-owned. She clarified that for service-oriented projects like OCI, IP is typically company-owned, while sponsored research includes a royalty-free license to sponsors. Alyssa and Michele addressed Andrew's question about conflict of interest rules for a UW professor who recently joined their development team, confirming that co-ops are permissible as long as interactions are disclosed, particularly when applying for matching funding.
Agrobotics Meeting Rescheduling Discussion
The group discussed the potential rescheduling of the June 20th agrobotics working group meeting to 10 or 1030 AM EST, to align with the start time of the Vineland critical technology Demo day. Bridget requested feedback from the group, noting that the meeting would still be available virtually for those unable to attend in person. Dan and Bridget thanked Brian for offering a tour of Vineland as part of the event. Julian announced an upcoming cobot event hosted by Electromate in partnership with Universal Robots, featuring six demos including welding and pick and place. The group was reminded to watch for an updated email address for meeting agendas, which is in the process of being implemented due to the large number of members.
AgTech Funding and Innovation Trends
Graeme discussed the current state of venture capital in AgTech, noting that while the market is challenging, there is increasing capital deployment globally, particularly in frontier technologies like robotics. He highlighted that 2024 saw a significant increase in venture capital allocation to hard tech, and advised that AgTech companies may need to look beyond Canada for funding in the next 12-24 months. Andrew shared his upcoming Western road trip plans, including stops at various AgTech events and pilot projects, and mentioned ongoing work with Purdue University's Wabash Heartland Innovation Network. The conversation ended with a reminder about next Friday's panel discussion featuring chip and technology providers.
