Network with industry, research and government robotics experts, and learn from robotics peers from across the country and beyond our borders.
Thu June 8 | Evening
Social/Networking Event
@ Centech ÉTS Entrepreneurship Centre
Fri June 9 | Full Day
Canadian Robotics Council Symposium
@ Hôtel Omni Mont-Royal
Panel discussions and debates
with experts on the topics of
talent development and adoption
so you can check out some of
the latest robots and tools!
Co-organized with CRV2023,
the Canadian Conference on Robot Vision, to facilitate interaction across two large Canadian robotics events.
Thu June 8 | Evening | 6 p.m.
Social/Networking Event
@ Centech ÉTS Entrepreneurship Centre
Network with roboticists from industry, government and research from across the country at this social gathering in the heart of Montreal’s Innovation District.
If you register for the June 9 Symposium, you will automatically receive an invitation to attend the pre-symposium social gathering.
Cocktail & hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Address:
1000 Rue Saint-Jacques, Montréal, QC H3C 1G7 | Map
Fri June 9 | Full Day | 8:30 a.m.
Canadian Robotics Council Symposium
@ Hôtel Omni Mont-Royal / Co-organized with CRV
Address:
1050 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H3A 2R6 | Map
Canadarm3, Lunar Gateway’s external robotics evolution
Keynote Speaker
Andrew Allen
Director, Technology Strategy, MDA
BIO: Mr. Allen is the Director of Technology Strategy for MDA’s Robotics and Space Operations division. He is responsible for the steering of robotics and sensors technologies for projects, programs, and products, including developments via strategic partnerships and through internal research and development. Andrew has over 25 years of experience in manned and unmanned space exploration developments of flight hardware, payload software, and human factors elements for the space shuttle and for the International Space Station. Prior to his current role, as the engineering manager of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control and Systems Design departments, he has led the tasking and management of multidisciplinary engineering teams. And as a member of MDA’s Advanced Systems Group, he has been closely involved with robotic satellite servicing solutions development since 2002 and is an inventor of a patented docking system and a refueling system for use on on-orbit servicing spacecraft. He has also led the development of a mission-critical targetless rendezvous lidar system for human-rated spacecraft, and was the technical lead for a European Space Agency contract to develop technologies for automatic rendezvous in Mars orbit and safe landing on the surface of Mars.
MORNING PANEL
Building the Future: The Development of Robotics Talent in Canada
Moderator
Panelists
Brandon J. DeHart
Adjunct Assistant Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo
Manager, Waterloo RoboHub
Chelsea Elliot
Queen's Engineering Mechatronics and Robotics Program, Internship Program
Audrey Boucher-Genesse
Program co-ordinator of the robotic engineering program, Université de Sherbrooke
Patrice Corneau
Director of Engineering - Advanced Vehicles & Technology, MacLean Engineering
BIO: Brandon J. DeHart holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada. In 2017, he received the NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship. He is a seasoned instructor on diverse topics, including robotics, controls, embedded electronics, human-robot interaction, and tech-enabled art and architecture. His research interests span a wide range of topics connected to robotics, from tensegrity structures and bioinspired robot design through legged robotics and human-robot collaboration to interactive architecture and morphological computation. Mr. DeHart has been working with mobile and legged robots for almost 20 years, with research focusing on balance and gait for bipedal robots. As the RoboHub Manager, he is responsible for purchasing, installing, configuring, and testing all new robotic platforms and deploying additional essential equipment, such as the control centre, safety systems, and environmental variation systems. He also coordinates and supervises the day-to-day activities undertaken by technical staff, students, and researchers at the facility, acting as the primary contact point for industrial partners, external media requests, and (inter)national research networks.
BIO: With 20 years of experience managing innovative development projects, leading engineering teams, and developing stakeholder relationships, Chelsea Elliott is passionate about professional growth among students. She leads the effort to connect engineering employers with talented students, share industry knowledge and data, and develop students' workplace skills. She led the development of the Queen's Experiential Learning Hub (EL Hub) and trained engineering students in design thinking, team collaboration, project management and workplace communication. Mrs. Elliott is a professional engineer with a background in electrical engineering. She has worked in various industries in Canada, the United States and Scandinavia.
BIO: Audrey is an electrical engineer specialized in robotics and automation. She has worked on several research projects in the field of automated visual inspection using industrial robots at AV&R in Montreal. She was also instrumental in establishing the robotics engineering program at the University of Sherbrooke, the first program of its kind in Canada, where she served as the program coordinator. Currently, Audrey is co-coordinator of the Major Design Capstone Projects, working with teachers and 250 students per year from four programs - electrical, software, mechanical, and robotics engineering - to oversee the design and implementation of large-scale projects. Audrey is also passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the engineering field, particularly for women. She volunteers her time to organize and participate in various robotics activities for kids, including the Zone01 and FIRST robotics competition, and is involved with the ambassador program from l'Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. Her dedication to this cause aims to inspire young girls to pursue engineering careers.
BIO: Patrice Corneau, is an accomplished leader in the field of robotics and automation, with a specific focus on the underground mining industry. With a deep passion for advancing technology and shaping the future of mining operations, Patrice has been at the forefront of driving innovation and developing talents in the robotics field for ug mining. Patrice obtained a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Université de Sherbrooke in 1991, solidifying his technical foundation. Patrice has since dedicated his career to the application of robotics in the unique and challenging environment of ug mining. As the Director of Engineering at Maclean Engineering, Patrice plays a pivotal role in the development and implementation of cutting-edge robotic systems specifically designed for ug mining operations. His expertise spans across various domains, including autonomous vehicles, battery electric vehicle, robotic drilling and blasting, material handling, remote monitoring systems, uGPS, and ug collision avoidance systems. Patrice is particularly renowned for his expertise in designing and implementing advanced collision avoidance systems that enhance safety and productivity in ug mining. His innovative solutions have contributed significantly to minimizing the risk of accidents and improving the overall operational efficiency in challenging mining environments. Passionate about mentorship and fostering the next generation of roboticist, Patrice actively engages with universities, research institutions, and mining companies, providing guidance and support to aspiring engineers and researchers interested in the field of robotics for ug mining. He firmly believes in the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing to accelerate the growth of the robotics ecosystem in this specialized sector.
AFTERNOON PANEL
Unlocking Potential: Advancing Robotics Adoption in Canada's Industries
Moderator
Panelists
Pablo Molina
CTO, VP of Product, Chairman, and Co-founder at Avidbots
Christy Michalak
Director, Advanced Manufacturing Development Programs at NGen
Véronique Proulx
President and CEO of Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters (QME)
Senior Vice-President, Policy and Public Affairs, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
Charles Deguire
CEO, Kinova
BIO: Pablo Molina has been building robots since his undergraduate program at the University of Waterloo. After graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechatronics Engineering (with Physics Option), he received his Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University (Space Robotics). Mr. Molina’s vision is to live in a world where robots and humans work together daily. He quickly applied his space robotics know-how as an Autonomous Navigation Engineer/ Electrical Designer at NepTec Design Group. While at NepTec, he was involved in designing drive units and power management systems for mobile rovers. Mr. Molina also researched and proposed solutions for several moon rover proposals to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Before Neptec, in 2009, Mr. Molina worked as a Software Developer at the University of Waterloo Biomedical Imaging Lab. He researched, planned and implemented a hardware-software solution to accelerate the real-time processing of high-quality Fourier domain Optical coherence tomography images. This solution achieved 100x improvements over standard CPU implementation using a graphical processing Unit (GPU) with NVIDIA’s CUDA technology. He also improved the image processing pipeline by removing unnecessary storing steps, which reduced post-processing time by 50%. Mr. Molina co-founded Avidbots with Faizan Sheikh in 2014.
BIO: Christy Michalak has had the pleasure of working for, and consulting with, major multi-national manufacturers and SME’s from around the globe. Today she is fortunate to continue to collaborate with members at NGen Canada, the not-for-profit running Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing, where she is the Director of Advanced Manufacturing Development Programs. Christy also sits on the board of the Canadian Composites Knowledge Network, and acts as an advisor to the Canadian Standards Association for Smart Manufacturing.
BIO: Véronique Proulx has extensive expertise in the exporting business and in Quebec’s manufacturing sector, having worked for 14 years at Laval Technopole, where she held the Director of International Affairs position, and then spent four years as President of International Commerce – Québec, handling government and public relations. Ms. Proulx is the first woman to be the Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters’ (QME) President and CEO. She is also on the National Optics Institute’s (INO) Board of Directors. Ms. Proulx has been named on the prestigious 2021 Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women's Executive Network (WXN) in the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders Award category. She holds an executive MBA from Paris-Dauphine University and UQAM.
BIO: Charles is a savvy businessman who successfully created Kinova during his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at the École de Technologies Supérieures (ÉTS) of Montréal. He subsequently studied Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This was when he launched his first product: the JACO robotic arm. Charles wanted to create a robotic arm that would provide more autonomy, control, and range of motion of the upper body for people with reduced mobility. Today, the company is experiencing significant growth by promoting the integration of robotics in various industries, such as medical, industrial, and academic. Kinova provides robotic solutions to more than 45 countries, bringing innovation forward through robots in more than 500 public and private research organizations worldwide, such as NASA, Toyota, and Google. Charles' achievements have earned him several awards, including the Governor General's Innovation Award.
Micro Exhibition
A limited number of micro exhibition spaces are available for Gold and Silver sponsors. Micro exhibit locations will be determined based on availability and alignment with our schedule.
Book your spot today! Questions about micro-exhibits can be directed to Catherine Pilkington - csp@kinova.ca.
Sponsorship Opportunities
GOLD - $3,000
-
Top-level recognition at the event
-
Top-level on the event page and social
-
Micro exhibition space option*
-
3 complimentary early-bird tickets
SILVER - $1,500
-
Micro exhibition space
-
Recognition at the event, on the event page, and social
-
2 complimentary early-bird tickets
BRONZE - $1,000
-
Recognition at the event, on the event page, and social
-
1 complimentary early-bird ticket
*A limited number of micro-exhibit spaces are available. See the sponsorship form for details.
For more information
If you have any questions regarding our sponsorship program or for more information, please contact:
Mrs. Catherine Pilkington
Email: csp@kinova.ca
Thank you very much for your contribution to making this Symposium successful!
Organizers
Program Chairs
Ramzi Asfour, BASc, MBA
Associate Director (Administration) of the Ingenuity Labs Research Institute at Queen's University
BIO: Ramzi Asfour is the Associate Director (Administration) of the Ingenuity Labs Research Institute, a collaborative research initiative at Queen's University focused on creating intelligent systems and robotic machines that enhance human productivity, safety, performance, and quality of life. With a background in the commercial development of university intellectual property and having held numerous positions in new product development in the fibre optic, aerospace, and automotive industries, he is now focused on helping build a world-class research facility around robotics, artificial intelligence and human-machine interaction. Ramzi holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Queen's.
Sponsorship
If you have any questions regarding our sponsorship program or for more general information, please get in touch with Mrs. Catherine Pilkington, Executive Assistant at Kinova, at csp@kinova.ca
Charles Deguire
CEO at Kinova
BIO: Charles is a savvy businessman who successfully created Kinova during his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at the École de Technologies Supérieures (ÉTS) of Montréal. He subsequently studied Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This was when he launched his first product: the JACO robotic arm. Charles wanted to create a robotic arm that would provide more autonomy, control, and range of motion of the upper body for people with reduced mobility. Today, the company is experiencing significant growth by promoting the integration of robotics in various industries, such as medical, industrial, and academic. Kinova provides robotic solutions to more than 45 countries, bringing innovation forward through robots in more than 500 public and private research organizations worldwide, such as NASA, Toyota, and Google. Charles' achievements have earned him several awards, including the Governor General's Innovation Award.
Local Arrangements
If you have questions or need more information about local arrangements and the pre-symposium, please contact Mrs. Pascale Porlier, Events & Communication Manager at Kinova, at pporlier@kinova.ca
Register Now for Early Pricing!
-
Registration for the 2023 Canadian Robotics Council Symposium is being managed through CSCAN2023. You may register for CRV at the same time if you choose. Detailed instructions below.
-
Tickets are non-refundable
-
Credit cards are the only means of payment
Date | Student | Non-Student |
|---|---|---|
After May 28 | $150 | $200 |
After May 12 | $125 | $175 |
How to Register - Step by Step
-
Go to the CSCAN2023 registration page.
-
Select the Registration Type (Student or Non-Student).
-
Enter your name, your work email address, your organization name and your title.
-
Click "Next". This will take you to the Registration Options page.
-
Select "Not Attending Awards Banquet".
-
Scroll down to "Day 5 - Fri, June 9 / CRC Canadian Robotics Council 2023", click "Select". (If you are planning to attend CRV, you may register for both events at the same time). If you register for the June 9 Symposium, you will automatically receive an invitation to attend the pre-symposium social gathering on the evening of June 8. Details on the pre-symposium social will be emailed closer to the event day.
-
Click "Next".
-
You will be prompted to review your order information.
-
Check "I agree to the terms and conditions".
-
Check the Credit Card payment option and enter your credit card information.
-
Click "Submit".
-
Check your Inbox for the confirmation email from CSCAN2023. If you do not receive the confirmation email, or if you have trouble with your registration, please email Catherine Pilkington at cspilkington@kinova.ca