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How uOttawa empowers local startup success through R&D collaborations

Building trust through collaboration: how Edge Signal and robosafety thrive with uOttawa’s R&D support

Researchers work on a TEM instrument at uOttawa

In the world of entrepreneurship, trust in partnerships can be the key to turning ideas into impactful solutions. For Edge Signal, part of the Wesley Clover portfolio, this trust was built through a transformative Research and Development (R&D) collaboration with the University of Ottawa through the lab of Dr. Burak Kantarci, full professor in the school of electrical engineering and computer science. This collaboration allowed the company to tackle significant challenges in edge computing technology, aligning with uOttawa’s commitment to fostering industry-driven innovation.

Performing data-intensive AI operations on edge devices required immense computing power, a hurdle that would have been difficult to overcome without academic expertise. “We knew there had been a lot of academic study on the subject, and we wanted to partner with a knowledgeable researcher,” says Arda Ozgun, CEO of Edge Signal and VP of Product Management at Wesley Clover.

From research to real-world impact

Through its collaboration with uOttawa, Edge Signal not only refined its AI-at-the-edge technology but also successfully commercialized it. The support provided by uOttawa was essential in making the technology secure and scalable, enabling Edge Signal to serve industries like retail, hospitality, and other businesses.

This R&D partnership also unlocked major opportunities, such as a $3M project with the Department of National Defence and collaborations with global companies, including DHL and retail firms.

The collaboration extended to academia as well. Along with other researchers, Ozgun and Dr. Kantarci co-authored a research paper on large language model (LLM)-based edge intelligence, published in IEEE Xplore, showcasing the innovative breakthroughs resulting from their work.

Beyond technical advancements, Ozgun emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration. “You can’t put a price on that kind of face time, especially in the age of remote work,” he explains. “Sometimes they come to our office to work, and sometimes we go to their office. That kind of communication—having coffee together or going for a walk—only strengthens the collaboration.”

Given the impact of this collaboration, Edge Signal has now moved to strengthen these ties with uOttawa even further by partnering to establish a University Research Chair in AI-enabled secure networking for smart critical infrastructure held by Dr. Kantarci to support continued collaborations.   

Driving R&D in autonomous safety

For Robosafety, a company specializing in autonomous systems safety engineering, a chance meeting at TCXpo 2023 with Sean Geddes, uOttawa’s Director of Innovation and Partnerships, opened doors to transformative R&D opportunities. “I saw the great work they were doing at uOttawa’s Kanata North campus,” says co-founder Mary Yazdani. “Since then, we’ve started collaborating, and so far, three master’s students have joined us for R&D projects.”

This collaboration has been pivotal for Robosafety. uOttawa’s support allowed the company to access Mitacs funding more efficiently, giving them a head start on critical R&D initiatives. Beyond funding, uOttawa also positioned Robosafety as a thought leader in its field by inviting the company to participate in talks and presentations, connecting it with key players in the industry. One such introduction led to a partnership with Canada Drone Operations, further solidifying Robosafety’s leadership in autonomous safety innovation.

It happened that one of Robosafety’s collaborators, Dr. Burak Kantarci, is the founding director of uOttawa’s Smart Connected Vehicles Innovation Centre (SCVIC). These state-of-the-art facilities at the Kanata North Campus offer Robosafety access to cutting-edge computing labs and collaboration spaces that drive their R&D efforts forward.

Innovation support that deliversco

At the heart of these collaborations is the dedicated uOttawa Kanata North team, which works closely with innovative companies like Edge Signal and Robosafety to support their growth. By offering access to advanced facilities and fostering connections within a thriving ecosystem, the team helps drive the success of these partnerships. Alongside them is uOttawa’s Innovation Support Services (ISS) team, which focuses on connecting industry partners with academic expertise and resources, ensuring research and innovation are brought to life through impactful collaborations.

Michael Bitz, Senior Director of ISS, explains, “Whether it’s navigating funding, providing internships, or fostering research collaborations, our goal is to create meaningful partnerships that contribute to our partners’ success.”

ISS works across diverse fields, from AI to quantum computing and autonomous systems, ensuring companies like Robosafety and Edge Signal receive tailored support to address their specific challenges. The R&D efforts at the uOttawa Kanata North campus and the work of ISS align towards a common goal: bridging the gap between academia and industry to empower startups and businesses to make a positive impact.

For his part, uOttawa’s Bitz says a successful partnership is measured by the University in one main way: when the industry partner keeps coming back for more collaboration. “That’s how we qualify success: When they’ve had a great first shot, and keep coming back to work with us,” he explains. “The whole idea is, what are we incrementally contributing to their product. That’s how we come at it.”

The role of trust in R&D success

For startups like Edge Signal and Robosafety, trust and agility are at the heart of successful collaborations with uOttawa. By fostering open communication and working closely with partners, the University helps drive cutting-edge R&D and enables local businesses to thrive globally.

Through its Innovation Support Services and the collaborative efforts with the Kanata North Campus team, uOttawa continues to strengthen the bridge between academic research and industry, ensuring that startups and businesses are equipped to create solutions with a lasting, positive impact.

Learn more about partnering with the University of Ottawa by visiting their Partner with us | Research and innovation page to explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

 

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