New collaboration supports automation, vision technology innovation for ag sector
Guelph ON, 20 May 2021 – Bioenterprise, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, and INO, a global leader in vision technology, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to grow innovation in the agriculture sector.
Quebec-based INO is Canada’s largest technology centre in optics and photonics and a technology developer with emerging solutions relevant to agri-food industry. Bioenterprise is home to a national network of experts, like-minded organizations, resources and entrepreneurial companies focused on innovation across the agriculture, food and agri-tech sector.
The new partnership will open up new opportunities for Bioenterprise and clients of the Engine interested in vision and automation technology and introduce INO’s expertise and solutions to new contacts and networks.
“The demand for automation solutions, including vision technology, in the agri-food sector has never been stronger and we’re excited to have INO join the Engine’s network of experts and solution providers,” says Bioenterprise CEO Dave Smardon. “The more we can strengthen agri-food innovation in Canada, the better we’re collectively able to leverage available resources for the benefit of the entire Canadian economy.”
“The agri-food industry is facing many challenges from air and soil quality inspection, labour shortage, fruits and vegetables quality control to shelf-life monitoring, cold chain monitoring, to name a few,” adds Louis Martel, Vice President, Business Development and Partnership at INO. “As an industry-focused technology developer with emerging vision and detection technologies for producers and processors, INO is very pleased to partner with Bioenterprise and their extensive and dynamic network of experts and entrepreneurial companies in the Agri-tech sector.”
This new collaboration builds on the momentum created by Bioenterpise’s partnerships with Ecofuel and Zone Agtech in Quebec, making more possibilities for agricultural support and the national expertise of Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine available to key Canadian innovators in the region.
Bioenterprise is Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, bringing more than 15 years of industry experience and a national and international network of research institutions, academia, mentors and experts, government, and industry to help small and medium-sized businesses in the sector nationwide Connect, Innovate, and Grow. Through its experienced service partner network, Bioenterprise offers a wide range of expertise and support to its clients, and partnerships with other industries help open doors to new technologies and platforms to help food and agri-tech businesses innovate and grow. Visit www.bioenterprise.ca to learn more.
INO is the largest centre of expertise in optics and photonics in Canada and is among the best technological research centres in the world. For the past 30 years, it has created and developed innovative and valuable solutions to meet the needs of businesses in Quebec and throughout Canada. A world leader in high technology, INO has implemented more than 6,500 solutions, carried out 75 technology transfers, and contributed to the creation of 35 new companies, which provide jobs to more than 2,000 people. INO’s activities are made possible thanks to the sustained collaboration of the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation and of Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. www.ino.ca.
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For more information:
Dave Smardon, Bioenterprise, dave.smardon@bioenterprise.ca or 519-821-2960
Mathieu Bilodeau, Communications Manager, INO, mathieu.bilodeau@ino.ca or 418-580-7701
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