ThingsHappen

Picking the right horse is important but choosing the best racetracks to race in is just as crucial. The same holds for individual IoT ventures and the IoT verticals or sectors they play in. With a track record of successful races, our guest shares his thoughts on the merits of IoT application in different sectors and why and how L-SPARK is accelerating IoT ventures in the automotive, medical, and cybersecurity fields. We also discuss the SaaS-IoT interplay and L-SPARK's programs and touch on guidance for entrepreneurs growing their ventures.

Guest

Our guest is Leo Lax, Executive Managing Director at L-Spark in Ottawa. Leo has extensive experience in the high-tech sector in Canada, including senior management and executive roles at Mitel and Newbridge Networks (now Nokia). Leo also founded and led Skypoint, a prominent Canadian VC firm that invested in Canadian tech companies. Today, as founder and executive director at L-SPARK, he oversees their programs that help technology companies accelerate their growth through new investment and mentorship – with a significant IoT-related focus. Leo's career is founded on his Electrical Engineering degrees from McGill University and the Royal Military College.

Links

Leo on Online

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-l-8b124/

Twitter: @leolax

L-SPARK

Web: https://l-spark.com

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

Where's the value of IoT? It's undoubtedly in the vertical solutions founded on it. We discuss IoT's underpinning role in the new era of mobility, advanced manufacturing, and other prominent verticals in the Windsor-Essex region. We also dive into IoT's role in regional economic development, talent creation, and the digital rejuvenation of traditional industry sectors into modern industries.

Guests

Our guests are Yvonne Pilon, CEO at WEtech Alliance, and Tom Schnekenburger, Project Manager at the University of Windsor.

Yvonne has deep experience in the tech sector with a core focus on growing companies and building a thriving entrepreneurial community. The Peak recently recognized her as one of 2022's Emerging Leaders in Canada in Startups and Tech. She is a regional and cross-border economic development mobilizer in Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan.

Tom has a strong background in market development and strategic partnerships, especially in the traffic management and mobility sector. He leads Data and Mobility Science projects at the University of Windsor, bringing together researchers, local stakeholders, industrial partners, and cross-border agencies to build a robust regional Windsor-Essex mobility ecosystem.

Links

Yvonne Pilon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnepilon/

Twitter: @YvonnePilon

Tom Schnekenburger

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomschnek/

WEtech Alliance

https://www.wetech-alliance.com/

Twitter: @WEtechAlliance

University of Windsor

https://www.uwindsor.ca/

Twitter: @UWindsor

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

IoT is extensively about wireless communication by connected devices riding on the RF (Radio Frequency) spectrum. But will that be reliably and securely? We air the critical role of the RF spectrum in IoT adoption and how we monitor it and make sure it's available and secure – especially as 5G, a "Massive IoT" enabler, adds to the spectrum management complexity. We dive into the critical roles that Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence play in analyzing and correcting real-time spectrum perturbations, threats, and disruptions.

Guest

Our guest is Cliff Ellement, head of AI Solutions at ThingkRF, bringing ThingkRF's new suite of Spectrum Monitoring Applications to market, including AI and Machine Learning-based Analytics products. He has extensive telecommunications experience in diverse areas, including carrier data and broadband systems, optical network management, enterprise unified communication, and collaboration products. Cliff's technical foundation comes from his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, focusing on wireless networks and electronic countermeasures.

Links

Cliff Ellement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffellement/

ThinkRF

Website: https://thinkrf.com/

Twitter: @ThinkRF

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

Watch out, don't trip – over that sidewalk delivery robot. Or is it the other way around – watch out, get out of the way of that human. What will be the rules of engagement as autonomous robots encroach our public sidewalk space and mingle with us and with each other? We explore the benefits they bring, the traffic management challenges they create, and the risks they pose. And – we delve deep into the resulting governance implications and what standards are now being developed to get the most from autonomous sidewalk robots – and play safe and nice with each other.

Guest

Our guest is Bern Grush, Executive Director at Urban Robotics Foundation. Bern is a transportation innovator and entrepreneur in automated vehicles, parking reform, and road pricing with extensive experience in human factors and systems design engineering. Bern's forte is the interplay between people and technology in urban contexts, as reflected in his 2018 textbook "The End of Driving: Transportation Systems and Public Policy Planning for Autonomous Vehicles". Bern's technical foundation comes from his engineering degrees from the Universities of Toronto and Waterloo.

Links

Bern Online

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berngrush/

Urban Robotics Foundation

Website: https://urbanroboticsfoundation.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/urban-robotics-foundation/

Video: Do we need a standard for delivery robots? https://youtu.be/UrtoMU3ZGyw

Speech: URF presentation to the UN Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety

https://www.urbanroboticsfoundation.org/_files/ugd/3e3312_286a67c4d6e84585b0c709616bc37317.pdf

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

IoT – it's the convergence between the digital and the physical. And "the physical" means you have to have hardware that's high performing, compact, power-frugal, and sensing-diverse. That's where Microelectronics steps in. We discuss the critical role of microelectronics from sensors, to connectivity and communication, to computing and analytics – without which IoT just doesn't happen. We also discuss the importance of microelectronics to Canada and what is being done to lower entry barriers for Canadian researchers, innovators, and companies.

Guest

Our guest is Gordon Harling, CEO at CMC Microsystems. Gordon has extensive experience in microelectronics development and business in Canada, including senior management roles in photonics, nanotechnology, and cybersecurity semiconductor organizations. He is a board member of several organizations that promote photonics and nanotechnology innovation and an active influencer in fostering the Canadian high-tech sector. Gordon's technical foundation comes from his Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters in Engineering Physics from Polytechnique Montréal.

Links

Gordon Online

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordharling/

CMC Microsystems

Website: https://www.cmc.ca/

IoT and Edge AI: https://www.cmc.ca/iot-edge-ai/

Twitter: @CMCMicrosystems

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

Smart Vehicles and Smart Cities, underpinned by IoT, are making tremendous impacts on our lives and societies – but it doesn't happen on its own. These are complex systems demanding not just research and innovation in a wide range of technologies but also academic and industry collaboration - and our guest is in the thick of it. We discuss the key challenges at the forefront of research, including the role of machine learning and AI, data acquisition and real-time modeling, and the privacy and security risks. And we get insights into the research conducted at the University of Ottawa's Smart Connected Vehicle Innovation Center within the Kanata North Technology Park.

Guest

Our guest is Burak Kantarci, director at the University of Ottawa's Smart Connected Vehicles Innovation Center and the Next Generation Communications and Computing Networks Lab. Burak is an associate professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, with over 200 peer-reviewed papers in established journals and proceedings like IEEE, ACM, Elsevier, and Springer. He is an associate editor of several peer-reviewed scientific journals, including IEEE Internet of Things Journal. His expertise and enthusiasm for the topic are evident in his conference presentations and webinars and acknowledged by recognition awards from IEEE, ACM, Communications Society, and recently Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Links

Burak on Online:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkantarci

Twitter: @BurakKantarci

uOttawa Smart Connected Vehicle Innovation Center:

Web: https://engineering.uottawa.ca/smart-connected-vehicles-innovation-centre

Web: http://nextconlab.academy/nextcon.html

University of Ottawa Engineering online:

Web: https://engineering.uottawa.ca/

Twitter: @uOttawaGenie

University Of Ottawa Kanata North Campus:

Web: https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/kanata-north

Twitter: @uottawakn

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

The Question! The one that we ask all our guests on the ThingsHappen podcast to get the juices flowing before we dig into their IoT involvement and expertise – what does IoT mean to you? Listen to what they had to say in this compilation of insights on IoT from the first twelve podcasts. They're all unique – but is there a common thread? One more THING – we also share their insights on a related bonus question – what is the impact of IoT?

Guests

Here are the guests in the order of their first appearance in this episode. After that – we throw order out the window.

Barney Barnowski at TEKTELIC

Nilufer Erdebil at Spring2 Innovation

Barrie Kirk at CAVCOE

Udit Bhatnagar at McRock Capital

Kashmera Self at Interac Corp.

Frank Rayal at XONA Partners

Sonia Bot at The BOT Consulting Group Inc

Riccardo Badalone at C2RO

Edona Vila at Borden Ladner Gervais

Michel Langelier at AIoT Canada

Jason Lee at SmartCone Technologies Inc.

Walter Knitl at Praxiem

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

You're into IoT – and that means you've got data. Lots of it. You keep collecting, analyzing, and squeezing it into storage until data hits the fan one day. Your organization outgrows the cloud services you rely on, so you attempt to move to the next shining cloud service on the block. But, instead of making a clean break, you end up smearing data across clouds. Our expert shines a light on the cloud wars that got you into this mess and keep you there, and how to avoid it. We also discuss the considerable role of edge (or fog) computing in keeping your data management grounded in reality – while leveraging the benefits of cloud services.

Guest

Our guest is Jason Lee, CEO at Smartcone. Jason is an experienced award-winning entrepreneur, innovator, and leader. Over the past thirty years, he has worked and led projects in diverse fields, including the military, aerospace, avionics, and telecommunications. He is a certified Business Coach with experience in business intelligence and lean manufacturing. Smartcone's modular IoT platform and solutions drove his intense cloud and edge computing encounters, making him an expert on their application and interplay.

Links

Jason on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesmartcone

Smartcone online:

Website: https://www.thesmartcone.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsGyDHpfV4_4BeMRkESPBCA

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

What are the most disruptive and impactful forces at play today? IoT and AI, of course – that's AIoT – and AIoT Canada is poised to elevate Canada's adoption and innovation in AIoT. We discuss Canada's AIoT landscape and the benefits and challenges of AIoT adoption. We also delve into AIoT Canada's role in growing Canada's AIoT ecosystem, its formation and function, and its vision to heighten Canada's economy and international position in the global digital economy through AIoT.

Guest

Our guest is Michel Langelier, CEO at AIoT Canada. In addition to overseeing programs, advisory committees, and operations, he is the driving force behind a bold new vision to grow Canada's AIoT ecosystem. Michel has twenty-five years of experience directing national organizations and institutes, including the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, ADRIQ, and CEFRIO, facilitating the development and use of digital technologies in industry and society. Michel holds an Executive MBA from Telfer at the University of Ottawa and a certificate in innovation leadership from MIT.

Links

Michel on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/langelier/

AIoT Canada online:

Website: https://aiotcanada.ca/

Visit IoT North

Website: https://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth

You have the technology and the business plan for your IoT product - but do you know the legal risks associated with IoT, and are you prepared for your obligation to deliver safe and secure products and the potential liabilities if you don't? Our expert guest dives into the IoT space through a legal and regulatory lens that determines the rights and obligations of IoT stakeholders. We also discuss IoT regulations emerging from different jurisdictions and the state of IoT law in Canada.

Guest

Our guest is Edona Vila, a lawyer, and partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG). Edona serves clients in several industries, including Automotive and Autonomous Vehicles, Life Sciences and Health Care, Infrastructure, and Insurance. Her diverse educational background includes a science degree and a Master of Management of Innovation from the University of Toronto, as well as Juris Doctor degree from the University of Ottawa Faculty of law. Edona is an active member of the IoT community, helping to grow the AIoT ecosystem in Canada as a member of the Board of Directors at AIoT Canada

Links

Edona on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edonavila/

BLG online:

Website: https://www.blg.com/

Visit IoT North

Website: http://iotnorth.ca

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12309383

Twitter: @iotNorth