Robotics skills-training can tackle productivity crisis: report 

A new report by the Canadian Robotics Council (CRC) calls on the federal government to develop a national robotics strategy that prioritizes robotics adoption and upskilling and training to address Canada’s lagging productivity. Entitled 2024 What We Heard Report, it summarizes the insights and recommendations that emerged during the CRC’s third annual symposium. Held in Toronto this past June, the event brought together over 160 stakeholders, including business leaders, investors, researchers, students, labour unions, international partners, and policymakers.  

Established in 2023 as a non-profit, the CRC was co-founded by the University of Toronto’s Robotics Institute (RI), home to Canada’s largest robotics program, with more than 170 faculty and graduate-level trainees. RI is also home to Canada’s most diversified robotics program, bridging engineering, computer science, and robotics application expertise to enable innovation across different industry sectors. Since its inception, the CRC has grown to over 300 organizational members, representing Canada’s leading robotics firms and academic research labs.  

“What we heard from members and attendees at the symposium is that robotics offers a game-changing opportunity to transform our economy. However, to keep pace with other jurisdictions, Canada must develop a national robotics strategy,” said Hallie Siegel, Managing Director of Strategy and Partnership at the Robotics Institute and co-chair of the CRC’s Executive Committee.   

“Industry adoption and upskilling and training should be prioritized within such a strategy. It’s critical that policymakers help industry adopt productivity-enhancing technologies and ensure they have the skilled talent needed to implement and maintain these solutions,” she added.  

Canada’s Productivity Crisis  

Earlier this year, the Bank of Canada described the country’s productivity as an ‘emergency.’ Experts note the situation is hindering Canada’s economic prosperity and standard of living. Robotics and automation can play a critical role in addressing this issue, but adoption continues to lag here. Last year, Canada was ranked 15^th among the top 20 countries for industrial robotics adoption by the International Federation of Robotics.  

Despite the challenges, Siegel is optimistic. “Canada’s low robot adoption and declining productivity actually represents a significant opportunity for policymakers and innovators who are willing to tap into our research excellence and grow Canada’s domestic robotics market,” she said.  

Developing a National Robotics Strategy  

Robotics was a cornerstone of Canada’s AI strategy, going back to the launch of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research’s (CIFAR) inaugural program in 1983, titled “Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Society.” As noted in the CRC’s new report, a national robotics strategy would build on Canada’s international reputation for AI and robotics excellence and advance critical industries that drive the economy, including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and energy and clean tech.   

It’s a recommendation that Pablo Molina, CTO, VP of Product, Chairman, and co-founder at Avidbots Corp, supports. “Canada has the potential and talent to become a world leader in robotics but lacks a cohesive strategy that supports all areas of its ecosystem,” he said. “Canada needs to invest in increasing adoption of robotics domestically and support the growth and expansion of its robotics companies.” Molina is also a member of the CRC’s Executive and Industry Committees.  

Supporting Industry Adoption   

SMEs are the backbone of the economy and stand to benefit most from automation and robotics. At the symposium, participants shared examples of how robots can improve safety and product quality, increase overall output, and help fill workforce shortages. However, SMEs often lack the necessary knowledge, resources, and talent needed to prioritize and undertake automation projects. To address this issue, the report offers various recommendations policymakers can consider, including developing:  

• Incentives and tax credits to help businesses offset the cost of purchasing technology and de-risk the investment, while speeding up adoption and growing the domestic market    

• Funding programs geared toward helping SMEs who are taking their first steps toward automation  

• A Canadian test centre that showcases new technologies, with the goal of educating SMEs about the practical applications and benefits, as in Germany, Denmark, and China, as well as training robotics talent  
     

Supporting Upskilling and Training  

According to the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, a third of manufacturers report a lack of skilled workers as a key obstacle hindering the implementation of advanced technologies like robotics. Despite concerns that robots replace human workers, the report notes these technologies can take over difficult and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to develop new skills and progress to more advanced roles.  The CRC report outlines various solutions policymakers and employers can implement to address this issue, including:  

• Supporting upskilling activities to help current workers adapt to new technologies   

• Fostering dialogue between employers, employees, and unions to ensure workers’ concerns are heard during the deployment of innovative technologies  

• Facilitating university-industry collaboration to foster more on-the-job training for students (e.g., internships and co-ops) and create industry-ready graduates   

For Tim Barfoot, a Professor at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) and Associate Director of the RI, partnerships between robotics firms and the university is critical. “We have championed the CRC because we know that supporting the growth of our domestic robotics market is critical to maintaining that safety net required to attract and retain our top robotics talent in Canada,” he said. “This is particularly important in a globally competitive job market.”  

Applied research internships, such as the University of Toronto’s Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) program, enable industry partners to leverage the government funding they need to access world-class talent and apply cutting-edge research to solve real-world business challenges. In recent years, U of T has supported a growing number of internships at Canadian robotics startups and scaleups, with applications ranging from space exploration to autonomous vehicles to warehousing and logistics.  

Reflecting on the past year, Siegel notes interest in the CRC has grown significantly. “Policymakers, regional development agencies, and investors – both in Canada and abroad – are regularly approaching the CRC. They’re looking to tap into our expertise and network,” she said. “We hope the CRC’s new report will spark further discussions about a national robotics strategy, to support our homegrown talent, training partners, companies, and the economy alike.” 

(By Catrina Kronfli)