A new committee wants more VC money for things that go beep boop beep boop.
What happened: The Canadian Robotics Council, a non-profit advocating for the nation’s robotics ecosystem, launched a new committee to boost investments in the sector. Founding members include partners from Inovia Capital, RBC, and BDC’s innovation venture fund.
Its three listed priorities are: boosting funds for robot makers and industries adopting automation; providing investors with the skills to evaluate startups; and matching entrepreneurs with supply chains, early adopters, and specialized financing.
Zoom out: Canada has an impressive coterie of robo-companies, with a 2024 federal report estimating around 300 in the industry, most of which are in their early stages. Big names include autonomous trucking firm Waabi and humanoid robot maker Mirsee Robotics.
Yes, but: Despite the domestic ingenuity, Canada lags behind many of its peers in robot adoption. In 2024, Canada ranked 13th in operational stock per the International Federation of Robotics, with new installations down 12% from the previous year. This ranking puts it well behind leaders like China and South Korea, and even less bleeding edge countries like Spain and India.
What’s more, robot adoption is heavily concentrated in automotive, meaning companies not focused in that sector must look internationally in order to grow.
Why it matters: There’s no silver bullet for Canada’s productivity crisis, but more robots could be part of a solution by automating grunt work and addressing labour shortages. If Canadian industry doesn’t pick up the slack on adoption, it will only fall further behind.—QH
