REGINA — Nine companies have received an investment from Innovation Saskatchewan to help kick-start development projects.
The $2.197 million is through the agency’s Agtech Growth Fund (AGF) and Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund (SAIF).
One recipient from the SAIF, Kinemek, plans to utilize the funding towards making mines safer by understanding where stabilization should take place.
“We're trying to create tools that can help optimize where they should [place] rock bolt and also where they should address safety areas or areas that could have potential dangers,” said Kirk Backstrom, Kinemek CEO.
Backstrom noted the company will use AI software to help automatically find problems.
“We want to not only provide, diagnose where there could be initial problems that are occurring in the mine, but we also want to be able to provide predictions for future problems that, through trends, could arise and come.”
Kinemek currently has plans to test pilot projects in Saskatchewan potash mines before using the technology in other mines and expanding its outreach across Canada.
A previous SAIF recipient, Greenwave Innovations, spoke about how the funding has helped expand data collection.
“We've been developing in our software the AI capabilities to decipher all that to give us per asset level operating costs of utilities and how much maintenance is,” said Greenway Innovations president and CEO Dean Clark.
Greenwave Innovations deploys energy monitoring systems into buildings, electrical, water, and gas, to collect real-time data.
This data helps understand how buildings operate, when capital investment is needed and potential emission reductions.
The company has used data in hundreds of buildings across Saskatchewan and Western Canada, and has plans to expand across the country and North America.
Since launching in 2018, the SAIF has contributed nearly $18 million towards 66 projects.
Meanwhile, the AGF has invested $5.3 million in 26 projects since launching in 2020.
A full list of the latest receipts can be found below:
- Kinemek: AI-enabled mine inspection system integrating radar, light detection and photo sensors to improve safety ($450,000, SAIF).
- NRGene Canada: AI-driven genomics to develop higher-yield Black Soldier Fly strains for sustainable livestock and aquaculture feed ($450,000, AGF).
- Teal: Industrial superchargers for electric mining equipment to reduce emissions and ventilation demands ($450,000, SAIF).
- Amb.AI: Multi-sensory monitoring platform for underground mines to reduce disruptions and improve safety ($200,000, SAIF).
- RUNNR: Enhanced delivery management platform with automated compliance, vendor marketplace and emissions tracking to support greener supply chains ($150,000, SAIF).
- X-Steam-inator Agricultural Products: Modular, steam-based weed control system offering a chemical-free alternative to chemical herbicides ($150,000, AGF).
- AgScouter: Affordable agronomic data platform to support field management, crop rotation and fertilizer optimization ($132,000, AGF).
- B-Nature: Industrial composter that rapidly converts agricultural waste into high-quality compost, reducing environmental impacts and costs ($125,000, AGF).
- NutraMate: AI-powered pharmacy tool to streamline prescription fulfillment and inventory management ($90,000, SAIF).
