Recap: The AI and Data Analytics Research & Innovation workshop
Leading industry experts and researchers recently gathered at Toronto Metropolitan University to discuss the latest insights and opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI). Hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science’s Research & Innovation Office, alongside workshop chair and professor, Naimul Khan, the event covered key topics impacting the fields of healthcare, manufacturing and business intelligence.
The workshop kicked off with lightning talks from industry and academia, with presenters sharing their latest insights and projects. Graduate student poster presentations followed, providing participants a snapshot of award-winning and emerging research. In the afternoon, working group sessions, organized by field, brought together faculty members, industry representatives and students to discuss challenges, brainstorm and find opportunities to help industry advance their efforts. Across the sessions AI security, trustworthiness, robustness of AI models, ethical issues and user experience (UX) issues were popular conversation topics.
The workshop was a testament to the power of interdisciplinary perspectives. TMU experts from engineering, graphic communications management, information science and other disciplines forged new partnerships with professionals from financial institutions, biotech companies and energy organizations. Together, academia and industry can responsibly and effectively navigate the rapidly evolving fields of AI and data science.
Key takeaways for industry partners:
- Industry and faculty can co-develop students' course projects, which is a low-cost pathway to kickstart collaboration and innovation
- By partnering with a TMU faculty member, organizations can gain an extra layer of supervision and expert guidance for AI research and development
- Industry partners can also gain access via a faculty member to funding pathways available through Mitacs and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Thank you to all of the participating industry partners, including:
- AtkinsRealis
- BlueDot
- Epiloid Biotechnology
- FendrAI
- IBM
- MDA Space
- Microsoft Canada
- Mutuo Health Solutions
- Omni Health Nexus
- Pontosense
- Purolator
- Skinopathy
- Veebar Tech
Want to join a future workshop? For researchers, industry collaborators, and government members who would like to participate in future research workshops hosted by FEAS, please email elvira.tabaku@torontomu.ca