Ingenuity Labs Research Institute

What Ingenuity Labs Research Institute does

Ingenuity Labs Research Institute is an interdisciplinary research initiative hosted at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, established in 2021 and operating from approximately 1,115 m² of dedicated lab space in Mitchell Hall. It combines faculty and graduate researchers from Engineering, Computing, Psychology, Philosophy, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences to advance research at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Human-Machine Interaction, organized around three themes: Smart Environments and Infrastructure, Human Sensing and Assistive Devices, and Intelligent Mobile Systems.

The institute's core technical assets include a multi-vendor robot fleet (Boston Dynamics Spot, Clearpath Husky UGVs, UR5e, Franka Emika Panda, KUKA iiwa, DJI Matrix 600 UAVs, maritime USVs, Unitree Go 1), a 12-camera Vicon Vero motion capture system, Xsens wearable motion capture suits, a GPU cluster hosted at Queen's Centre for Advanced Computing, and a fabrication workshop with laser cutters and 3D printers. Research spans deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, ambient computing, predictive analytics, mechatronics, and autonomous systems, with applications targeted at intelligent manufacturing, transportation, mining, construction, security, healthcare, household automation, and universal accessibility.

The institute does not commercialize products or services. Revenue and operating funding come from Queen's University, founding donor Bruce Mitchell, the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation, NSERC grants (including the CREATE ADVENTOR training program), and industry-sponsored research collaborations. External engagement runs through the annual Robotics and AI Symposium (RAIS, running 2021–2026), a weekly seminar series, multi-robot workshops with the IEEE Kingston Section, an advisory board with leaders from Komatsu, Quanser, MDA, Geotab, Samsung AI, Sandvik, and Clearpath, and the student-led Ingenuity Labs Racing team competing in international autonomous-racing events.

Name

Ingenuity Labs Research Institute

Legal name

Ingenuity Labs Research Institute, Queen's University

Website

https://ingenuitylabs.queensu.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ingenuity Labs is an interdisciplinary AI, robotics, and human-machine interaction research institute at Queen's University in Kingston, Canada, drawing 40 faculty and 100+ graduate researchers across multiple disciplines. It is funded by university support, donors, and NSERC grants, engaging industry through sponsored research and the annual RAIS symposium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Robotics and AI Research Institute

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Computer Training (611420), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAEAE

Applied Research & Innovation Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

SECONDARYEDAHAEAK

Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

SECONDARYEDAMACAG

AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Coding & Computer Science Programs

SECONDARYEDAEAGAI

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

Keywords

• Robotics research institute
• Artificial intelligence research
• Human-machine interaction
• Autonomous systems research
• Machine learning research

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: Funded through university support, government research grants, industry partnerships, and donations. The institute does not commercialize products directly but generates revenue through sponsored research collaborations with industry partners and grant funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ingenuity Labs is an interdisciplinary research initiative at Queen's University that conducts research across four domains (Applied AI/ML, Robotics/Mechatronics/Autonomous Systems, Intelligent Sensors and Actuators, and Human-Machine Systems) and offers industry partners sponsored research collaborations, expert consulting, graduate talent recruitment access, and shared facility access. Revenue is generated through university support, government research grants, industry-sponsored research, and philanthropic donations rather than commercial product sales.

Product overview

Ingenuity Labs Research Institute is an interdisciplinary research initiative at Queen's University focused on combining Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Human-Machine Interaction. The institute operates across four core research domains: Applied AI/ML (covering deep learning, NLP, ambient computing, computer vision), Robotics/Mechatronics/Autonomous Systems, Intelligent Sensors and Actuators, and Human-Machine Systems. The institute provides research infrastructure including a Robot Fleet (various robotic platforms), Motion Capture Systems, Fabrication Workshop with 3D printers and laser cutters, and GPU Cluster computing resources. Associated programs include CREATE ADVENTOR (training program) and Ingenuity Labs Racing (student competition team). The institute organizes the annual Robotics and AI Symposium (RAIS).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ADVENTOR: NSERC CREATE Program for Advanced Engineering and Training in Next-Generation Mobile Robotics for Human Spaces
• Ingenuity Labs Racing
• RAIS (Robotics and AI Symposium)

Products and services

• Sponsored Research Collaborations Custom research engagements where industry partners co-fund or fully sponsor interdisciplinary research projects at Ingenuity Labs, addressing applied AI/ML, robotics/mechatronics/autonomous systems, intelligent sensors/actuators, and human-machine systems challenges. Designed for companies from large multinationals to small-scale ventures seeking R&D collaboration.
• Expert Consulting Services Expert consulting engagements delivered by Ingenuity Labs researchers to industry partners on robotics, AI, autonomous systems, and human-machine interaction topics, drawing on the institute's 40 faculty and 100+ graduate researchers.
• CREATE ADVENTOR Training Program NSERC CREATE-funded training program delivering advanced engineering and training in next-generation mobile robotics for human spaces. Provides graduate researchers with seminars, workshops, and collaborative sessions; partners include University of Waterloo and McGill University.
• Research Facility Access Access to Ingenuity Labs' state-of-the-art research facility in Mitchell Hall at Queen's University (~1,115 m² / 12,000 sq ft), including multi-functional experimental areas, fabrication and assembly workshops, collaborative working areas for up to 36 students, bookable offices, two conference rooms, and shared research equipment. Offered to industry partners for meetings, demonstrations, and product showcases.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered partner, core institutional host, program partner, event partner and strategic advisors.

• CanselpartnerTechnology or IntegrationListed as an industry partner on the Partner With Us page. Cansel is a company that partners with Ingenuity Labs for research collaboration and industry engagement.
• Queen's Universitycore institutional hostStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueen's University hosts Ingenuity Labs, providing institutional infrastructure, administrative support, and access to faculty across multiple departments including Engineering, Computing, Psychology, Philosophy, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences.
• CREATE ADVENTOR Program Partnersprogram partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerADVENTOR (Advanced Engineering and Training in Next-Generation Mobile Robotics for Human Spaces) is an NSERC CREATE Program that trains the next generation of researchers in mobile robotics. Partners include University of Waterloo and McGill University for collaborative training.
• IEEE Kingston Sectionevent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIngenuity Labs co-hosts the Multi-robots Workshop with the IEEE Kingston Section, covering topics such as robot swarm coordination, latent geometric spaces for formations, and mechanism design for robot cooperation.
• Advisory Board Companiesstrategic advisorsStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute's Advisory Board includes leaders from Komatsu, Quanser, MDA Robotics and Space Operations, Geotab, Nudge BG, Samsung Toronto AI Research Center, University of Toronto, UC San Diego, Örebro University (Sweden), Sandvik AB, MIT, and the City of Kingston. These organizations provide strategic guidance and potential collaboration pathways.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii): An Alberta-based AI research institute with reinforcement learning and robotics expertise, sharing the Canadian academic AI/research landscape and competing for the same talent, grants, and industry partnerships.
• Vector Institute: A Toronto-based AI research institute affiliated with the University of Toronto and backed by industry and government, operating in the same Canadian AI/robotics ecosystem and competing for talent and sponsored research.
• Mila (Quebec AI Institute): One of the world's largest academic deep learning research centres, based in Montreal and affiliated with Université de Montréal, competing for the same Canadian AI talent pool and industry grants relevant to Ingenuity Labs' AI/robotics mandate.

Direct peers

• MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL): MIT's flagship AI and robotics research lab, advancing intelligent systems, autonomous robots, and human-machine interaction with deep industry ties and a graduate training mission closely matching Ingenuity Labs' scope.
• ETH Zurich Center for Robotics: ETH Zurich's interdisciplinary robotics research centre combining AI, mechanical engineering, and human-robot interaction within a top technical university — directly comparable in interdisciplinary mandate and academic research model.
• Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL): Stanford's premier AI research lab covering robotics, machine learning, computer vision, and human-computer interaction with strong industry partnership and talent pipelines analogous to Ingenuity Labs.
• Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute: One of the world's leading academic robotics research institutes at Carnegie Mellon University, conducting interdisciplinary research across AI, robotics, and human-machine interaction with industry partnerships and graduate training — directly comparable in mandate and operating model to Ingenuity Labs.

Others

• Clearpath Robotics: A Kitchener-based robotics company whose Husky UGVs are part of Ingenuity Labs' research fleet and whose leadership serves on the institute's advisory board — comparable as a Canadian robotics ecosystem player with overlapping technical interests.
• Canadian Robotics Network (CRN): A national umbrella organization coordinating Canadian academic robotics research efforts, related to Ingenuity Labs as an ecosystem convener and potential partner across Canada.

Regional players

• University of Toronto Robotics Institute: A peer Canadian academic robotics research group based at the University of Toronto, operating a comparable interdisciplinary AI/robotics research and training mandate within the same national ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ingenuity-labs-research-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ingenuity Labs Research Institute