Contribution: Industrial Research Assistance Program
Aera Agriculture Inc.
$455,727.00
Advancing Automated Aeroponic Farming: Customer Testing & Market Validation
FY 2025-26 · 2025-07-07
Summary
Aera is advancing its Victory smart farming appliance from TRL6 to TRL7 through real-world pilot deployments in commercial kitchens. The project includes crop testing, user feedback collection, hardware and software refinements, and development of manufacturing, IP, and go-to-market strategies. Victory is a fully automated aeroponic appliance that enables affordable, sustainable food production on-site. This work supports commercialization readiness, builds clean-tech IP, and positions Aera to scale manufacturing and deliver cost-saving, resilient food production to restaurants and institutions across Canada.
Department
Program
Industrial Research Assistance Program
Recipient
Location
St. John's|St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Recipient Type
For-profit organization
Business Number
791141005
Type
Contribution
Source
Proactive Disclosure - Grants and Contributions
Amendments
Each version of the agreement as published, oldest first, with its total as of that version. The amount above is the latest.
| Amendment | Date | Fiscal Year | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2025-07-07 | 2025-26 | $124,490.00 |
| 1 | 2025-07-07 | 2025-26 | $169,070.00 |
| 2 | 2025-07-07 | 2025-26 | $279,033.00 |
| 3 | 2025-07-07 | 2025-26 | $455,727.00 |
As published
Additional Information
This agreement has been amended 1 time(s). The end date of this agreements has been modified by 257 days. The total amended value is 176,694 dollars.
Additional Information (French)
Cet accord a été modifié 1 fois La date de fin du présent accord a été changé de 257 jours. La valeur totale des modifications est de 176 694 dollars.
Agreement End Date
2027-05-14
Agreement Number
1032783
Agreement Start Date
2025-07-07
Agreement Title
Advancing Automated Aeroponic Farming: Customer Testing & Market Validation
Agreement Title (French)
Faire progresser l’agriculture aéroponique automatisée : essais auprès des clients et validation du marché
Agreement Type
Contribution
Agreement Value
$455,727.00
Amendment Date
2026-08-20
Amendment Number
3
Coverage
Industrial Research Assistance Program projects stimulate wealth creation for Canada through technological innovation and strengthen Canadian innovation ecosystem by creating new industrial capacity. | Les projets du Programme d'aide à la recherche industrielle favorisent la création de richesse au Canada grâce à l'innovation technologique et renforcent l'écosystème canadien de l'innovation en créant de nouvelles capacités industrielles.
Description
Aera is advancing its Victory smart farming appliance from TRL6 to TRL7 through real-world pilot deployments in commercial kitchens. The project includes crop testing, user feedback collection, hardware and software refinements, and development of manufacturing, IP, and go-to-market strategies. Victory is a fully automated aeroponic appliance that enables affordable, sustainable food production on-site. This work supports commercialization readiness, builds clean-tech IP, and positions Aera to scale manufacturing and deliver cost-saving, resilient food production to restaurants and institutions across Canada.
Description (French)
Aera fait passer son appareil agricole intelligent Victory du NMT6 au NMT7 grâce à des déploiements pilotes en conditions réelles dans des cuisines commerciales. Le projet comprend des essais sur les cultures, la collecte des commentaires des utilisateurs, l’amélioration du matériel et des logiciels, ainsi que l’élaboration de stratégies de fabrication, de propriété intellectuelle et de mise sur le marché. Victory est un appareil aéroponique entièrement automatisé qui permet une production alimentaire abordable et durable sur place. Ce travail soutient la préparation à la commercialisation, renforce la propriété intellectuelle en matière de technologies propres et positionne Aera pour augmenter sa production et offrir une production alimentaire résiliente et économique aux restaurants et aux institutions partout au Canada.
Expected Results
The expected results and outcomes of NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program is focused on growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through innovation and wealth creation for Canada.
Expected Results (French)
Les résultats attendus du Programme d’aide à la recherche industrielle du CNRC sont axés sur la croissance des petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) grâce à l’innovation et à la création de richesse pour le Canada.
Federal Riding
St. John's East
Federal Riding (French)
St. John's-Est
Federal Riding Number
10006
NAICS Code
111419
Organization Code
nrc-cnrc
Organization
National Research Council Canada | Conseil national de recherches Canada
Program Name
Industrial Research Assistance Program
Program Name (French)
Programme d’aide à la recherche industrielle
Program Purpose
The purpose of Industrial Research Assistance Program Contributions to Firms is to provide support that assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to advance their innovation knowledge and ability to innovate, grow through innovation and stimulate wealth creation for Canada.
Program Purpose (French)
Les contributions versées aux entreprises en vertu du Programme d’aide à la recherche industrielle ont pour objectif d’apporter un soutien aux petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) afin qu’elles puissent approfondir leurs connaissances en matière d’innovation et renforcer leur capacité d’innovation, de croissance et de création de richesse pour le Canada.
Recipient Business Number
791141005
Recipient City
St. John's|St. John's
Recipient Country
CA
Recipient Legal Name
Aera Agriculture Inc.
Recipient Operating Name
Aera Farms
Recipient Postal Code
A1B 1M9
Recipient Province or Territory
NL
Recipient Type
F
Reference Number
172-2025-2026-Q2-1032783
