“I am starting to think that one of the other contractual commitments POET made to R&R in that disastrous financing (aside from the 60 month warrants) was to do x amount of these conferences”

I’m almost sure that that is the case. It would also explain the apparent lack of gusto from management during the presentation.  Perhaps they also realise the complete waste of time them being there is. I also expect they have a pretty dim view of the sharks that led the financing and continue to blight the SP.