By: Kathleen Sandusky
20 Oct, 2023
National AI Institutes propel responsible AI commercialization across Canada
October 20, 2023
CIFAR and Canada’s three National AI Institutes support existing and emerging Canadian AI companies to grow beyond experiments and pilots to successful commercialization.
A recent Deloitte report on Canada’s national AI ecosystem found that Canada currently ranks fifth out of 62 countries for AI “capacity”—a measure of AI scale and intensity—outpacing many G7 counterparts.
But the report also found that Canadian businesses have been slow to adopt AI solutions, compared to their international peers.
Addressing this gap, CIFAR and the three National AI Institutes, Amii, Mila and the Vector Institute, work closely with a range of partners to facilitate responsible AI adoption by businesses, along with successful launches of Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Other close partnerships in advancing Canada’s AI commercialization include the Global Innovation Clusters, which are also funded by the Government of Canada’s Pan-Canadian AI Strategy.
All three National AI Institutes offer dedicated programs for SMEs and commercial adoption, with nearly 300 industry partners currently benefiting from the expertise at the three research hubs.
Amii
In Edmonton, Amii provides access to trusted resources and a diverse AI ecosystem by hosting events and community training opportunities that include Amii’s signature events, TechAid and Upper Bound, which attract thousands of attendees from across the business and civic community. Additionally, Amii advances AI science and opportunities for world-changing commercial success through numerous SME and industry partnerships, whether through training or by embedding experts in project teams.
In 2022-23, Amii worked with 95 companies, from start-ups requiring training to accelerate AI product development, to helping SMEs and large companies identify where AI could have the highest impact in improving their existing products, systems and services.
Amii also walks the talk of responsible AI with a Principled AI Framework course that is mandatory for all staff. Amii recently teamed with the Digital Governance Council to launch an AI-governance course to empower start-ups and SMEs to develop strong, ethical governance foundations for AI-enabled products.
“The barriers to getting started in applied AI have never been lower,” says Cam Linke, CEO of Amii. “Now is the time to act. It is no longer a choice of whether to be involved in AI or not—it’s whether to lead or be led.”
Mila
Since 2018, Mila’s experts have worked with hundreds of Canadian and international businesses and organizations through its AI Industry Services program. Mila’s research experts offer advisory services to SMEs working on hands-on machine learning projects, from problem formalization to robust experimental protocols, model selection and implementation.
Mila also works with larger players on complex AI projects, equipping them for success on their AI journeys. Through short to medium-term advisory engagements, Mila’s experts guide partners towards the advanced use of AI to improve their productivity and benefit society. Their team can also establish proofs of concept to help organizations capture the full value of machine learning using rigorous experimental protocols customized for project objectives.
In 2023, Mila collaborated with 115 industrial partners, locally in Québec, and across Canada and the world.
Recognizing the rich commercialization potential of its own research community, Mila additionally develops the entrepreneurial skills of its affiliated researchers to develop innovative ideas for AI applications through the Mila Entrepreneurship Lab, with 50 entrepreneurial projects launched by Mila-based researchers to date.
Says Stéphane Létourneau, Executive Vice-President at Mila, “With a wide range of benefits, including access to an exceptional talent pool, training and activities, and the opportunity to collaborate on projects with faculty members, Mila’s partnership program empowers companies and organizations to build their AI capabilities and expertise, ultimately generating long-term value.”
Vector Institute
Vector’s experts work closely with industry partners in a range of collaborative programs that span large enterprise solutions to SMEs and policymaking. Vector also offers face-to-face consultations, with experts, and opportunities for individual learning through a range of upskilling initiatives.
In 2022-23, Vector was engaged in 55 active partnerships with Canadian businesses and public institutions to help ensure they have the people, skills, and resources to be best-in-class in the use of AI.
Vector’s FastLane program helps small- and medium-sized businesses accelerate their AI commercialization journeys and compete more effectively in the global economy, with 175 AI SMEs currently enrolled. Through bootcamp-style project management sessions, Ask-Me-Anythings, applied AI projects and professional development, participating SMEs build the skills they need to succeed with AI. Participants learn to recruit talent, benchmark, and improve their commercialization and IP strategies. They also gain exposure to leading VCs, corporate and key stakeholders in Canada’s AI innovation community.
Additionally, Vector helps to retain Ontario AI talent through the Vector Digital Talent Hub, which features AI-specific job postings, recruitment events, and career-building services.
Says Cameron Schuler, Chief Commercialization Officer & VP, Industry Innovation at the Vector Institute, “Working with Vector enables our industry sponsors to give their employees unique access to expert researchers, a valuable sandbox environment that allows them to try new AI techniques with their peers, and first-hand access to an AI talent pool that is in high-demand around the globe.”
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