By: Liz Do
18 Mar, 2024
In support of Canada’s thriving AI ecosystem, CIFAR has received a Google.org grant of $1 million USD to bolster critical research in sustainability and responsible AI.
The grant to CIFAR will be used, in part, to support its Accelerated Decarbonization program, which brings together experts in carbon capture, storage and utilization, biochemistry, chemistry, biology and more to address the carbon cycle and offer new ways of solving climate-related problems.
“As a member of CIFAR’s Accelerated Decarbonization program, I am grateful to Google for its support. This grant enables researchers like me to have an opportunity to advance our work in carbon capture and conversion. This area of research is profoundly important in our fight against climate change,” said Chibueze Amanchukwu, CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar in the Accelerated Decarbonization program.
The funding will also support CIFAR’s work to promote responsible AI research and development. Since 2017, CIFAR has led the country’s Pan-Canadian AI Strategy — the first national AI strategy in the world. Through the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, CIFAR has helped to recruit the world’s leading AI researchers to Canada and retain the country’s existing top talent. It has also been a leading voice in supporting and highlighting responsible AI development.
“Advancing responsible AI is a core tenet of CIFAR’s work through the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. Google’s support allows CIFAR to leverage the full potential of cross-programmatic collaboration between our Canada CIFAR AI Chairs and Accelerated Decarbonization researchers, and ensures that responsible AI is in the fabric of the work they build together,” said Elissa Strome, Executive Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy at CIFAR. “I look forward to seeing the significant research strides they’ll make, thanks to this partnership.”