SCALE AI welcomes investment in AI by the Government of Canada

SCALE AI, Canada’s global innovation cluster specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), shared in a press statement that it welcomes the Government of Canada’s $2.4 billion investment announcedon April 7 to support economic growth through, among other things, greater adoption of AI by Canadian businesses.

The announcement by Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, took place at SCALE AI’s offices in Montréal, in the presence of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

SCALE AI shared that along with its government partners, it will work to ensure that this investment benefits Canadian startups and businesses developing AI solutions and products with local expertise.

This three-part investment stimulates demand for homegrown AI and includes a portion dedicated to the development of cutting-edge infrastructure and a portion devoted to its safety, two essential pillars to support its adoption.

“This financial commitment is a strong signal of Canada’s vision to propel AI. We are convinced that this investment will catalyze productivity, innovation and sustainable economic growth in our country,” said Julien Billot, CEO of SCALE AI. “We will work closely with governments and leverage our expertise to facilitate the adoption and deployment of AI projects within industry and for the benefit of public services. It is also an encouragement to continue our efforts to support the emergence of Canadian AI flagships both nationally and internationally.”

“For more than five years, SCALE AI has been contributing to the emergence and growth of AI, and we are in a front-row seat to see this sector take its place among Canada’s growth vectors. This announcement is an important step, both for the AI ecosystem and for the industries that will adopt it to improve their performance in an increasingly competitive environment,” says Hélène Desmarais, co-chair of the board of Scale AI.

As the originator of Canada’s AI adoption programs, SCALE AI has supported more than 120 AI projects in Canadian companies, representing total investments of $600 million in industries as diverse as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, transportation, and more.