The Government of Canada is providing the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) with a contribution of $125 million (in Canadian dollars) to launch a Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy to retain and attract top academic talent, and to increase the number of post-graduate trainees and researchers studying AI. Strategy focused on investments in talent, research capacity, commercialization and standardization of (generative) AI.
Name in original language
Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
Initiative overview
Strong public support for research programs and world class expertise at Canadian universities has helped propel Canada to a position as leader in artificial intelligence and deep learning research and use. Canadian talent and ideas are in high demand around the world”but activity needs to remain in Canada to harness the benefits from artificial intelligence.To retain and attract top academic talent, and to increase the number of postgraduate trainees and researchers studying artificial intelligence and deep learning, Budget 2017 announced $125 million to launch a Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy for research and talent. The Strategy will promote collaboration between Canada's main centres of expertise in Montreal, Toronto-Waterloo and Edmonton and position Canada as a world-leading destination for companies seeking to innovate through artificial intelligence technologies. Expanding the pipeline of Canadian talent for artificial intelligence will benefit businesses in a large breadth of sectors.Public acceptance of technology is important to successful innovation policy and there are important technological precedents to consider in promoting the societal capacity for coping and engaging well with emerging technologies such as AI. To foster positive societal reception of AI, the Strategy makes an investment in CIFAR's AI & Society Program, to examine the multifaceted questions AI poses for society, engage diverse perspectives, communicate new knowledge and insights responsibly, and inform policy development around AI. Through the program, CIFAR funds policy-relevant working groups to examine the implications of AI as it relates to diverse topics (e.g. the economy, ethics, policymaking, philosophy and the law), publish their findings and inform the public and policy-makers.The initiative has the following objectives:To increase the number of outstanding AI researchers and skilled graduates in Canada.To establish interconnected nodes of scientific excellence in Canada's three major centres for AI in Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto-Waterloo.To develop global thought leadership on the economic, ethical, policy and legal implications of advances in AI.To support a national research community on AI.To foster co-operation between AI research centres and industry.
Budget information available?
Available
Estimated budget expenditure range per year in Euros (EUR)
€7,000,000.00
Has this initiative been evaluated?
Yes
Are evaluation results public?
No
