$290 million in support for SCALE AI, the AI-powered Supply Chains Supercluster

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 6, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The conclusion of a $230-million contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and SCALE AI, the Artificial Intelligence (AI)?powered Supply Chains Supercluster, was announced today at the G7 Multistakeholder Conference on Artificial Intelligence taking place in Montreal.

The announcement by the federal government follows the selection last February of SCALE AI as part of the Innovation Superclusters Initiative, which will see $950-million invested in five superclusters across the country by 2023.

The amount pledged will enable SCALE AI to pursue its operations and initiate collaborative transformation projects that will accelerate development and early industry integration of supply chains powered by AI.

The Government of Québec has also announced a $60-million financial contribution to support the activities of SCALE AI and its IVADO LABS laboratory, an organization created to provide support and guidance to companies in implementing projects developed as part of the supercluster.

"With this major funding, we will initiate projects that combine machine learning, operations research and data science, affirming Canada's leadership in the industrial application of these leading-edge technologies," said Hélène Desmarais, Co-Chair of the Board, SCALE AI, Chair of the Board, HEC Montréal, and Chair of the Board and CEO, Centre d'Entreprises et d'Innovation de Montréal (CEIM).

"SCALE AI will kickstart digitization of supply chains, which is of critical importance in making Canadian companies more competitive. With our innovative and sustainable solutions, we will be contributing concretely to the international reach and influence of our companies," added Louis Roy, Co-Chair of the Board, SCALE AI, and President, OPTEL.

"SCALE AI is a critical enabler to bring AI technologies from the lab to the field, and to boost the skills and diversity of our talent pool. Thanks to the investment by the governments and industry partners, we will build up a strong pipeline of future talent, reinforce the links between academia and the industry, and upskill the industrial workforce in new technologies," said Pearl Sullivan, Vice-Chair, SCALE AI, and Dean of Engineering, University of Waterloo.

About SCALE AI

The AI-powered Supply Chains Supercluster is incorporated as SCALE AI (Supply Chains And Logistics Excellence AI), an industry-led consortium headquartered in Montreal and centered in Quebec and Ontario. One of the five Canadian innovation superclusters, its mission is to build the next generation supply chain in Canada and bolster Canada's leadership in artificial intelligence. The Canadian supply chain provides almost a million jobs and makes up 10% of our GDP.

Close to 120 industrial partners, research institutions and other world-class enablers of the AI ecosystem have joined forces to create this innovation consortium. Altogether, these partners have committed to more than doubling the Government of Canada's funding in support of this ground-breaking initiative.

For more information, visit aisupplychain.ca

SOURCE Scale.ai