After more than $120 million invested during its first year, SCALE AI continues its work in leveraging AI (artificial intelligence), and announces investments of an additional $29 million in five new projects, including the participating companies’ contributions. This represents more than $9 million directly committed by SCALE AI to supporting the implementation of AI, through the collaboration of established Canadian companies.
Each example illustrates how AI can bring productivity gains and growth in all sectors, from forecasting demand to reducing waste or improving productivity, including deployment of an intelligent supply chain in minerals and metals, a project that stands out from Optel Group, with a total investment of $16.6 million.
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, stated, “Innovative new SCALE AI projects are bringing together partners across industries ranging from metallurgy to retail, including twenty small and medium-sized enterprises. The new partnerships are a testament to the supercluster’s convening power. These collaborations are sustaining SCALE AI’s momentum, driving innovation and contributing to Canada’s leadership and growth in the emerging field of artificial intelligence.”
Highlighting the initiative and leadership of Quebec companies, Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation of Quebec, said, “Artificial intelligence will fundamentally transform industrial processes and the global economy in the coming years. The related technologies can be applied in a multitude of fields and will have major repercussions. Fostering growth means enabling companies to take advantage of new technologies and become more competitive in foreign markets.”
The Quebec government has provided financial assistance totaling $83.4 million to support the activities of SCALE AI until 2023.
Julien Billot, CEO of SCALE AI, noted, “Things are moving fast. Now we see the first concrete results and how the success of the early adopters has inspired new projects on an increasingly large scale. Our team is enthusiastic about the diversity of the projects in which we have invested—big and small, and coming from all sectors. The five projects announced today, representing total investments of $29 million, illustrate this trend and the accelerated pace of growth we are experiencing in all our programs.”
Hélène Desmarais, Co-Chair of the SCALE AI Board of Directors, added, “SCALE AI’s mission is to create the conditions for a sustainable AI ecosystem in Canada. We are very happy with the results. With more than $120 million in investments announced since the launch of our co- investment programs, we see that the leveraged effects are even greater than anticipated, as companies commit beyond our expectations.”
Five projects representing investments of $29 Million
With artificial intelligence still in its early stages of development, the projects supported by SCALE AI show the added value of collaborative partnerships in developing practical and relevant solutions. Altogether, over 30 key partners have taken part in the rollout of these projects, including the participating companies, consultancies, research centres and business partners (customers and suppliers).
Here is an overview of the projects supported:
Smart supply chain for metals and minerals sector Partners: Optel Group Associati Canadian is Aluminum , Laserax , Lithion Recycling , Laval University , SmartyfAI
Port logistics optimization tool Partners: Montreal Port Authority, Société des Terminaux de Montreal , Canscan , EI Systems , Termont
Real-time demand forecasting and inventory management in retail stores Partners
Find Innovation, Prof Chi-Guhn Lee, Pacific West Commercial Corporation, Boathouse Apparel, Cook Culture Ltd, Bella Group, Plenty Apparel, Purdy’s
AI-based forecasting platform to improve supply chain efficiency Partners:
Fleet Complete, Pitstop, Sensata, NPL Canada, Superior Propane
Smart platform to improve the drug distribution chain
Partners:
Pharmaplus Distribution, Horizon Santé Group , SM Pharmacy, CS and AP Inc, Sodan IT Consultants , Thales Digital Solutions