Funding will support 30 small and medium-sized businesses over the next three years

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is investing $3.125 million in Amii for a project that will see the institute working with up to 30 small - and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the next three years. The funding will empower Canadian companies to embark on or accelerate their AI adoption journeys, driving innovation and growth in the prairie region.

Quote from Cam Linke, CEO of Amii

This investment is a significant step towards driving innovation and growth in the prairie provinces. With the support of PrairiesCan, we can equip small and medium businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to leverage AI effectively, compete in an evolving market and position the region as a leader in AI-driven innovation. This funding will benefit individual businesses and contribute to the overall advancement of Canada’s AI ecosystem, creating new opportunities for economic development and success in our communities.

Amii, a renowned leader in fundamental AI research and development, will provide tailored support to SMEs. Leveraging their expertise and success in working with companies and organizations from a variety of sectors, including health, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing — among others, Amii will guide these companies as they harness the power of AI to enhance their operations, improve decision-making, and unlock new opportunities for success.

PrairiesCan funding is being delivered through its Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program. This program creates, grows, and nurtures inclusive regional ecosystems that support what a business needs to innovate from start to finish and provides an environment where companies can innovate, grow, and compete.

Quote from the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan

The field of artificial intelligence represents an enormous opportunity for small- and medium-sized businesses across a variety of industries and sectors to strengthen their productivity, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness. Our Government’s investment in Amii will help ensure Prairie businesses can overcome the challenges of implementing AI solutions by accessing the talent and expertise needed to effectively integrate the power of AI into their business processes.

Quote from the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister for Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

Thanks to cutting-edge organizations like Amii, Alberta has a global reputation as a leader in artificial intelligence. Together, we are able to support Prairie companies in adopting transformational AI practices and in expanding the industry, all while opening career opportunities for a new generation of AI specialists.

The initiative comes at a pivotal time for Western Canada, particularly Alberta, which has an established decades-long legacy and demonstrated leadership in AI research and commercialization — with Amii at the forefront of driving AI innovation in the region.

The investment from PrairiesCan will further solidify Alberta’s position as a hub for leading-edge AI technology and ensure that the prairie provinces can leverage Amii’s expertise and push the boundaries of what is possible with AI.

Quote from Benjamin Kemp, CEO of Ambyint.

We are excited to have partnered with PrairiesCan and Amii for a Reinforcement Learning AI initiative with transformative potential. This project and associated funding will help contribute to enhancing our already advanced algorithms to mitigate up to 90% of methane venting events with Oil and Gas customers. This will improve our optimization technology and drive further innovation in ways the market needs. We are thankful for this investment and looking forward to this partnership.

By facilitating collaboration between Amii and SMEs in Western Canada, this funding will foster a culture of innovation, drive economic growth, and strengthen Canada’s competitive edge in the global AI landscape. The PrairiesCan investment is aligned with the recently released 2024 budget, where the Government of Canada committed $2.4 billion to help maintain Canada’s competitive edge in AI research and boost AI adoption among Canadian SMEs.