Four new AI-related technology projects will be supported by the Canadian investment and innovation cluster Scale AI. Worth C$35 million (€24 million), they bring the total number of announced projects to more than 150 and increase investment to more than C$200 million (€135 million). Optimization of the patient care pathway, transportation, optimization planograms and digital twins are the themes at the heart of these four projects.

Four projects related to artificial intelligence

Here is the complete list of projects selected by Scale AI:

• A digital AI twin in Sherbrooke ($25.5 million, including $6.7 million from Scale AI) with Kruger Products, BCG, Osedea, Dataperformers, Polytechnique Montréal and Université Laval: Kruger Products has built a new manufacturing facility in Sherbrooke, Quebec, to strengthen its position in the North American premium tissue and towel market. Based on real-time updated data, the project will virtually recreate the entire mill supply chain, adding an integrated set of predictive and prescriptive AI capabilities. This will improve key operations, from sourcing to processing to shipping to customers, to drive revenue, efficiency and agility.
• Optimization Planogram ($5 million, including $2.2 million from Scale AI) with Canadian Tire, Ivado Labs and Spacefile International Corp: Canadian Tire is one of the country’s largest retailers, with over 500 stores across the country. With a unique and diverse assortment of products in the Home, Play, Shop, Drive, Seasonal and Garden categories, Canadian Tire provides Canadians with items for life here. Using AI, a customized planogram will optimize the placement of each product on the shelves of each store, providing effective sourcing solutions for each Canadian Tire store based on customer behaviours, using real-time data.
• Transportation Optimization ($2.3 million including $1.1 million from Scale AI) with Kemira and Global Attributes: Kemira is a specialist in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries. It provides the most appropriate products and expertise to improve product quality, processes and resource efficiency for its customers. The focus is on pulp and paper, water treatment, and oil and gas. For Kemira’s customers, even the smallest delay can cause downtime, resulting in huge losses in productivity. The AI-based solution will use data to optimize transportation through mixed integer programming.
• Patient Care Pathway Optimization ($1.8 million, including $800,000 from Scale AI) with MCI Onehealth: MCI OneHealth is one of Canada’s largest technology-based primary care service networks, serving over 850,000 patients annually, the network works closely with the hospital community and technology providers towards a data-driven vision of better care. This project will create an AI solution to optimize the patient care journey between virtual, in-person and specialist visits.

SCALE AI, a Canadian investment fund for innovation

A Canadian artificial intelligence (AI) supercluster based in Montreal, SCALE AI acts as an investment and innovation hub to accelerate the adoption and rapid integration of AI and contributes to the development of a world-class Quebec and Canadian AI ecosystem.

Funded by the federal and Quebec governments, it has close to 120 industrial partners, research institutes and other players in AI. SCALE AI develops programs to support investment projects by companies implementing concrete AI applications, the emergence of future leaders in the sector, and the development of a qualified workforce.

The investment cluster announced the arrival of four new projects related to artificial intelligence for a total investment of 35 million Canadian dollars, including 11 million (7 million euros) from SCALE AI. Julien Billot, CEO of SCALE AI, said:

“In recent months, the strategic relevance of supply chains has become more important than ever. Artificial intelligence has demonstrated its value in ensuring stable and efficient supply chains. The private sector-led projects in which SCALE AI is investing are a testament to the technological transformation underway in Canada. These projects also highlight the strong potential of this sector to lead the economic recovery to sustainable growth. Of course, SCALE AI’s work to strengthen the AI ecosystem in Canada is just beginning.”

Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, discusses SCALE AI’s investment in these projects:

“Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live, work and do business. Scale AI is leveraging this competitive advantage by advancing innovative and collaborative projects like those announced today. The goal here is to create a more resilient supply chain, while strengthening Canada’s global leadership in artificial intelligence. I’m pleased to see Scale AI supporting companies that want to leverage this new technology responsibly and for the good of Canadians.”

Translated from Canada : quatre nouveaux projets d’intelligence artificielle soutenus par le pôle Scale AI