The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced on February 15, 2018, that the SCALE.AI project is among the five selected to receive funding through the federal government’s Innovation Superclusters Initiative.

SCALE.AI (for Supply Chains and Logistics Excellence.Artificial Intelligence) is an industry-led consortium with the mission of bolstering Canada’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. The supercluster’s operations will aim specifically at developing next-generation, AI-powered supply chains that incorporate state-of-the-art technologies such as robotics.

Bringing together the infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation, retail, and information and communications technology sectors, the SCALE.AI supercluster comprises 80 Canadian companies, 26 professional associations, the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO) cofounded by Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal, and 12 best-in-class research institutions.

“Polytechnique is pleased and proud to contribute to the development of supply chains powered by artificial intelligence as part of the SCALE.AI supercluster,” says François Bertrand, Polytechnique Montréal’s Chief Research, Innovation and International Officer and a member of the IVADO steering committee. “In our increasingly digitized economy, supply chains are undergoing major transformations, and are strategic to ensuring Canada’s economic future.”

He adds: “Massive amounts of data will help drive value creation in the various sectors of the economy. Canadian leadership in advanced algorithms can be leveraged to the benefit of companies, which will translate into enhanced competitiveness and greater prosperity.”

Involvement and extended benefits

In addition to its collaboration through the activities of IVADO, Polytechnique Montréal, via the involvement of a large number of professors, researchers and other stakeholders, will contribute to the work of the SCALE.AI innovation supercluster in four areas.

Polytechnique will draw upon its research and development infrastructures in the areas of operational research, data science, robotics, augmented reality, and the Internet of Things, along with the innovation capacity of its entrepreneurship and commercialization programs. Meanwhile, Polytechnique’s expertise in management of collaborative projects involving commercial and industrial partners as well as its training, knowledge transfer and internship activities in AI, operational research and data science will help support the supercluster’s work.

The expected benefits of the SCALE.AI supercluster include adding more than $16.5 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product over 10 years, along with over 16,000 jobs across the country.

In October 2017, Polytechnique Montréal hosted the announcement by Minister Bains of the Québec-based projects shortlisted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for its Innovation Superclusters Initiative.

To learn more

Website of the Polytechnique Montréal Research, Innovation and International Affairs Directorate (In French)
Website of IVADO
Webite of SCALE.AI supercluster
Web page of the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Innovation Superclusters Initiative