Canada Invests $11M to Boost Alberta Businesses with AI and Advanced Tech

Government Commits $11M to Boost Alberta Businesses with AI and Advanced Technologies

This week, the Canadian government announced an $11 million investment to support seven Alberta-based businesses and organizations adopting modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digitalization, and advanced manufacturing. The funding, provided by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), seeks to help local businesses grow and adapt amid significant economic changes.

Eleanor Olszewski, Minister responsible for PrairiesCan, emphasized the importance of this support: “Alberta businesses are rising to meet the challenge with innovation and ambition. Our government is investing in high-growth companies so they can utilize AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing to lead in their sectors.”

Targeted Investments Supporting Diverse Sectors

• 48Hour Discovery received $1.1 million through the Business Scale-up and Productivity program to enhance their drug discovery platform with AI technology.
• Crust Craft in Edmonton was awarded $2 million to automate their production lines.
• Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network will use $500,000 to launch a demonstration program supporting AI adoption in agriculture.
• Phoenix Farms secured $900,000 to implement AI for grading and sorting potatoes.
• Samdesk received $1.8 million to commercialize an AI-driven platform focused on crisis and travel risk management.
• Promise Robotics plans to invest $2.5 million into establishing a robotics-driven homebuilding factory in Calgary under the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative.

These investments are expected to create approximately 200 new jobs, contributing to Alberta's economic resilience and productivity.

Industry Leaders Highlight the Importance of Support

Doug Griffiths, CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, noted, “This investment is exactly what Alberta needs to compete and thrive. Supporting businesses that scale up and adopt advanced technologies helps build a productive and globally competitive economy.”

James Neufeld, founder of Samdesk, added, “This support accelerates the global adoption of our AI-powered crisis and risk intelligence platform. Our technology enhances real-time decision-making in critical situations such as defense and disaster response.”

Looking Ahead

As AI and automation increasingly shape economic opportunities, these targeted investments by PrairiesCan aim to position Alberta businesses at the forefront of technological advancement. For government professionals involved in economic development, these examples highlight how strategic funding can foster innovation and job creation in key industries.

To learn more about AI applications and training that can support such initiatives, explore resources available at Complete AI Training.