Sudbury Secures $1,050,000 FedNor Funding to Boost AI and Innovation
Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe announced a $1,050,000 FedNor investment supporting two key initiatives led by NORCAT, aimed at advancing artificial intelligence adoption and business growth among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in northern Ontario.
Supporting AI Adoption Through the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
A majority of the funding, $700,000, will back the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. This program provides advisory services and financial support to innovative SMEs to help them adopt, integrate, and commercialize AI technologies.
FedNor highlighted that the initiative targets closing skill gaps and boosting productivity by fostering AI expertise within the region. Funds will be allocated for capital investments like servers and cloud infrastructure, specialized training, commercialization efforts, and professional services.
Extending NORCAT’s Innovation Acceleration Program
The remaining $350,000 will extend NORCAT’s Innovation Acceleration Program for another three years. This program offers SMEs up to $20,000 to cover expenses such as equipment purchases, infrastructure upgrades, and third-party services essential for competing and building AI applications locally.
Brendan Skiffington, NORCAT’s manager of innovation, noted growing interest from Sudbury businesses eager to explore how AI can improve their operations. The program is also attracting companies from outside the region, including areas like Kitchener-Waterloo, Kingston, and Halifax, who are relocating to Sudbury to benefit from the emerging AI ecosystem.
Driving Growth and Competitiveness in Northern Ontario
These investments enable SMEs to fund activities that directly impact growth, such as acquiring materials and equipment, expanding labor and training, conducting research and development, and entering new markets.
FedNor emphasized that over 35 SMEs in the region will benefit from this support, advancing innovation and skill development critical to modernizing northern Ontario’s economy.
Viviane Lapointe stated, “When we focus on innovation and new technologies, today’s innovators become tomorrow’s industry leaders. This investment will help ensure that Canadian opportunities benefit Canadians and that the enterprises making Greater Sudbury a hub for natural resource extraction continue to thrive.”
For IT and development professionals interested in AI skill-building, exploring targeted courses in artificial intelligence can be a valuable step. Resources like Complete AI Training's latest AI courses offer practical learning paths to enhance expertise aligned with initiatives like NORCAT’s.
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