Mila secures CAD $36m to boost Quebec's AI research

Mila has secured CAD $36 million in funding from the Quebec government, linking research capacity and talent development with the province's ambitions for artificial intelligence.

The organisation is one of Quebec's best-known AI research organisations and a focal point for academic and industrial collaborations in machine learning. The institute is closely tied to Montreal's reputation as an AI research hub and has long been involved in education and research partnerships with universities and industry.

The support also reflects Quebec's policy emphasis on responsible AI, a theme central to its positioning of the AI ecosystem. Mila has argued that ethics and social considerations should sit alongside technical advances and commercial uptake.

In its statement released Friday, the institute connected the funding to ongoing work with businesses and international partners, describing it as a way to expand collaborative projects and raise the profile of Quebec-based research.

The announcement comes as jurisdictions compete for researchers and students in areas such as deep learning, applied AI engineering and AI safety. Universities and research institutes in North America and Europe have stepped up recruitment, while governments have increased direct support for labs and training schemes.

Economic focus

Quebec has promoted AI as a cross-cutting technology that can influence multiple industries. In policy terms, that approach emphasises the availability of skilled workers and the translation of research into business use cases.

For local firms, access to researchers and graduates can shape decisions about where to locate product development and research teams. Public funding for research institutions can also affect the scale and continuity of projects involving universities, start-ups and larger companies.

In Montreal, AI has become a key part of the region's economic narrative. The city has sought to maintain its standing among global research centres as other regions increase investment in AI institutes, computing infrastructure and training programmes.

"In Quebec, we want to stimulate university research, the training of talent and the use of a skilled workforce in AI. This is essential to create wealth and maintain our global competitiveness in this highly competitive sector. By supporting Mila, we are taking one more step toward achieving these objectives, and ensuring that the results of Quebec research are leveraged to develop the potential of AI in an ethical and responsible manner," said Jean Boulet, Quebec's Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy.

Institute priorities

Mila's leadership tied the funding to collaborations with companies and the institute's focus on responsible AI. The organisation has said research translation depends on sustained cooperation between academia and businesses, as well as strong training pipelines.

"By placing people and ethics at the heart of our priorities, we make responsible AI a unique competitive advantage, capable of driving our economy while ensuring a technological development that distinguishes itself globally," said Valérie Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mila.

Mila said the additional support will be used across university-linked research excellence and training initiatives as it continues work with partners in Quebec and expands international engagement.