Why Canada | The Next Canada

Pioneering champion of AI research

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and National Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) were early funders of artificial intelligence research and continues to support AI innovators.

AI pioneers such as Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio and Richard Sutton received support in Canada, years before machine learning research funding went mainstream.

Multicultural and diverse

Canada’s Start-up Visa Program fast-tracks visa applications for global entrepreneurs moving to Canada who have been accepted by designated entities. (Toronto only)
Canada’s Global Skills Strategy expedites the visa process, making it easier for Canadian businesses to attract the top-tier talent they need to succeed.

Forward-thinking innovation ecosystem

This is an exciting time in Canada where municipal, provincial, and federal leadership are significantly aligned in their goal of building the future through tech and entrepreneurship. Here, you’ll find forward-thinking leaders in an ecosystem eager to support you and your ideas.

Canadian government invested $125 million towards Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy
Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SRED) program provides R&D tax credits to companies of any size for conducting Research & Development activities in Canada.
Consistently rated one of best countries in the world to live in

Montréal

Montréal is a global leader in AI and deep learning.

The city has the highest concentration of AI researchers in the world, and the most distinguished in deep learning.

The Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA), founded by deep learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio, is home to the largest and most prestigious group of deep learning researchers in the world
Montreal is also home to the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO), which spearheaded the renowned Deep Learning Summer School program

A hub for AI research labs including: Google Brain, DeepMind, Facebook IA Research, Microsoft Research, Element AI, Creative Destruction Lab, Samsung Research and Thales CortAIx

Montréal is a renowned hub for industry-driven AI research.

Ranked #1 in Canada for university research funding, Montréal offers a collaborative atmosphere where university researchers and the tech industry thrive together.

Selected in 2018 as the nucleus of the AI-Powered Supply Chain Supercluster – SCALE.AI, receiving $230 million in funding from the Government of Canada under its Innovation Superclusters Initiative
Montréal received 24% of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund through the alliance of Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal and McGill University in 2016
Most highly educated population among OECD countries, home to 7 world-renowned universities

Montréal’s tech innovation ecosystem is energetic, strong, and rising

With 5,000 tech companies employing 7.7% of the workforce and generating $10 billion each year, Greater Montréal is a global center for technology and innovation
91,000 qualified ICT workers in 5,000 facilities, and 75,000+ AI specialists are employed in Greater Montreal
Nearly 9000 university students in AI and data-related programs of study

A multicultural metropolis with a European touch.

The city of Montréal is known for its openness to the world, its economic dynamism and its unique, European and Canadian inspired francophone culture.

Ranked 1st among the 20 largest cities in North America in terms of competitive operating costs
3rd in North America and 4th in the world for low overall risk associated with recruitment, employment and workforce relocation
The most bilingual and trilingual metropolitan region in Canada, with 60% of the population speaking two languages, and 20% speaking three

Toronto

Toronto is a hotbed for AI and machine learning

Ranked 4th globally by the Economist’s Liveability Index, Toronto has both the civic qualities and critical mass of technology innovators to make this an ideal city for AI entrepreneurs.

One of the highest concentration of PhD’s working on AI in the world
Pre-existing cluster of 50+ AI companies participating in the Creative Destruction Lab at Rotman
Home to the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research led by Chief Scientific Advisor, Geoffrey Hinton

Toronto has talent, and lots of it

Situated at the nucleus of top academic institutions like the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto, we are swimming in the next generation of local and affordable tech talent.

Most highly educated population among OECD countries, home to 9 world-renowned universities
80% of tech labour force in Toronto has a post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate. Nine universities and colleges offer over 60 technology-related programs to prepare students for careers in the tech sector.
AI Labs include Borealis AI, NVIDIA, Samsung, Sidewalk Labs and Uber

Toronto’s tech innovation ecosystem is vibrant, robust, and growing

Between 2010 and 2015, our tech sector grew by 14.6% and 50,000 jobs. Today, 15% of all jobs are in tech. Toronto is also home to a critical mass of innovators, RIC’s, academic institutions, and government supporters excited about fueling the next generation of tech innovation.

Home to 5000+ startups along TO-WR corridor
Generating $52B in revenues annually, we are the 3rd largest centre for tech firms in NA with offices for Google, Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Airbnb, Uber (ATG) and more
Home to lower business costs than the 31 largest cities in the U.S.

Toronto believes diversity is a strength

Globally connected residents that collectively speak 180 languages and dialects and understand the cultural landscape and nuances of doing business internationally
52% of ventures supported by MaRS (Toronto’s largest incubation hub) have founders who came from overseas

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