Artificial Intelligence Research at Memorial University Supports Industry Innovation

News Release

Federal and provincial government investments of $127,000 will help researchers tackle industry challenges

November 3, 2017 – St. John’s, NL – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Ground-breaking research in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) are helping to create a more robust, innovative Atlantic economy. Through investments from the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial University is collaborating with the business community to help address technology challenges using AI.

Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced an investment of $67,000 from ACOA’s Business Development Program for this initiative. The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, announced a contribution of $60,000 through InnovateNL.

These investments will enable Memorial to undertake a three-year research initiative focussed on areas such as:  real-time search and planning used in systems like Google Maps and robot navigation; reinforcement learning that teaches AI systems how to make decisions based on past experience; and deep neural networks focussed on learning about large data sets by creating AI based on the human brain. Researchers at Memorial’s Faculty of Science will use computer games and simulations as test beds for developing and testing new artificial intelligence techniques. The research will have business applications across a variety of sectors.

This investment supports the objectives of the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan to create new opportunities for Canadians to do business more easily and accelerate the growth of their companies. The Plan will ensure that Canadians develop skills and seize new opportunities to succeed in a growing economy.

Quotes

“Through initiatives such as our Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Government of Canada ensures that we continue to develop world-class expertise at Canadian universities and remain a leader in artificial intelligence (AI). By making smart investments in projects like this one with Memorial University, our government is helping to advance new research in AI to benefit the business community.”

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the ACOA

“As a platform technology, artificial intelligence has the potential to impact almost every sector of our economy. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is pleased to support Memorial University’s efforts to collaborate with industry and undertake research in areas that will have real-world applications and foster innovation and growth.”

- Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East

“As we aim to create a more robust, innovative Newfoundland and Labrador economy, this funding will be an important catalyst for building artificial intelligence research in our province. Our government is committed to fostering innovation, while creating the conditions that will enable the province’s innovation-driven businesses to grow and diversify.”

- The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

“Artificial intelligence at its core is about developing computer technologies that make intelligent decisions – to help us solve problems not only in academia, but in many industrial sectors as well. AI is predicted to become one of the largest economic sectors in the world, and I believe that establishing a state-of-the-art AI research lab at Memorial University will help promote innovation, motivate future students, and have long-term benefits for our province.”

- Dr. David Churchill, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Memorial University

Contacts

Paul McGrath
Director, Communications
ACOA NL
709-772-2984
Paul.McGrath@canada.ca

Eric Humber
Media Relations Manager
Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Kelly Foss
Communications Advisor
Faculty of Science, Memorial University
709-864-2019   
kfoss@mun.ca

Page details

Date modified: