SCALE AI this week announced more than $128 million in investments across over 40 projects, marking the Canadian AI clusters largest round of funding to date.
The newly announced projects highlight the diverse and transformative applications of AI across a growing range of private and public organizations crucial to the Canadian economy, according to a statement from the organization, including how AI is accelerating operational efficiency, reducing bottlenecks, and strengthening productivity across fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and public infrastructure.
“These projects, led by the SCALE AI Cluster, reflect our comprehensive and ambitious nationwide approach to artificial intelligence and economic growth,” commented Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly.
“Artificial intelligence is opening new opportunities for Canadians, helping us work more efficiently, tackle real-world challenges and improve our living standards,” added Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation.
“The projects announced this week will help build more competitive companies and, ultimately, a stronger and more resilient economy,” believes Julien Billot, chief executive officer of SCALE AI.
Some of the projects funded target the energy and climate sectors.
For example, Alectra and Hydro Ottawa intend to develop an AI model to enhance the management of power outages by using the technology to improve response times and efficiency during extreme weather.
“By exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into our outage response strategies, we aim to proactively identify issues before they occur, ensure timely deployment of essential crews and resources, and accelerate service restoration,” remarked Brian Bentz, Chief Executive Officer of Alectra, which garnered more than $3M for the project including $1.2M from SCALE.
Another project, from Calgary’s Arcus Power, introduces an AI-powered software platform that helps energy storage providers make better real-time decisions about when to charge or discharge batteries.
By analyzing market prices, grid needs, and battery health in real time, the platform can coordinate multiple assets at once and respond dynamically to maximize revenue and reduce wear.
Battery energy storage “will play a pivotal role in helping Canada achieve its net-zero goals while supporting the growing demand for electricity,” suggests Rhonda Jewett, who serves as Vice President of Growth and Operations for Arcus Power.
However, “balancing grid needs, battery operations, and economic performance in a volatile market is a complex challenge,” the VP admits.
By “applying AI to battery optimization, we’re unlocking the full economic and environmental value of energy storage—at the scale the grid requires,” Jewett says.
Meanwhile, Promobois G.D.S., Yeji Data Lab, Bois d’Œuvre Cedrico, and MultiFib are collaborating to modernize Canada’s lumber industry through artificial intelligence.
The project will establish three AI functions: 30-day lumber price forecasts, customer demand prediction and segmentation, and production planning optimization. These tools help align manufacturing with market signals, reduce inefficiencies, and identify new client opportunities.
“Through [Lumber Product Price Forecasting and Optimization], we are laying the foundation for a smarter, more resilient lumber industry,” posits George Deschênes, Vice-president Corporate Development for Promobois.
“By combining regional collaboration with advanced AI technologies, we are building the tools to anticipate market trends, optimize operations, and create lasting value across the supply chain,” said Deschênes.