Grant: Technology Access Centre

Artificial intelligence’s (AI) contribution to the global economy is projected to be $15.7 trillion by 2030, which represents a 26% increase in global GDP. Exponential demand for digital services during and post-pandemic has led organizations from all sectors to leverage the power of data and AI technologies to stimulate business growth and enhance operational productivity and customer service. Durham College’s AI Hub is applying to the NSERC Technology Access Centre program to provide comprehensive support to multisectoral organizations (MSOs) in the Durham Region to adopt and integrate AI technologies. The AI Hub is a regional centre of research excellence, built via a $2M NSERC Build award and multiple National Research Council Canada, Ontario Centre of Innovation and NSERC Engage awards. Over the last five years, the AI Hub has worked with over 85 MSOs and generated $726K in partner cash. Our partners’ substantial cash contributions signal strong demand for regional AI innovation support, our capacity to deliver high quality research and development and innovation services in alignment with MSO needs, and our excellence in service delivery. Core TAC funding will build upon the AI Hub’s established capacity—and enable us to sharpen our delivery, administrative, training, and sales framework, grow our AI talent, knowledge, knowhow and client base, and grow and create new synergies with other leading research and development organizations and innovation ecosystem supporters.