2024-03-06
One of the strategic objectives of the Scale AI Cluster, Canada's Global Innovation Cluster dedicated to supply chain artificial intelligence (AI), is to establish an innovation ecosystem that positions Canada as one of the world leaders in AI. To reach this goal, the country needs a skilled workforce with knowledge of advanced artificial and digital intelligence. While new talent attraction and retention is important for all sectors, upskilling existing employees is a key lever for AI integration. The Cluster has made it a priority to equip businesses, industries, workers and students with AI knowledge and support training as well as upskilling opportunities.
The Scale AI Cluster launched an extensive program to fund an important portion of the costs for AI training projects tailored to Canadian companies. As of March 2022, the Cluster has contributed $41 million to fund this type of training. This funding has supported 29,000 training courses, and enabled the creation of 225 accredited programs and 63 customized training sessions. The success and demand for customized training sessions has been so great that the Cluster plans to invest more money and resources in their development in the future.
The Cluster also invested up to $1 million to set up its Youth Awareness Program. The program uses school and extracurricular activities to educate young people in artificial and digital intelligence, as well as other aspects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Increasing the number and overall diversity of students pursuing STEM will enrich Canada's AI ecosystem and create a more skilled and diverse workforce overall. As of March 2023, the Scale AI Cluster supported eight youth awareness activities to expose more than 30,000 youth to artificial and digital intelligence, and STEM.
Scale AI Cluster
Programs supporting workforce development:
- Location:
- Pan-Canadian