The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined partners today to announce investments supporting a new Centre for Artificial Intelligence at Memorial University, serving as a collaborative teaching, outreach and continuing education space for the province’s growing sector in information and communications technologies sector.
The new centre will build partnerships with industry and the province’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaborative projects, outreach and continuing education, particularly in AI and computer related courses. It will also serve as a collaborative space for seminars that bring together AI-related researchers and students across campus for teamwork.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing $432,000, while the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour and MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, announced $995,000 from the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Memorial University is contributing $498,000 through revenues generated by the course-based graduate programs and continuing education (short courses) to sustain the longer-term activities of the centre. The total project cost is $1,925,000.
The funding will enable the hiring of four new term faculty positions and the completion of a 1,500 square foot classroom and active learning space on the fifth floor of the new state-of-the art Core Science Facility. It will be shared with other AI- and computing-related groups at the university, creating a vibrant hub of collaboration and a place where partnerships can flourish and expand. Three new masters programs are being offered in artificial intelligence, data science and software engineering.
Quotes
“Collaboration across industry, government, community, and post-secondary institutions, combined with strategic investments are critical in driving greater innovation and technology development. Supporting Memorial University’s new masters programs builds on that spirit of collaboration and will contribute to the development of a highly educated and skilled workforce for this expanding industry.”
Honorable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Supporting the tech talent pipeline is a priority for our government. We continue to work with industry, community, Memorial University and other training partners throughout the province to implement critical talent initiatives.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector punches above its weight. With the support of Memorial University, we’re thriving. A new Centre for Artificial Intelligence will help us take on the world.”
Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr.
Minister of Labour and MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the ACOA
“Memorial University has a critical role to play in developing the Newfoundland and Labrador economy, and the province’s emerging tech sector is anticipated to be at the forefront of future growth. The new Memorial Centre for Artificial Intelligence will provide the highly skilled people needed to move this field forward and address the demands of a sector that will have an increasing impact on our daily lives.”
Dr. Vianne Timmons
President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University
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Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca
Kelly-Anne Roberts
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-5248, 327-7005
kelly-anneroberts@gov.nl.ca
Paul McGrath
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
709-689-5731
paul.mcgrath@canada.ca
Dave Sorensen
Memorial University
709-685-7134
sorensen@mun.ca