Landmark $30M research investment brings top-tier interdisciplinary AI research talent to Alberta
Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute), one of Canada’s three national AI institutes, and the University of Alberta, ranked #1 in Canada for AI research — today announced the successful completion of a historic $30M global recruitment campaign at Upper Bound.
The announcement was marked on the Upper Bound stage by the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, alongside Cam Linke, CEO of Amii; Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, Dean and Vice Provost of the College of Natural & Applied Sciences at the University of Alberta, and Elissa Strome, Executive Director of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR).
“By attracting the world’s brightest minds in AI to work at the intersections of AI and science, Amii, the University of Alberta, and CIFAR are ensuring that Canadian innovation is central to solving the world’s toughest problems.
The success of this global recruitment campaign for research talent solidifies our leadership on an international stage, proving that when the world looks for responsible, impactful AI solutions that drive real-world change, they look to Canada.” - The Hon. Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation,
Quote from Cam Linke, Amii CEO:
Our collaboration with the University of Alberta has successfully positioned our province as a global magnet for interdisciplinary AI excellence. By securing these researchers, we are ensuring that the next generation of breakthroughs in critical domains—from biology to health, neuroscience to outer space —starts right here in Canada. With the vital support of the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program, we are fostering the talent and the technology that will define the real-world impact of AI on a global scale.
Quote from Matina Kalcounis-Rueppel, Dean and Vice Provost, College of Natural & Applied Sciences, University of Alberta:
The University of Alberta is proud to partner with Amii and CIFAR on this historic initiative. Universities play a vital role in both the innovation and responsible use of AI. This investment in talent will accelerate research breakthroughs here in Canada, strengthen our economy, improve lives, and prepare our students to lead the next generation of AI innovation.
As a national AI centre named in the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Amii’s Canada CIFAR AI Chairs play an integral role in advancing Canadian AI that leads to real-world impact. As part of the recruitment, successful candidates are put on tenure track at the University of Alberta and become eligible for a Canada CIFAR AI Chair nomination.
Quote from Elissa Strome, Executive Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, CIFAR:
This cohort of 32 new and renewed Canada CIFAR AI Chairs at Amii and the University of Alberta and 17 others across the country brings our national total to over 140, a powerful testament to the enduring success of the world’s first national AI strategy. Our focus has always been on people, because they represent the greatest value in any AI ecosystem. This diverse group of researchers is conducting high-impact work that is improving the lives of Canadians. Through the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program, which is the third most impactful research group globally, we are not just attracting talent, we are also building a legacy of innovation that will benefit Canadians for generations.
The AI + X Cluster Hire led to the addition of 25 new Amii researchers at the University of Alberta, bringing Amii’s research capacity in Canada to 32 Canada CIFAR AI Chairs and 71 researchers in total. This growth solidifies Amii and the University of Alberta’s rank among the world’s leading AI communities, standing alongside the most esteemed global AI authorities.
