IVADO’s R3AI project receives $124.5 million grant from Canada First
April 28, 2023
The R3AI project from the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO), which aims to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) that’s robust, reasoning, and responsible, has been awarded a $124.5 million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
HEC Montréal is one of the 3 universities that cofounded IVADO in 2016, along with Université de Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal. Université Laval and McGill University are also partner universities in the R3AI project.
The leverage effect of all the partners will enable IVADO to receive a total of $500 million over 7 years to support AI-related research, teaching, and knowledge transfer.
“This major grant confirms Montréal’s global leadership in AI and will support a very ambitious project. R3AI will focus on the key issues raised by AI and also increase AI adoption in all sectors, from health technologies to education and social systems.”
“HEC Montréal is proud to co-lead this ambitious project, a role made possible by our cutting-edge expertise in AI and management sciences. The work carried out under R3AI will have a major impact on advancing science in many areas, and on the development and implementation of responsible AI within organizations and society, both in Canada and globally. More than ever, we need inclusive solutions that respond to the great economic and societal challenges of our time,”
The three Rs in R3AI
The term R3AI refers to the 3 essential characteristics in future AI development:
- robust, to be able to rely on sound models and applications;
- reasoning, to develop AI that is explainable, causal, and modular;
- responsible, to ensure that AI is ethical and inclusive.
The project’s mission also includes harnessing AI to serve society. More than 150 business community and civil society partners supported the grant proposal and will be associated with the project. IVADO is also committed to involving Indigenous and other underrepresented communities in both research and knowledge mobilization activities.