From Latvia to Canada: new opportunities for cooperation in the field of AI and IT

Sep 30

2 min read

In September, the Latvian IT cluster was represented on an international visit to Canada, participating in a matchmaking mission and ALL IN conference organized by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP). The aim of the visit was to establish new contacts with Canadian clusters, participants in the artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology (IT) ecosystem, as well as to strengthen cooperation with clusters from other European countries.

The visit provided valuable contacts with both Canadian and European organizations, while gaining a broader insight into Canada's cluster system and innovation ecosystem. Discussions with Canadian partners demonstrated interest in closer cooperation with Europe, and specific potential cooperation opportunities in the field of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) were also identified.

As part of the ECCP matchmaking mission, the delegation visited Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, founded by Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio and one of the world's leading academic AI communities. During the visit, there was an opportunity to get acquainted with the work of the institute and discuss the development of AI, responsible use of technology, governance and international cooperation. There was also a meeting with representatives of CEIMIA, getting acquainted with the organization's work in promoting responsible AI development and business growth.

An important part of the visit was also participation in the ALL IN conference, which allowed us to learn about current AI trends, technological development directions and current issues at the international level. The conference brought together representatives of the AI ecosystem, companies, researchers and innovation organizations from different countries.

The ALL IN conference was also accompanied by a trade mission of Latvian companies organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). This provided an additional opportunity to strengthen cooperation at the national level – both with the companies represented in the mission, as well as with the LIAA and the Artificial Intelligence Center (MIC).

The visit confirmed that the Canadian AI and IT ecosystem is open to cooperation with Europe and now is the right time to form new partnerships. The contacts made and the identified areas of cooperation create a good basis for further initiatives and the development of joint projects.