The federal government is investing up to $162 million to create 10,000 artificial intelligence-related work placements for young Canadians, helping students gain practical experience while supporting businesses adopting new technologies.

The funding, announced Sept. 25 by Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon, will be delivered through Mitacs over five years, beginning in 2026-27.

The program will connect post-secondary students, recent graduates and post-doctoral fellows with Canadian businesses to work on AI research, development and adoption.

The government says the initiative is intended to address workforce skills shortages while helping companies improve productivity and competitiveness.

Opportunities for students and businesses

The investment will support Mitacs AI Advantage, a program that brings together academic institutions, researchers and businesses through paid, co-funded work placements.

The initiative includes two streams designed to meet different industry needs.

The ADOPT stream will focus on helping businesses introduce AI into their operations. Students and researchers will work alongside companies to test and implement AI tools that could improve efficiency and productivity.

The AI+X stream will support research and innovation projects that use artificial intelligence to solve problems and develop new technologies in industries including agriculture and health care.

For Saskatchewan, the programs could offer opportunities to explore AI applications in agricultural production, business operations and other sectors.

However, the federal announcement did not identify specific Saskatchewan placements or provide a provincial funding breakdown.

Helping smaller businesses adopt AI

The federal government says many small and medium-sized businesses recognize the potential benefits of artificial intelligence but lack the technical expertise or resources needed to implement it.

Through Mitacs, businesses will be able to collaborate with academic researchers and emerging professionals to identify practical uses for AI.

Potential applications include improving business processes, analyzing data and developing technologies that address industry-specific challenges.

Solomon said the investment is intended to help young Canadians prepare for an increasingly technology-driven workforce.

“By creating 10,000 AI-related work placements through Mitacs, we are investing in Canadian talent while helping businesses adopt AI, boost productivity and compete,” Solomon said.

“This is how we make sure the opportunities created by AI translate into good jobs and a stronger economy for Canadians.”

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Part of broader national AI strategy

The funding is part of Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, AI for All, launched June 4.

Under the strategy, the federal government aims to create up to 90,000 AI-related jobs and work placement opportunities for young Canadians by 2031.

The 10,000 placements announced through Mitacs will contribute toward that broader target.

Mitacs CEO Dr. Stephen Lucas said the program will help students gain practical experience while supporting companies working to integrate AI.

“Through Mitacs AI Advantage, we’re embedding young, highly skilled Canadians directly into businesses, giving them real-world work experience with responsible AI, while helping our small and medium-sized enterprises adopt AI, innovate and compete with confidence,” Lucas said.

Building on existing research partnerships

Mitacs works with more than 200 post-secondary institutions, 170 innovation incubators and 12,500 companies across Canada.

Since 2020, the organization has supported more than 4,200 AI-related innovation projects involving Canadian businesses and researchers.

Those projects have included work on language learning technologies, surgical patient monitoring and intelligent radio systems.

The federal government says the expanded program will build on those partnerships while increasing access to AI expertise for businesses across the country.

The initiative also follows the September launch of Canada’s National AI Literacy Initiative, developed in partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, known as Amii.

That program focuses on helping Canadians understand artificial intelligence and use the technology responsibly.

Further information about the new work placements and business collaboration opportunities is available through Mitacs AI Advantage.