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Driving the digital economy

Investments by the Canada Foundation for Innovation have allowed researchers to push the boundaries to become global leaders in AI, quantum computing and other digital innovations, setting the stage for the economy of the future.

Canada had the foresight decades ago to build capacity and nurture talent in emerging technologies. By delving into qubits and wave particles, and advancing deep learning, data mining and data storage, research continues to drive digital transformations that are fundamentally changing how we live and work. 

Strength in numbers *

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448   

Number of CFI-funded digital innovation-related research infrastructure projects   

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$316M+  

CFI investment in capital costs for infrastructure used to advance research in digital innovation  

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5,000  

Number of researchers per year who used CFI-funded infrastructure to advance their research in digital innovation   

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3,500+  

Number of students and postdocs per year trained by conducting digital innovation-related research using CFI-funded infrastructure

*Since 2014–15; includes data related to AI and quantum research infrastructure.

Portrait of Stephanie Simmons

Unleashing the power of quantum computing

Stephanie Simmons’ research in a CFI-funded lab led to her founding Photonic Inc., one of Canada’s most promising quantum computing companies
Find out how
A graphic of a DNA strand lit up with data points.

How Canada is at the forefront of unpacking the potential of DNA data storage

Could “DNA origami” offer a way to store some of the world’s 149 trillion gigabytes of information and help solve big data’s big storage problem? At UBC Okanagan, Will Hughes is exploring the possibilities.
Read more

Research labs help Canadian companies innovate in quantum, AI and digital technology

The CFI’s Research Facilities Navigator accelerates product innovations and to-market timelines by connecting businesses with expertise, specialized equipment and testing environments in publicly funded Canadian labs. 

AI turbo-charges research, from biodiversity to drug discovery

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Using artificial intelligence to help highways hum
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Turbo-boosting pharmaceutical breakthroughs
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Taking AI to the front lines of climate action

Explore how research is addressing Canadian priorities

Return to “Strategic investments, national impact” to discover more ways research projects supported by the CFI are producing world-leading innovations in key industrial sectors that are important to Canada.

Unlocking Canada’s energy advantage
Feeding our future with agritech
Innovating to defend our national security and sovereignty