2018加拿大人工智能生态（英文版）-5mb

Canadian AI Ecosystem 2018 Summary

Core Content

The Canadian AI Ecosystem 2018 report highlights the growth and development of AI-related activities across major Canadian cities. It emphasizes the increasing number of startups, enterprises, and research labs, as well as the role of government funding and academic collaboration in fostering innovation. The report also acknowledges the challenges posed by international competition for talent and the need for continued support to sustain the ecosystem's growth.

Main Points

• Growth in AI Startups:
  From 2017 to 2018, there was a 28% increase in the number of active AI-related startups in Canada, with nearly 650 active startups across all cluster cities.

• International Presence:
  Large international companies such as Google, Uber, and Facebook have been setting up research labs in Canadian cities, particularly in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. This has increased the number of international actors from 20 in 2017 to 50 in 2018, indicating the global recognition of the Canadian AI Ecosystem.

• Investment Trends:

  • AI-related deals have increased by 49% on average over the last five years (as of Q1 2018).
  • Venture/Angel-backed deals have declined from 55% in 2013 to 36% today.
  • Corporate actors have doubled their number of deals, and accelerators/incubators have tripled theirs.
  • Canadian investors account for 62% of AI-related deals, while international investors maintain a 40% share.

• Acquisition Growth:
  The number of AI-related acquisitions has increased by 50% over the last five years, primarily driven by international actors, especially from Silicon Valley.

• Government Funding:
  The Canadian government has provided $4B in science funding over several years, supporting innovation and research in AI. This has helped maintain a strong presence of world-class research labs in Canadian universities.

• Talent Pool:
  Canada hosts the third largest number of AI experts globally, largely due to the strong connection between universities and startups. Cities like Waterloo and Edmonton have seen significant growth in startups born from academic collaborations.

• Ecosystem Challenges:
  Despite growth, the Canadian AI Ecosystem faces challenges, particularly from international competition for talent. While the brain drain is slowing, the presence of large international actors (e.g., DeepMind) may put pressure on the local talent pool.

Key Information by City

Edmonton

• 20+ Startups
• 11 Investor Groups
• 6 Accelerators/Incubators
• 5 Public Research Labs
• The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII) is a central research hub.
• Relies heavily on research-driven innovation to support the local ecosystem.

Montreal

• 120+ Startups
• 14 Investor Groups
• 7 Accelerators/Incubators
• 14 Public Research Labs
• Strong research capacity due to MILA & IVADO.
• Becoming a global AI hub due to the influx of international actors.

Ottawa

• 35+ Startups
• 2 Investor Groups
• 2 Accelerators/Incubators
• 3 Public Research Labs
• Supported by Shopify and the Federal Government.
• Offers access to international markets and has a stable but less dynamic environment.

Quebec City

• 20+ Startups
• 2 Investor Groups
• 1 Accelerator/Incubator
• 7 Public Research Labs
• Strong talent output from Laval University.
• Lacks specialized support for AI startups compared to other Canadian cities.

Toronto

• 210+ Startups
• 13 Investor Groups
• 6 Accelerators/Incubators
• 10 Public Research Labs
• Home to the Vector Institute, a major research hub.
• Benefits from a strong financial sector and robust business community.

Vancouver

• 130+ Startups
• 4 Investor Groups
• 4 Accelerators/Incubators
• 4 Public Research Labs
• Known for its active startup scene and access to Asian markets.
• Lags behind other cities in research output.

Waterloo

• 65+ Startups
• 2 Investor Groups
• 3 Accelerators/Incubators
• 12 Public Research Labs
• University of Waterloo is a key talent generator.
• Developing a strong entrepreneur culture and resisting Toronto's talent pump.

Conclusion

The report concludes that the Canadian AI Ecosystem is transitioning from an activation phase to a globalization phase, driven by government funding, academic collaboration, and international investment. While the ecosystem is showing strong growth and maturity, it must address challenges in talent retention and research support to continue thriving. The key challenge for the coming year is how the ecosystem will respond to the increasing pressure from large international actors on the local talent pool.