IBM Centre for Advanced Studies opening in Alberta

Edmonton, AB – Alberta’s provincial government, IBM and the University of Alberta are joining forces, investing an estimated $1.2 million in technology innovation and the creation of an IBM Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) in Alberta at the University of Alberta.

The IBM CAS is a global organization dedicated to promoting and cultivating university relationships and collaborative research between IBM and universities. IBM CAS Alberta will focus on current areas of expertise in Alberta and projects are initially anticipated to be in the areas of machine intelligence, nanotechnology and biological simulation.

“International partnerships are vital in preparing our researchers and students for current and future opportunities. This new centre will help make important connections as we continue to work in an ever-growing global community,” says Victor Doerksen, minister of Alberta Innovation and Science.

IBM CAS Alberta is the first Centre for Advanced Studies to be located in Western Canada and will build strong relationships between academia, the private sector and government in the province. The centre will provide students and researchers from the University of Alberta with technology and funding from both IBM and the government to work on innovative projects, the results of which will be incorporated into real world technology products.

Reinforcing its commitment to innovation and research and development, the Alberta government will contribute $450,000 to the three-year pilot project, with IBM and the University of Alberta contributing funds, technology and facilities valued at $810,000.

“The first IBM Centre for Advanced Studies was created at the IBM Toronto Software Lab in 1990, and the project was so successful that it’s been replicated at IBM sites all over the world,” says Bernie Kollman, general manager, Edmonton and Public Sector Alberta, IBM Canada. “Alberta is home to world leading researchers in numerous areas, including artificial intelligence, and we expect the impact that this partnership will have on the technology industry will be very significant.”

The centre will give Alberta students the opportunity to interact with the world-class industry-focused talent found at IBM and provide access to leading edge technology. Alberta researchers will also be exposed to worldwide collaborative opportunities due to the global nature of the IBM Centres. The program will enable IBM to work with the top technology students, some of Alberta’s leading academics and researchers, and will help identify new and emerging technology issues for academic research.