The Digital Technology Supercluster has announced its newest project, focused on water monitoring, revealing the organizations that are partnering to develop the initiative.
Vancouver-based Carl Data Solutions has signed an agreement with the Supercluster, with the president and CEO of its subsidiary Astra Smart Systems set to lead the project.
The project’s goal is to develop a private-public water monitoring platform in the Columbia Basin in British Columbia.
The project’s goal is to develop a private-public water monitoring platform in the Columbia Basin in southeastern British Columbia. The $4.65 million Fresh Water Data Commons project, also includes as partners Teck Resources, Microsoft, Living Lakes Canada, University of Victoria, and Genome BC. Carl Data said the technology developed for the project will use data to help monitor and protect water.
The project combines data sources into a cloud-based system, which can then be accessed through a SaaS application or API. The platform is meant to help analyze real-time collected data and measure key water metrics.
Founded in 2015, Carl Data builds custom devices and networks to supplement existing data, focusing on government and industry clients. The Digital Technology Supercluster project aims to expand on existing IP by building a hardware and software platform for collecting, storing, analyzing, and sharing data. Carl Data and its subsidiaries, Astra Smart Systems and i4C Innovation, are set to receive $2.3 million of the $4.65 million, to support its work on the fresh water project. The project is being led by Astra’s president and CEO Pilar Portela.
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Carl Data president and CEO Greg Johnston noted that the company is looking to expand the platform and solution beyond the Columbia Basin. He noted that Carl Data will look to distribute the products that are developed both domestically, throughout North America, and internationally.
Digital Technology Supercluster previously announced its plan to invest around $1.4 billion to fund over 100 projects involving more than 1,000 organizations across Canada over a ten-year period. The Supercluster revealed its first seven projects in March, as well as a partnership with DNAstack on a precision health platform in August.
ScaleAI, the Quebec Supercluster, also recently entered into a partnership with Ravel by CF, a spinout of commercial real estate giant Cadillac Fairview.
ScaleAI has provided Ravel an undisclosed amount of funding for the project that the newly launched company plans to use to help develop its services including new AI solutions for retailers. Ravel expects the project to create around 70 new jobs and help retailers compete on a global scale.
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Ravel aims to test and develop technology to improve business models and services. It focuses on mobile, personalized recommendations, engaging in-property experiences, and customer service. On November 14, Cadillac Fairview launched its new shopping app CF Browse through Ravel. The app is currently available in beta exclusively at the Eaton Centre in Toronto. Cadillac Fairview, one of the largest owners of retail properties in North America, said it is currently developing the app to support all CF shopping centres across Canada.
The Scale AI program selects industry-led projects that work to address challenges within retail, manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation through implementing AI models. In July, the Supercluster received a $23.4 million grant from the Government of Québec to help develop Quebec’s AI workforce.
ScaleAi announced its first four projects in June, which received around $2 million in investment from the federal government, combined with $3.1 million in contributions from industry and other partners. ScaleAI and the four other organizations that are part of the government’s Innovation Supercluster Initiative, received their funding in the fall.
Image source Cadillac Fairview