The United Kingdom and Canada have made an important agreement to work together on the technology that helps advance AI research and development. This agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding on compute, was signed in Ottawa by UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Canadian Minister for Innovation, Science, and Industry François-Phillippe Champagne. It solidifies the partnership between the two countries in the field of AI by promising to find ways for researchers and companies to easily access the strong computing power necessary for cutting-edge AI systems.

 

In simple terms, computing power and data are crucial for creating modern AI models and applications. As AI continues to progress, having access to top-notch computing infrastructure becomes more and more important for groundbreaking research and global competitiveness. The UK and Canada are recognizing this need and are working together to improve access to computing power to encourage joint innovation.

 

Under this new agreement, the UK and Canada will explore opportunities to collaborate on providing computing power for shared research priorities, such as biomedicine. They also plan to work together, along with other like-minded countries, to create sustainable ways of sharing computing capabilities.

 

This computing agreement is part of a broader partnership between the UK and Canada in science and technology, which was also renewed during Secretary Donelan's visit. This partnership focuses on areas like quantum computing, AI, semiconductors, and clean energy for increased collaboration between British and Canadian researchers. It also involves coordinating efforts in scientific diplomacy related to new technologies.

 

Both countries have been actively involved in joint programs, with £350 million awarded by UK Research and Innovation between 2020 and 2023. This includes initiatives like the first industry-led partnership on quantum technologies and a project on arctic ecosystems in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

 

The renewed ties between the UK and Canada in the field of science and technology aim to use emerging technologies as a positive force. Both Secretary Donelan and Minister Champagne expressed their belief that these agreements will have positive impacts across various fields of research and innovation. They see opportunities to connect leading AI researchers in both countries.

 

This collaboration comes as Secretary Donelan meets with AI experts and companies during her three-day visit. She discussed the future of AI with Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer in the field and recipient of the Turing Award, which is the highest honor in computing.

 

With a combined economy of $5 trillion, the UK and Canada are committed to working closely on technological innovation for the benefit of both countries and the world. The computing agreement is a significant step towards realizing this vision, especially in the crucial field of AI.