ventureLAB and the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) have launched a new Technology Development Site (TDS) as part of the Critical Industrial Technologies (CIT) initiative. This initiative aims to boost the growth and commercialization of AI technologies developed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ontario. Sep Assadian, VP of Founder Success at ventureLAB, emphasized that this initiative is designed to provide SMEs with the necessary infrastructure and expertise to compete globally in the AI sector. By utilizing advanced computing resources alongside commercialization support, the program will help companies transition from concept to market swiftly and effectively.
As competition in the AI and semiconductor industries becomes fiercer, it is crucial to equip Canadian SMEs with the tools and resources needed to lead. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade, highlighted Ontario's strength, noting that the province houses over 85,000 tech professionals and is a leader in global innovation. The partnership between ventureLAB and OCI aims to drive the development and delivery of locally made technologies while enhancing Ontario's innovation ecosystem. The CIT initiative aims to strengthen Ontario's performance in key industrial sectors such as advanced manufacturing, construction, agri-food, and mining.
Through funding and resources from the CIT, SMEs will gain access to ventureLAB's advanced AI infrastructure and commercialization expertise in a collaborative environment. The TDS is designed to support startups in building, testing, validating, and commercializing AI-driven solutions targeted at global markets. Claudia Krywiak, President, and CEO of OCI noted this partnership reinforces the region's commitment to fostering a competitive environment that nurtures innovation from underground labs to global markets.
A key feature of this initiative is the AI Compute Lab at ventureLAB, which offers SMEs access to advanced GPUs and high-performance servers in a hardware-agnostic setting for training and validating their AI models. The initiative also provides an AI Toolbox that includes curated datasets, pre-trained models, and essential tools for data labeling and governance. Raed Kadri, Vice-President at OCI, emphasized the importance of building a province-wide network that supports the development, testing, and adoption of critical technologies including robotics, AI, cybersecurity, and sustainable construction.
Participating SMEs will also be eligible for personalized advisory services and access to ventureLAB’s Innovation Space, which offers up to 10–15 hours of technical support per month, business mentorship, curated programming, and networking opportunities with partners and investors. To qualify, SMEs must be registered in Ontario, focused on AI development or applications, and operate within one of the target industries.
The application process for prospective SMEs is now open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Those selected by OCI will be sent to ventureLAB for onboarding and a tailored project scope, contributing to Ontario’s industrial innovation and positioning SMEs for success in a rapidly evolving global economy. For more information about the CIT initiative, interested parties can reach out to Manavi Parashar, Program Manager for Accelerate AI, at ventureLAB.
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