EDMONTON, AB, May 21, 2026 /CNW/ – Today at the Upper Bound AI Conference, the Government of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) announced the appointment and renewal of 42 Canada CIFAR AI Chairs. Backed by a $24M investment, this announcement reinforces Canada’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence by securing the world’s top AI researchers to drive innovation and train the next generation of domestic AI talent.
A fundamental pillar of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program secures the researchers necessary to drive domestic innovation, bridges the gap between lab and industry and trains the next generation of Canadian scientists and AI professionals. The program provides long-term funding flexibility, supports the training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and enhances opportunities for researchers to collaborate across the country.
With these new appointments and renewals, the program now supports 143 Chairs at universities across the country, all affiliated with one of Canada’s national AI institutes: Amii, Mila and Vector Institute. These researchers are conducting transformative work across critical sectors, including healthcare and biotech, sustainable energy and safe and trustworthy AI applications.
Established in 2017 as part of the world’s first national AI strategy, the Chairs program has earned a prestigious global reputation. Collectively, the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs are the third-highest impact AI research cluster in the world.
“Canada is no stranger to turning moments of profound change into opportunities. By growing our national network to 143 Canada CIFAR AI Chairs, we are ensuring that this country remains the best place in the world for AI talent to build their careers and make an impact. These 42 new and renewed Chairs represent the absolute pinnacle of research excellence. Their work will ensure that the AI of tomorrow is developed and deployed right here in Canada, under our values of innovation and safety.”
– The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern OntarioMinister of AI and Digital Innovation
“Reaching the milestone of 140+ Canada CIFAR AI Chairs is a testament to the enduring success of the world’s first national AI strategy. Our focus has always been on people, because they represent the greatest value in any AI ecosystem. This diverse group of researchers is conducting high-impact work that is improving the lives of Canadians. Through the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program, which is the third most impactful research group globally, we are not just attracting talent, we are also building a legacy of innovation that will benefit Canadians for generations.”
– Elissa Strome, Executive Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, CIFAR
This cohort recognizes researchers from nine universities and all three of Canada’s national AI institutes: Amii (Edmonton), Mila (Montreal) and Vector Institute (Toronto).
Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute)
New Appointments
Ife Adebara – University of Alberta
Blair Attard-Frost – University of Alberta
Jocelyn (Qiaochu) Chen – University of Alberta
Carrie Demmans Epp – University of Alberta
Russell Dinnage – University of Alberta
Hila Gonen – University of British Columbia
Erin Grant – University of Alberta
Jun Jin – University of Alberta
Craig Jones – University of Alberta
Majeed Kazemitabaar – University of Alberta
Mathias Lécuyer – University of British Columbia
Ke Li – Simon Fraser University
Xingyu Li – University of Alberta
Jason Peng – Simon Fraser University
Amber Simpson – University of Alberta
Bahareh Tolooshams – University of Alberta
Tian Tian – University of Alberta
Serena Wang – University of British Columbia
Zhou Yang – University of Alberta
Xi Ye – University of Alberta
Renewals
Michael Bowling – University of Alberta
Russ Greiner – University of Alberta
Yuhong Guo – Carleton University
Jacob Jaremko – University of Alberta
Linglong Kong – University of Alberta
Marlos C. Machado – University of Alberta
Patrick Pilarski – University of Alberta
Dale Schuurmans – University of Alberta
Danica Sutherland – University of British Columbia
Rich Sutton – University of Alberta
Osmar R. Zaïane – University of Alberta
Sandra Zilles – University of Regina
MILA (Quebec AI Institute)
Renewals
Glen Berseth – Université de Montréal
Foutse Khomh – Polytechnique Montréal
Hugo Larochelle – Université de Montréal
Timothy O’Donnell – McGill University
Dhanya Sridhar – Université de Montréal
VECTOR INSTITUTE
Nominations
Tim Rudner – University of Toronto
Ohad Shamir – University of Toronto
Renewals
Jeff Clune – University of British Columbia
David Duvenaud – University of Toronto
Rahul Krishnan – University of Toronto
About CIFAR and the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together. We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.
The Pan-Canadian AI Strategy is a national initiative funded by the Government of Canada to establish and sustain Canada’s global leadership in AI research and talent. Since 2017, CIFAR has played a key delivery partner role, helping coordinate implementation and align the strengths of the three national AI institutes: Amii (Edmonton), Mila (Montreal), and the Vector Institute (Toronto).
About the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs Program
The cornerstone of the Pan-Canadian AI strategy is the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program, which has recruited and retained over 140+ of the world’s top AI researchers. This community represents the third-highest-impact AI research cluster in the world. Our researchers work across all areas of AI, advancing fundamental science as well as the application of AI in areas that matter to society and the economy, including health and life sciences, energy and industrial applications, transportation and more. The Chairs also train the next generation of AI talent, with more than 250 graduate students completing their studies every year across the national AI Institutes, many of whom continue to advance AI in academia and industry. Additionally, CIFAR mobilizes expertise through the Canadian AI Safety Institute Research Program at CIFAR to advance safe and trustworthy AI solutions.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Krista Davidson
Associate Director, AI Communications, CIFAR
647-383-7218
[email protected]
Peter Wall
Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
[email protected]
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
[email protected]
SOURCE The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)
