From 10-12 September 2024, the EU-Canada ECCP Matchmaking event brought together 21 clusters and 3 SMEs from 13 EU countries, along with 8 Canadian clusters and 6 SMEs, in Montréal, Canada - recognised as North America’s AI hub. Organised by the European Commission through the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), in partnership with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Scale AI, the Government of Canada, and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the event facilitated valuable connections and knowledge sharing.

The EU and Canada have long shared a strong economic and trade relationship, further enhanced by the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has reduced barriers and improved market access since 2017. In July 2024, Canada's association with Horizon Europe Pillar 2 further unlocked opportunities for collaboration in transformative sectors like AI, advanced technologies, and sustainability. These developments set the stage for the EU-Canada ECCP Matchmaking Event 2024, designed to foster business ties and partnerships in AI, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing.

The three-day event promoted knowledge exchange and partnership-building, critical for the future competitiveness and economic security of both regions. As the second edition of the EU-Canada matchmaking series, it built on previous successes, underlining the importance of AI and digitalisation in driving innovation and sustainability. 

One of the major highlights of the event was the matchmaking session, with over 130 meetings held between EU clusters, SMEs, and their Canadian counterparts.

Day 1: Discovering Montréal’s AI Ecosystem

The event began with site visits to some of Montréal’s top innovation hubs, offering the EU delegation an in-depth look at Canada’s advanced AI ecosystem:

• SCALE AI, Canada’s AI Global Innovation Cluster, demonstrated how AI is boosting productivity in key sectors like manufacturing and healthcare.

• Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, showcased its cutting-edge research in deep learning and its commitment to developing responsible AI solutions that benefit society.

• Centech, a tech incubator, displayed its role in commercialising high-tech solutions and helping startups scale their innovations.

These visits provided EU participants with valuable insights into Canada’s AI landscape and how it supports the development and adoption of AI technologies across industries.

In the afternoon, opening remarks focused on the role of EU-Canada cooperation in advancing global AI innovation. Andrea Johnston, Assistant Deputy Minister of Innovation Canada, Government of Canada, emphasised, “Both Canada and the EU see clusters as critical for economic development and competitiveness. Our collaboration with the EU is particularly important in sectors like AI, which has the potential to transform many industries."

In a video message, Jakub Boratynski, Director for Networks and Governance at DG GROW, European Commission, remarked, "With AI and digital technologies, we are deciding our competitiveness and economic security. To succeed in the green and digital transition, especially in this uncertain world of geopolitical tension, this partnership offers great potential.”

The afternoon continued with testimonials from key European and Canadian organizations with existing transatlantic collaborations. Gisela Sanchez from Finance Innovation (France) discussed their partnership with Finance Montréal in digital finance. Nancy Andrews from Canada's Ocean Supercluster highlighted AI's role in addressing ocean challenges and boosting the ocean economy​. Maryam Ajorloo from Scale AI (Canada) showcased AI-driven solutions in logistics and manufacturing, while Pedro Rocha from PRODUTECH Cluster (Portugal) spoke about integrating AI into industrial processes.

The pitching session featured presentations from various sectors. Marie-Elaine Roy from Vooban (Canada) highlighted AI's role in software development, and Mohamed Sabri from Rocket Science (Canada) introduced their AI governance solution. Anthony Kez from ArchEnerg (Hungary) discussed AI applications in renewable energy, while Anne Sormunen from Biocluster (Finland) shared insights into AI’s impact on sustainable innovation. Quentin Fabre from Digital 113 (France) and Kristina Eskenazi from AI Cluster (Bulgaria) also presented AI-driven solutions in digital services and business optimization.

These testimonials and pitches set the stage for a productive matchmaking session, where over 130 one-to-one business meetings facilitated new partnerships between EU Clusters, SMEs, and their Canadian counterparts.

Reflecting on the day, Quentin Fabre from Digital 113 (France), shared, "Our members are working on AI solutions, and this event allowed us to exchange knowledge with Canadian partners. It was a great opportunity to explore joint projects and collaborations."

Maariz Almamun from Steam Exchange (Canada) added, "Meeting European partners opened up new possibilities. We explored innovative solutions in sectors like textiles and green technologies, which are key for our future."

 

Day 2: Scaling Responsible AI Solutions

The second day was dedicated to the ALL IN Canada conference, a premier platform for AI innovation. Participants explored global AI best practices and developed strategies to strengthen their AI ecosystems.

Panel discussions in the morning focused on responsible AI development and scaling AI technologies across sectors. EU clusters and SMEs gained valuable insights into Canada’s long-term investments in technical and policy research, supporting responsible AI growth in industries such as retail, energy, and customer operations.

In the afternoon, guided tours featured key AI projects:

• IVADOand IVADO Labs, highlighting collaborative research in AI and machine learning.

• CEIMIA, which focuses on responsible AI development.

• CIFAR, a global research organisation advancing innovation in AI and its ethical implications.

These visits showcased how collaborative ecosystems between research institutes and industry are accelerating AI’s transformational impact in both the EU and Canada.

The day ended with a debriefing session led by Zoran Stamencic from EISMEA (European Commission), during which participants shared feedback and emphasised the importance of these Matchmaking events in helping their clusters expand internationally.

Day 3: Driving Future AI Collaboration

The final day featured panel discussions and ad-hoc meetings at ALL IN. One highlight was the panel on "Empowering Growth: Fostering AI Excellence in Canada," where experts discussed Canada’s leadership in AI and the importance of nurturing and retaining top talent to drive future innovations.

The 2024 EU-Canada ECCP Matchmaking Event demonstrated the growing potential for collaboration between the EU and Canada in AI and digital technologies. As Kristina Ananiciene from Laser & Engineering Technologies Cluster LITEK (Lithuania) noted, "Canada is an unknown market for my clusters and companies, and this matchmaking event provided an invaluable opportunity to make meaningful connections for future joint activities."

 📸 Photo Album | 🎥 Highlights video | 📅 Event page

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