Abu Dhabi : The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of the Abu Dhabi Advanced Technology Research Council (ADATRC), and MILA (Québec Institute of Artificial Intelligence) announced a new strategic partnership aimed at strengthening collaboration in the areas of AI safety and the development of advanced machine learning models. The agreement was announced during the official visit of Canadian Prime Minister Marc Carney to the UAE.

A partnership based on a shared vision to enhance the impact of artificial intelligence

Under this partnership, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) will establish an institutional research lab at Mila’s Montreal campus, enabling TII researchers in the UAE to collaborate daily with Mila’s community of over 1,500 AI specialists. This reflects both institutions’ commitment to translating scientific innovations into impactful real-world applications. Mila’s applied research ecosystem and global talent network will accelerate TII’s research roadmap, while the institute’s expertise in large-scale AI systems, including its Falcon models, will provide new opportunities for co-innovation and expanding the global adoption of responsible AI. The two parties are also exploring additional areas to expand the partnership, including new opportunities in applied AI and the development of open-source language models.

Dr. Najwa Al-Araj, CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute, said: “This partnership opens new horizons connecting us with one of the most advanced and dynamic AI research communities in the world. Close collaboration with MILA scientists will contribute to accelerating fundamental discoveries and strengthening the international research ecosystem. Together, we are not just preparing for the future, we are building it.”

Valerie Pisano, Chair of the Board and CEO of Mila, said: “Mila and the Institute of Technology Innovation share a firm commitment to advancing the frontiers of artificial intelligence and its practical applications in multiple fields such as linguistic models, sustainable energy, robotics, quantum technology, and AI safety. By combining the expertise of both teams, we are laying the foundation for an ambitious and high-level collaboration. This partnership reinforces the growing momentum between Canada and the UAE, positioning our communities to be at the forefront of achieving breakthroughs with global impact.”

Growing momentum for innovation initiatives between the UAE and Canada

This partnership comes at a time of significant expansion in UAE-Canadian collaboration on artificial intelligence, following a period of growing bilateral engagement over the past few months. This was underscored by the UAE's selection as the country of honor at ALL IN 2025 , Canada's largest AI event, organized by MILA in partnership with national entities, as well as the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UAE and Canada to support investments in shared priorities, including digital infrastructure and AI applications.

The strategic partnership between the Technology Innovation Institute and Mila reflects the UAE’s vision to establish itself as a global hub for advanced research and build an innovation-based economy, underscoring the country’s ongoing commitment to long-term scientific leadership.

About the Institute of Technological Innovation:   

The Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) is the overarching body tasked with driving technological research and development and leading strategic research priorities in the UAE. It is responsible for promoting Abu Dhabi's research efforts across academia and industry, effectively investing funds, and driving policies and legislation to foster rapid and flexible decision-making. The ATRC works to guide advanced technological solutions and solidify Abu Dhabi and the UAE's position as a hub for cutting-edge technological talent and a global center for innovation .

For more information, please visit www.atrc.ae

Contact person for journalists:

Jinan Warrayat: +971 50 471 3552 – jinan.warrayat@tii.ae

About Mila – Quebec Institute of Artificial Intelligence

Founded by Professor Yoshua Bengio of the University of Montreal, Mila is the world’s largest academic research center for deep learning, with over 1,500 researchers specializing in machine learning. Based in Montreal, it receives some of its funding through Canada’s Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Mila’s mission is to be a global hub for scientific innovation that inspires technological development and the growth of AI applications for the benefit of all humanity. Internationally recognized as a leading non-profit organization, Mila is known for its outstanding contributions to deep learning, particularly in language modeling, machine translation, object recognition, and generative models. For more information, please visit mila.quebec .

-I finish-

#Company Data

Disclaimer regarding the content of press releases
The content of this press release is provided by a third-party provider. We do not assume any responsibility for, nor do we have any control over, such content. This content is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis and is not edited in any way. Neither we, nor our affiliates, will be liable for the accuracy, endorsement, or completeness of any opinions, views, information, or materials contained in this content.
This press release is provided for informational purposes only; the content does not constitute legal, investment, or tax advice, nor does it offer any opinion on the suitability, value, or profitability of any particular portfolio or investment strategy. Neither we nor our affiliates will be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions you take based on that content. You expressly agree and acknowledge full responsibility for your use of the information contained in this press release.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Refinitiv, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, relevant shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers, and licensors (collectively, the 'Refinitiv Parties') shall not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive, or exemplary damages; This includes, but is not limited to, losses of profits, savings, or revenues, whether due to negligence, tort, contract, or other theories of liability, even if the parties to Refinitiv were advised of the possibility of any such damages or losses occurring or actually anticipated them.