From its inception, Communitech’s True North Conference was about leadership.
It’s only fitting, then, that Communitech, the Schulich Foundation and the Leaders Fund have announced they’re partnering on a new $1-million award called the Leaders Prize at True North.
The Leaders Prize, unveiled Wednesday night at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, will be awarded to a winning team solving a problem of global significance using artificial intelligence (AI). The detailed problem statement will be revealed at True North Conference 2019, with the winner declared one year later at the 2020 edition of the conference.
“The goal of the competition is to capture the imagination of Canadians and unleash a wave of innovation,” said David Stein, co-founder and Managing Partner of the Leaders Fund. The $100-million Leaders Fund is a Toronto-based venture capital firm that invests in high-growth enterprise software companies.
“The Leaders Prize at True North aims to solve a major problem with broad applicability, recognize leading AI talent within Canada, and inspire the next generation to pursue a career in technology,” said Stein. “We expect that teams will be created from within our universities, our tech companies, and from recent graduates.”
It’s hoped that solutions developed through the competition will provide the foundation for a new product or company with a distinctive edge in the marketplace.
“When it comes to artificial intelligence, Canada is leading the way, and as leaders, our job is to tackle large problems that both impact society and enhance prosperity,” said Iain Klugman, President and CEO of Communitech. “We see an opportunity to motivate and inspire talented Canadians to solve meaningful global problems.”
The inaugural True North Conference launched last May, focusing on ‘tech for good.’ The two-day event and its accompanying civic festival attracted more than 2,200 attendees from around the world and drew speakers who were leaders in their fields. The follow-up edition of the conference is slated for June 19-20.
Individuals or groups interested in competing for the prize can register at TheLeadersPrize.com. Applicants must reside in Canada.
“Canada has developed expertise in AI that could transform the way we live and work,” said Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research at the University of Waterloo. “Waterloo understands how to ensure that expertise can turn into commercial success across multiple sectors of our economy. I am certain the Leaders Prize at True North will showcase the best of our talent and ideas.”
