On September 12, we had the opportunity to attend ALL IN 2024, Canada’s leading AI event. Held in Montreal, the event brought together over 4,000 leaders, students, and professionals from more than 40 countries. It provided us with a valuable space to connect with the innovation community, observe insightful discussions from Canada's top AI leaders, and explore the exciting intersection of AI and neurotechnology.
In this article, I’ll share the most valuable takeaways from the event, discuss how Canada is building a strong foundation for talent-driven innovation, and highlight NeurAlbertaTech’s role in advancing AI-powered neurotech through our youth-focused education and mentorship programs.
The New Generation of Canadian AI Leaders
During an interview, our CEO, Eden Redman, shared his thoughts on the session The New Generation of Canadian AI Leaders, which featured François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Sasha Luccioni from Hugging Face, and Hongwei Liu of Mappedin. The discussion focused on the role Canada’s emerging AI leaders will play in shaping the industry.
Eden was excited to see the government making real efforts to collaborate with industry partners on long-term AI projects, but he pointed out a gap—nonprofits weren’t part of the conversation. While infrastructure investments are crucial, he emphasized that these alone won’t be enough if we don’t also address the challenges in our talent pipelines.
According to Eden, a more balanced approach is needed—one that focuses on growing talent at all levels. “Without a steady stream of future innovators, especially given our population growth, these investments could fall short,” he noted. His key takeaway was that we need to invest just as much in people as we do in infrastructure to truly drive the next wave of AI and neurotech innovation.
Meeting with Minister François-Philippe Champagne
A major highlight was when Eden had a conversation with François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
Eden took this opportunity to highlight Alberta's role, along with a pan-Canadian coalition, in leading the AI and innovation space by building strong talent pipelines through youth-focused tech initiatives. He also emphasized how Alberta’s rich expertise and infrastructure in neurotech could complement AI and machine learning advancements, creating a unique landscape for innovation.
He discussed how the federal government could step in to play a crucial role by investing in and facilitating the development of a pan-Canadian network. This network could disrupt the traditional innovation process in both neurotech and AI/ML, fostering a more interconnected and dynamic ecosystem where young innovators are given more opportunities to learn, collaborate, and contribute directly to breakthrough technologies. He explained how NAT is working to ensure that youth have the hands-on experience and skills they need to drive real-world impact in neurotech.
What’s even more exciting is that this conversation didn’t end at the event. Eden is in ongoing discussions with the Minister’s office, exploring how to create a talent-driven innovation ecosystem that fosters collaboration between policymakers, industries, and young innovators. This partnership has the potential to establish Canada as a global leader in both neurotech and AI.
Driving AI and Neurotech Forward Through Hands-On Education
At NeurAlbertaTech, we firmly believe that the future of AI and neurotech belongs to the young innovators who will drive these fields forward. Attending ALL IN 2024 only reinforced the idea that creating a community that nurtures this talent is key.
Building on the momentum from the event, we’re extremely excited about several of our upcoming initiatives designed to give youth more hands-on experience in neurotech.
In addition to natHACKS 2024, Alberta’s biggest hackathon, we’re rolling out semi-annual hackathons to offer even more opportunities for young innovators to engage with neurotech with the guidance of expert mentors. These hackathons will focus on empowering youth to solve real-world problems across various fields, from health to recreation, and push the boundaries of what neurotech can achieve.
We’re also transforming our online platform to improve the quality of NAT’s educational experiences. The platform will provide a highly interactive, user-friendly, and personalized learning experience that supports live workshops, real-time collaboration, and progress tracking for participants.
As we look ahead, we're thrilled about the potential for these initiatives to create a more connected, innovative future where young talent thrives, and neurotech continues to evolve.