UAE’s TII and Canada’s Mila Forge Strategic Partnership on AI Research

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII),  the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC),  and Mila,  the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, today announced a new strategic partnership to drive collaborative research in AI safety and next-generation machine learning models. The agreement was unveiled during an official visit by the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, to the UAE.

A partnership anchored in shared aspiration for AI-driven impact

Under the partnership, TII will establish a corporate research lab at Mila in Montreal, enabling UAE-based researchers to collaborate daily with Mila’s community of more than 1,500 AI specialists. The partnership reflects a shared focus on translating scientific advances into real-world impact. Mila’s applied-research culture and global talent network will help accelerate TII’s research roadmap, while TII’s expertise in large-scale AI systems, including the Falcon models, offers new opportunities for joint innovation and international adoption of responsible AI. Both organizations are already considering further expansions of this collaboration, including opportunities in applied AI research and open source large language models.

“This agreement connects TII to one of the most dynamic AI research communities in the world. Working this closely with Mila’s scientists will accelerate foundational discoveries and strengthen the global research ecosystem. Together, we will not only prepare for the future, we will create it.”

– Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO, Technology Innovation Institute

“Mila and TII share a deep commitment to pushing the frontiers of AI while advancing real-world applications in areas such as large language models, sustainable energy, robotics, quantum technologies and AI safety.”

– Valérie Pisano, President and CEO, Mila

By bringing our teams together, we are creating the conditions for ambitious and world-class collaboration. This partnership builds on growing momentum between Canada and the UAE and will position both our communities for breakthroughs with global impact.”

Growing momentum in UAE-Canada innovation initiatives

This collaboration comes at a moment of rapidly strengthening UAE-Canada ties in artificial intelligence. This follows a period of growing bilateral engagement in recent months, underscored by the UAE’s role as Country of Honour at ALL IN 2025, Canada’s largest AI event co-organized by Mila, and the Canada-UAE Memorandum of Understanding to support new investments in shared priorities such as digital infrastructure and AI adoption.

The TII-Mila Strategic Partnership aligns with the UAE’s broader vision to become a global hub for advanced research and to build an innovation-driven economy, reinforcing the nation’s long-term commitment to scientific leadership.