Canada is teeming with talent, cutting-edge research, and entrepreneurial spirit. But as in many countries, its innovative ideas can need additional support to become real-world solutions — especially when emerging technologies like AI are involved.

That’s where Cisco’s Fast Future Innovation Awards are making a difference.

The awards were launched by Cisco Canada’s Digital Impact Office and driven by its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, which globally has supported digitization efforts in 50 countries around the world. And like CDA itself, the awards program supports everything from agriculture and smart buildings to cybersecurity, with a particular emphasis this year on artificial intelligence.

The goal is to energize those companies with the potential for positive impact across their customers, communities and society, but which may lack the resources to fully succeed.

“We see innovation as a team sport,” said Wayne Cuervo, director of Cisco Canada’s Digital Impact Office. “But many companies interested in innovating lack either the knowledge, the expertise, or the technology to fully drive go-to-market solutions.”

While the awards include up to $200,000 of in-kind funding for resources, technology and expertise, collaboration and access to Cisco’s deep experience in networking, security, AI, and more has been the real game-changer for past winners.  Now in its third edition, Cisco Canada is gearing up to work with the next round of winners.

“The focus is to help companies think about innovation in new ways,” said Cuervo. “It’s an opportunity to demonstrate that we are an active part of their innovation journey, while demonstrating our unique perspective and expertise in AI.”

Nature-based solutions with an AI edge

One of those organizations — and a winner this year — is ALUS, a charitable organization that helps ranchers and farmers produce ecosystem services from nature-based solutions. ALUS uses innovations around AI/machine learning and remote sensing to quantify water management, carbon monitoring, biodiversity, and more.

Given the significant environmental benefits that more efficient, sustainable and nature-integrated agriculture can bring to society, Cisco was happy to step in.

“Winning Cisco’s Fast Future Innovation Award is a win for all Canadians,” declared Jordan Sinclair, vice president of strategy for ALUS, “as it will provide ALUS with access to the technical expertise needed to advance new, innovative quantification solutions that will help us solve the most pressing environmental issues of our time.”

Cuervo echoed that the opportunity to bring technology and data together in such a potentially impactful way has big implications.

“In agriculture, there’s critical data everywhere,” he said. “Time to seed, time to harvest and irrigation rates, rainfall, all those things have impacts on yields. So, it’s super interesting to solve these problems with AI and technology, and to learn to do it on a much larger scale. But it’s also critical for society.”

Smart systems for smarter buildings

Along with agriculture, buildings are a major source of carbon emissions. So, finding the right technological solutions is imperative. This has historically been a key focus for the program.

That’s why Computacenter, among the nation's largest technology and services suppliers, is committed to Canada's Net Zero 2050 initiative. This includes the design of sustainable, cognitive buildings, leveraging artificial intelligence to integrate OT and IT systems. In doing so, Computacenter hopes to optimize in-building energy consumption, improve occupant experiences, and securely integrate digital systems with physical workspaces.

As a Fast Future Innovation Award winner this year, Computacenter plans to widen the scope of these ideas, with Cisco support.

“The strength of the partnership between Cisco and Computacenter allows for the incubation and realization of digital transformation here in Canada,” said Michael Davidson, Computacenter’s Chief Technologist. “Through the Fast Future Innovation Awards program, we will assist Canada in achieving Greening Government objectives within real properties. Computacenter is honoured to be selected as one of the recipients for this program and look forward to this exciting opportunity and the great work ahead.”

In addition, AI promises to transform our very interactions with living spaces. This is the goal of another winner, a partnership between Ingram Micro and Premise HQ, as they seek to transform the tenant experience with interactive, omni-channel smart spaces, while lessening operational costs and increasing capitalization rates. To further complete the partnership, Cisco is adding its expertise in Internet of Things, networking, AI, and security.

Mark Collins, vice president of Premise HQ, which specializes in complex data management across commercial and industrial properties, summed up the partnership.

“We are very excited by this award and partnership with Ingram and Cisco,” he said. “Together we have a tremendous opportunity to completely transform the way we experience the places in which we work, live, play and learn.”

Ingram Micro brings its own IoT and smart building capabilities to the table. And Tyler Coughlan, Ingram Micro’s vice president and Canada chief executive, shared his thoughts on what’s possible.

“With our partnership with Premise HQ we are thrilled to be a recipient of the Cisco Canada Fast Future Innovation Awards,” he said. “Together we envision the convergence of our strengths, to unlock new opportunities and drive substantial revenue growth.”

Securing our future

Of course, none of these innovations are possible without robust security. And as the threat landscape continues to evolve in ever-complex ways, AI is becoming an increasingly critical element of defense 

But it’s important to ensure that AI does not add complexity of its own.

Compugen, another winner this year, has been working to integrate generative AI, natural language models, animations, and avatars into cyber-defense — to make the IT/security user experience as intuitive as possible.

“We are honored to have our submission recognized as a winner of this year’s Cisco's Fast Future Innovation Awards,” said Harry Zarek, founder and president of Compugen Inc. “This initiative highlights our commitment to helping clients harness the immense potential of AI to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, while maintaining the human-centered approach that is at the core of our values.”

That human-centered approach is another example of what Cuervo cites as a key attribute of all the winners: a sense of purpose in what they can accomplish in service to society. All of which aligns perfectly with Cisco’s purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.  

“CDA is all about digitizing communities and countries for the betterment of societies,” he said. “And we always take that into account when we look at our submissions. These winners are compelling from a technology perspective but also will have a positive impact. So, we’re excited to help.”

 

This investment is done in support of Cisco Canada’s industrial and technological benefit initiatives.