Funding will support the development of a new safe-by-design AI
MONTRÉAL, Sept. 16, 2026 /CNW/ -- As increasingly capable artificial intelligence (AI) systems become more autonomous, Canada and Germany are investing in a fundamentally new approach: advanced AI designed from the outset to be transparent, trustworthy and safe.
Today, at the ALL IN conference, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, and Dr. Karsten Wildberger, Germany's Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, announced that the Government of Canada and the Federal Government of Germany are planning to invest CAD 150 million and EUR 100 million, respectively, in LawZero to develop a fundamentally new form of advanced AI, designed to be trustworthy, safe and capable. This joint investment further strengthens cooperation between Canada and Germany on AI.
Headquartered in Montréal, LawZero is a not-for-profit organization developing a novel approach to advanced AI that is designed to be trustworthy, transparent and safe by design. Canada's funding through the Strategic Response Fund will support research and engineering talent, as well as computing capacity, for LawZero's methodology, Scientist AI. Unlike current frontier AI systems designed to act autonomously or pursue objectives, Scientist AI is being developed to reason transparently and provide reliable, evidence-based outputs that are not biased by goals of its own.
By anchoring critical research, talent and computing capacity in Canada, the project will strengthen Canada's technological sovereignty and reduce reliance on foreign-controlled AI systems. The project will create 360 full-time jobs in Canada and will establish a dedicated, sovereign computing infrastructure in partnership with Canadian leaders Hypertec and 5C.
The funding from Germany is subject to notification by the European Commission and will support research and development being undertaken at LawZero's new German office. This funding will not only expand and speed up the overall project but also ensure that European norms and regulations in the field of AI can be incorporated from the outset of the project. LawZero's work will begin with the development of tools to help assess and oversee existing AI systems and support scientific research, while advancing toward a new methodology for safe-by-design frontier models.
Today's announcement deepens Canada's ties with Germany on developing AI, building on the two countries' Joint Declaration of Intent on Artificial Intelligence and the launch of the Sovereign Technology Alliance, which were announced in February. The project will also make a significant contribution to German and European strategies for safe and trustworthy AI. It also advances Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All by strengthening the country's long-term capacity to develop and deploy safe, homegrown AI systems.
Quotes
"AI technologies have the potential to deliver a generational boost to the productivity of the Canadian economy. By investing in LawZero, a Canadian organization advancing safe, high–impact AI, we are building domestic capacity, supporting good jobs and helping to ensure that advanced technologies are developed responsibly and in ways that benefit Canadians."
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
"Canada's future in AI depends on developing advanced systems that reflect our values and protect our interests. By investing in homegrown innovation like Scientist AI, we are strengthening Canada's sovereign AI capacity and ensuring that the next generation of AI is built safely, responsibly and on Canadian terms."
– The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
"With Scientist AI, we are deepening the proven partnership between Canada and Germany. This project pursues a novel, mathematically grounded approach: to develop an inherently safe AI. The safe-by-design model offers an alternative to potentially uncontrollable autonomous AI agents. It works purely on the basis of facts--like an objective scientist--and does not pursue its own goals. By building advanced AI research capabilities in Canada and Europe, we are strengthening our technological sovereignty."
– Dr. Karsten Wildberger, Germany's Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation
"As AI risks multiply and accelerate, our priority must be building solutions to make this technology safe and providing alternative models people can genuinely trust. Recent events demonstrate that safety is itself a core capability; scientific innovation and public safety can and must advance together. LawZero's mission is to address this critical scientific challenge by developing reliable, safe-by-design AI. This backing from Canada and Germany is a defining moment, moving us into the next phase of developing safe AI on a global scale while improving both nations' technological sovereignty."
– Yoshua Bengio, Founder and Scientific Director, LawZero
Quick facts
- The Strategic Response Fund helps Canadian industries innovate, adapt and compete in a changing global economy. It supports large-scale, transformative projects that build economic resilience, strengthen supply chains and protect good jobs in key sectors such as steel, aluminum, automotive, forest products, AI and advanced technologies.
- On June 4, 2026, the Government of Canada launched Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All.
- The AI for All strategy makes security and safety paramount in AI development and use, including by modernizing privacy and online safety laws, strengthening national AI safety capabilities and enhancing government system security.
Associated links
- Strategic Response Fund
- Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All
- Canada and Germany sign AI joint declaration and launch Sovereign Technology Alliance
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Contacts: Leela Polushin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, [email protected], 343-543-5391; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, [email protected]
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