January 23, 2026

AI research institute Mila has partnered with software investor Inovia Capital to create the Venture Scientist Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund for AI companies arising from Canadian academic research. The partners explained that the fund is being created to bridge the gap between the large amount of AI talent in Canada and the relatively low amount of venture capital invested in Canadian AI companies. The partners aim to raise $100M, which will be invested in about 55 AI-focused companies from Canadian research institutions including McGill University, Université de Montreal, University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, and the University of Waterloo.

The Government of Ontario has invested more than $47M in 195 projects related to local research and innovation at universities, colleges, and hospitals. The funding will be used to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and to support building and renovation projects. ON says that these efforts will help to drive economic growth in key areas. “In the face of economic uncertainty, Ontario researchers are bolstering our critical industries with discoveries that cement our province as a global leader,” said ON Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn. “This investment … will advance the sectors that drive our economy, create jobs, and save lives.” The announcement was made at Georgian College, which received funding to upgrade its Centre of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping.

The University of Manitoba has released its 30-year master capital plan and prioritization framework, which outlines its vision for campus renewal and sustainability. The Winnipeg Free Press reports that an 18-month audit found that half of the university’s buildings are currently in poor condition. Looking to the future, the institution said that it will be taking a more comprehensive approach to its facilities projects and shared its plans to bundle deferred maintenance with major and learning space projects to maximize efficiency. The institution will be retrofitting or entirely replacing some of its infrastructure, such as its aging Elizabeth Dafoe Library, while also embarking on new builds of research facilities and learning spaces.

With AI increasingly being used to replace literature reviews and database scans, Leo S Lo (University of Virginia) argues that students will need critical thinking skills to be able to determine fact from AI-hallucinated fiction. Lo describes the four-step process he has developed to guide students in proper AI use in their research. This begins with asking AI about the “how” and “why” of a research question. Lo writes that students should then document prompts and deletions that occur while asking AI to assemble information and fact check the output. The final step, Lo says, is to humanize output using a student’s own knowledge and experiences. Lo notes how librarians are uniquely positioned to help hone these research skills, and concludes that higher ed must help students to question and dig into information meaningfully moving forward.

Seneca Polytechnic and Microsoft have announced that they are deepening their partnership through a new multi-year commitment that will introduce new elements and AI to parts of the student learning journey. Under this agreement, Seneca students and staff will have early access to Microsoft AI innovations. The institution will also work with Microsoft and Microsoft’s partner Adastra to integrate agentic AI into the institution’s curriculum, offer co-op opportunities to technology students, and prepare students for emerging job markets. “Together, we are accelerating innovation by embracing AI as central to education and employment,” said Seneca President David Agnew.

Simon Fraser University and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) have signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines how they will work together to improve the health and well-being of First Nations peoples in BC. The agreement outlines how SFU and FNHA will work together by sharing information, identifying ways to respectfully advance the needs of BC First Nations, and aligning on the core principles of research involving Indigenous peoples. Part of this work will also inform aspects of SFU’s School of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, such as admissions, curriculum, and partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Conestoga College’s Stratford campus has reportedly been listed for lease. The campus, which was announced last year and opened this fall, was listed for lease in October. OPSEU Local 237 President Leopold Koff told CTV News that he was informed that the college may be seeking to sublet parts of the space but added that the advertisement seemed to suggest otherwise. He said that no full-time teaching staff are assigned to the location. A Conestoga spokesperson told The Stratford Beacon Herald that no decisions have been made regarding the property, and that the college regularly evaluates its property portfolio to ensure alignment with enrolment demands and strategic priorities.

In a recent Chronicle of Higher Ed article, Shreeharsh Kelkar (University of California at Berkeley) argues that watermarking offers a solution to the issue of students cheating with large language models (LLM). Kelkar explains how watermarking—where a detectable pattern is left in machine-generated text—could help identify this text without impairing AI performance. Kelkar references two methods of watermarking: LLM text watermarking by generative AI companies and in-context watermarking that would use a learning management system program to alter assignment prompts so that any ensuing LLM output would have a watermark. Kelkar concludes with a discussion of the obstacles to implementing watermarks and calls for stakeholders to come together and find a way to reliably detect these outputs.

Researchers at McGill University are developing a ReACT—Research to Action—Hub model that will be used at the university’s upcoming Sustainability Park. McGill Professor Matthew Harrington explained that the ReACT model takes “a problem, question or challenge, then consider[s] who could contribute to resolving it based on their expertise, regardless of the department within which they normally operate.” The hubs seek to promote more organic collaboration, moving away from the rigid structure of traditional academia. McGill Provost Christopher Manfredi explained that in keeping with a collaborative approach, Hub members will also connect with industry, government, civil society, and Indigenous partners throughout their projects.

Mount Allison University’s Owens Art Gallery has received $820K in core funding from the Canada Council for the Arts’ Artistic Catalysts program. This multi-year funding will support the gallery’s operations, exhibitions, programming, and initiatives. The gallery will also draw on the funds to support its work with artists, students, scholars, and the public. “This investment affirms the Owens Art Gallery’s role as a vital, public art centre that supports contemporary artists and offers essential community services, including art education, literacy, and social connection programs,” said Owens Art Gallery Director Emily Falvey.