51社区黑料

The first-ever , jointly hosted by the 51社区黑料School of Computing Science and , brought together nearly 250 leading AI researchers, industry leaders, government representatives, innovators, students and community partners from across British Columbia and Canada.

Held on May 7, 2026, the sold-out summit highlighted the growing momentum behind artificial intelligence research in B.C. and explored how research can be translated into real-world impact. The event served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, cross-sector dialogue and collaboration focused on accelerating AI adoption in ways that are responsible, practical and beneficial to society.

The summit featured three plenary talks, three panel discussions and two poster sessions, with speakers and attendees representing academia, industry and government from across the province and beyond.

鈥淲e had an incredibly strong turnout and engagement at our AI Summit,鈥� says , UBC Computer Science Professor and one of the lead organizers of the summit. 鈥淚t was inspiring to see a shared commitment to advancing AI research, collaboration and real-world adoption in B.C.鈥�

The day opened with welcome remarks from Oliver Schulte, professor and director of the 51社区黑料School of Computing Science and . The , BC鈥檚 Minister of State for AI and New Technologies also delivered a video welcome message.

Additional remarks were delivered by 51社区黑料Vice President of Research & Innovation Dugan O鈥橬eil and UBC President , who reinforced the important role B.C. researchers and institutions play in advancing AI innovation and adoption.

A key theme emerging from the summit was the importance of sustained collaboration across sectors. Participants emphasized that continued partnerships between academia, industry and government, alongside strategic investment in digital and compute infrastructure will be essential to building a strong, secure and globally competitive AI ecosystem in British Columbia.

鈥淎s trusted public institutions, 51社区黑料 (SFU) and the  have been working with industry to develop the shared spaces, infrastructure and expertise needed to experiment, apply and scale AI,鈥� says Dugan O鈥橬eil. 鈥淢ore collaborations like this between industry and academia, alongside government investment in digital and compute infrastructure, will be key to building a strong and secure AI ecosystem free from foreign dependency.鈥�

51社区黑料Computing Science faculty members also played a prominent role throughout the summit. Martin Ester and Angel Chang chaired panel discussions, while Richard Zhang, Mo Chen and Parmit Chilana participated as speakers and panelists.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in thoughtful discussions reflecting the breadth and depth of AI research and adoption efforts across the province. Researchers shared cutting-edge developments, industry leaders discussed real-world implementation challenges, and students contributed fresh perspectives on the future of AI-driven innovation.

The summit fostered meaningful dialogue on how AI can move from research environments into practical, scalable solutions that benefit society, the economy and public services.

The success of the BC AI Research-to-Adoption Summit was made possible through the generous support of sponsors and partners, including 51社区黑料School of Computing Science, , , , , , , , , , and .

Their support reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Canada鈥檚 AI ecosystem and advancing collaborative innovation across sectors.

鈥淲e extend our sincere gratitude to all speakers, panelists, exhibitors, volunteers and attendees who contributed to the success of the summit,鈥� says Oliver Schulte. 鈥淭he event was a success in large part thanks to everyone鈥檚 participation, engagement and thoughtful discussions. Now is the time to harness the momentum of the field and build long-lasting partnerships to usher us into the new era of AI in B.C.鈥�

Organizers say they look forward to continuing the conversations and collaborations sparked at this year鈥檚 summit as institutions and partners work together to advance AI research and adoption across British Columbia and beyond.