Seoul AI Hub, operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has sent seven promising Korean AI startups to Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, a globally renowned research center in Montreal, Canada. The selected companies have now begun a 15-week collaborative research program.

This initiative, called the “Scientist in Residence” program, is in its second year following a partnership agreement signed between Seoul AI Hub and Mila in December 2023. The program is designed to help Korean startups tackle technical challenges by working directly with leading researchers in real-world industrial settings.

Mila, founded by deep learning expert Yoshua Bengio, is one of Canada’s top three AI research institutes. With over 1,300 affiliated researchers, Mila is known for groundbreaking work in areas such as language modeling, object recognition, and generative AI.

The seven participating companies in this year’s program are Draph AI, Rexolution, VODABI, PIAspace, Vdigm, Blast, and Freshour. Each company has been paired with a Mila researcher to work on a tailored technology development project.

In addition to one-on-one researcher matches, each startup is also supported by a dedicated research advisor from Mila. These advisors monitor weekly progress, helping to enhance the scientific rigor of the projects and improve their potential for real-world application. Seoul AI Hub also provides broader support to help the startups connect with the North American AI ecosystem and lay the groundwork for market entry.

Support includes assistance with establishing local subsidiaries in Quebec and covering research costs. The program facilitates networking and collaboration with key local institutions such as Investissement Québec, Montreal International, and Centech. Through joint R&D projects, investment opportunities, legal and tax consulting, and go-to-market strategy support, the program helps startups expand into the North American market.

Participants also take part in Mila-hosted research community events like the Partner Symposium, Reading Groups, and Speed Science, offering valuable opportunities to engage with researchers and startups from around the world.

Frederic Laurin, Director of Partnerships and Development at Mila, noted that the program is more than a research collaboration; it could serve as a starting point for broader AI cooperation between Seoul and Montreal, and between Korea and Canada. He added that combining Korea’s applied technologies with Canada’s fundamental research could drive significant progress in the global AI ecosystem.

Chanjin Park, Director of Seoul AI Hub, emphasized that Mila’s researchers bring deep expertise across various technical domains, allowing them to respond effectively to each startup’s specific challenges. He stated that Seoul AI Hub will continue building strategic global connections to support the growth of AI startups that excel in both technology and market readiness.