Efficient and Responsible Artificial Intelligence
Laval Joins a Major Research Consortium to Drive the Digital Transformation of Laval-Based Businesses

Laval, June 19, 2025 – In a context where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming every sector of activity, Laval économique, the City of Laval’s economic development department, and IVADO, Canada’s leading consortium for AI research, training and knowledge mobilization, are announcing a groundbreaking strategic partnership. This initiative aims to promote the widespread, effective, and responsible adoption of this transformative technology among Laval-based businesses.

Starting in fall 2025, specialized training sessions will be offered to business leaders and their teams in Laval’s key sectors, including life sciences, manufacturing, IT, retail, agri-food, and tourism. The objective is to stimulate companies’ digital transformation, boost their competitiveness, and strengthen their ties with academic research and emerging scientific talent.

“We believe that innovation is the engine of economic development in Laval. We have a clear ambition to position our city as a key reference for companies seeking to accelerate their digital transformation, and this partnership with IVADO is another lever that reinforces our commitment. By investing in these technologies, we will increase our competitiveness and support sustainable growth for our regional economy.”

— Stéphane Boyer, Mayor of Laval

“This partnership with Laval meets a concrete need: helping SMEs integrate AI into their day-to-day operations. Instead of letting businesses face this transition alone, we are providing them with practical guidance and tools tailored to their reality.”

— Luc Vinet, Chief Executive Officer, IVADO

A Groundbreaking Partnership

This collaboration is a first between IVADO and a municipality, aiming to expand and structure access to AI training for SMEs.

Recognized for its leading-edge expertise, IVADO has been supporting local and international companies for several years in the strategic integration of AI, using an approach that is both rigorous and grounded in real-world needs.

The training programs developed through this partnership will be based on IVADO’s R³AI initiative, which promotes robust, reasoning, and responsible AI. This framework will guide the development of content that combines performance, ethics, reliability, and social impact, ensuring the sustainable integration of AI into Laval’s business practices.

Training topics will include the ethical and environmental challenges of AI, as well as practical applications tailored to manufacturing environments, executive teams, and transversal functions such as human resources, supply chain, and cybersecurity.

About Laval économique

Laval économique is the entry point for businesses in Laval. It is a team of business solutions experts that supports local companies aiming to grow in an innovative, responsible, and sustainable way, as well as businesses wishing to set up in Laval.

About IVADO

IVADO is an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral research, training and knowledge mobilization consortium whose mission is to develop and promote a robust, reasoning and responsible AI. Led by Université de Montréal with four university partners (Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, Université Laval and McGill University), IVADO brings together research centres, government bodies and industry members to co-build ambitious cross-sectoral initiatives with the goal of fostering a paradigm shift for AI and its adoption.

For more information

Visit the Laval économique website to learn more about the training offer.

Visit IVADO’s website to learn more about robust, reasoning, and responsible AI.

Media contacts:

Jonathan Lévesque
Public Affairs Advisor
Communications and Marketing Department,
City of Laval
450-680-2343
medias@laval.ca

Jean-Bernard Marchand
Office of the Mayor
514 702-8415
j-b.marchand@laval.ca

Sandra Estrela
Communications Advisor, IVADO
IVADO
438-824-7244
sandra.estrela@ivado.ca