Revolutionizing the way we serve Canadians through digital innovation
Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Digital Accelerator (DA) is driving the creative use of innovative digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI)Footnote 1 and machine learning (ML)Footnote 2 to strengthen NRCan’s efficiency and productivity. Historically, the DA worked on the forefront of using AI and ML for scientific research and analysis. The DA has now pivoted to work on productivity and efficiency-based projects, building purposeful AI-centric Proof of Concepts in collaboration with NRCan sectors while focusing on scalability and generating departmental operational efficiencies.
Aligned with NRCan’s commitment to innovative and sustainable natural resource development, the DA plays a key role in advancing digital transformation and enhancing analytical capabilities.
Learn about Digital Accelerator’s approach and objectives
Artificial intelligence projects
We are collaborating with Canada’s natural resource sectors to find the most efficient ways to integrate digital solutions. Learn about our artificial intelligence projects and how we are modernizing our work and improving our productivity.
See all artificial intelligence projects
Energy
Driving clean and sustainable growth to enhance energy sector competitiveness, allowing for better prediction of energy usage, and technology development.
Mining
Harnessing innovation to enhance efficiency, lower costs, increase productivity, and improve environmental performance in the mining sector.
Forestry
Transforming Canada’s forestry sector – across value and supply chains – through the development of technologies that increase operational efficiency and enhance the use of big data.
Mapping
Analyzing and transforming large-scale mapping data to improve public safety, emergency preparedness, and critical response functions.
Partnerships
The DA is leveraging an ecosystem, built on mutually beneficial partnerships and networks, to achieve exponential gains for digital transformation and support a digitally driven culture with NRCan and the Government of Canada. The DA works with its own sectors to create machine learning and data science tools that help support the sustainable use of Canada’s natural resources.
The DA also teams up with outside organizations like AI institutes, tech industry leaders, and other government departments, to help deliver their mandate.
Collaborating with Amii and Vector Institute
The Digital Accelerator has previously partnered with Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) and Vector Institute to strengthen AI and ML capacity across the department. These workshops helped employees build practical skills and understanding of emerging AI and ML technologies.
How artificial intelligence impacts Canadians and the economy
Technologies such as AI and ML can support ongoing departmental mandates and priorities, including transitioning to a low carbon economy, contributing to public safety, emergency preparedness, and critical response functions.
Integrating AI and ML across NRCan can increase the value we generate for Canadians by:
Delivering targeted, advanced analytic solutions that support the achievement of NRCan’s strategic mission and mandate with the focus on data-driven decision making.
Identifying new opportunities and mitigating risks, increasing collaboration with science and technology sectors to build value-added solutions.
Effectively leveraging data as a strategic asset and empower the department through upskilling and increased digital literacy.
Raising capacity in digital-first decision making.
Innovation in practice
NRCan scientists and researchers are applying innovative digital solutions to support sustainable development and the competitiveness of Canada’s natural resource sector.
For articles, podcasts, and videos on how digital solutions are being implemented at NRCan, visit Simply Science.
Contact
To find out more about digital innovation at NRCan or to collaborate, email digital-numerique@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.