Scotiabank invests $2.5 million in Queen’s Smith School of Business to help build an AI-ready workforce

Kingston/Toronto, Ont. — Smith School of Business is excited to announce its continued collaboration with Scotiabank to help build Canada’s AI-ready workforce through applied research and experiential learning.

Scotiabank is investing $2.5 million over five years in a renewed partnership with Queen’s University and Smith School of Business to provide ongoing support to the Scotiabank Centre for Analytics & AI at Smith.

"Our continued partnership with Scotiabank reflects a shared belief in the transformative power of responsible AI to build stronger organizations, expand opportunity, and drive economic progress. Together, we are creating pathways for AI learning, leadership, and innovation,” says Lynnette Purda, Interim Dean, Smith School of Business.

Founded in 2016, the Scotiabank Centre for Analytics & AI (formerly the Scotibank Centre for Customer Analytics) brings together faculty, graduate students and industry experts to collaborate on research and prepare students for careers building and deploying enterprise AI. The centre was named in recognition of a generous philanthropic gift from Scotiabank, part of $2.2 million in total funding from the bank. An additional $2 million in philanthropic and research funding was provided by Scotiabank in 2019 to support the centre through 2025. The current investment is being made through ScotiaRISE, Scotiabank’s 10-year, $500-million community investment initiative to help remove barriers and increase access to a more resilient future for individuals, families, and communities.

Announced in Scotiabank’s 2025 Sustainability Report, ScotiaRISE is guided by a refreshed strategic framework anchored in four pillars: education, employment, community needs and cohesion, and resilient economy. Through its resilient economy pillar, ScotiaRISE supports initiatives that help people and communities adapt to technological change, close skills gaps and participate fully in the economy. Investments in analytics, AI literacy and job-ready digital skills play a critical role in that effort.

“For more than a decade, Scotiabank has invested in the practical, hands-on learning of data and analytics research to help prepare students for real-world opportunities through our partnership with Queen’s,” said Phil Thomas, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer. “AI is reshaping how organizations operate, and as technology has evolved, so too has our support. I’m proud that we are investing in the skills the next generation of talent and business leaders will need to succeed, while advancing responsible AI with strong governance and oversight.”

Through the renewed partnership, the Scotiabank Centre for Analytics & AI will continue to facilitate industry-academic collaboration, applied research and hands-on learning. It will also extend its impact with activities and initiatives focused on AI innovation, ethics and governance, access to graduate education for equity-deserving candidates and community-centered AI literacy. 

"We are incredibly grateful for Scotiabank’s long-standing partnership and proud of what we have accomplished together since 2016, including securing multimillion-dollar NSERC and Mitacs grants to prepare graduate students and research fellows for the forefront of the digital economy,” says Ceren Kolsarici, Director, Scotiabank Centre for Analytics & AI, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. “This generous gift allows us to deepen that impact by scaling our vision for an inclusive and AI-ready workforce. From interdisciplinary workshops that connect students with industry, to seed funding for early-stage analytics and AI projects, we will provide hands-on, experiential learning that transforms bold ideas into real-world solutions for industry and society. By fostering diversity through graduate scholarships and sharing global best practices, we are excited to continue driving responsible innovation and economic resilience alongside our partners at Scotiabank.”

About ScotiaRISE
ScotiaRISE is Scotiabank’s $500 million community investment commitment. The goal of ScotiaRISE is to help build economic resilience by supporting programs that help individuals and families access opportunities for economic growth, adapt to change, overcome barriers, and participate in the economy more fully. ScotiaRISE is guided by four pillars: Education, Employment, Community Needs & Cohesion, and Resilient Economy. Since launching in 2021, ScotiaRISE has partnered with over 300 community organizations and invested more than $212 million globally. 

About Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
Smith School of Business at Queen’s University is renowned for its excellence, innovation and leadership in business education. From establishing the first undergraduate business degree over a century ago to creating groundbreaking programs and courses in emerging areas, Smith is at the forefront of preparing students for the business marketplace. In addition to its rich tradition of academic and teaching excellence, Smith is known for delivering an outstanding learning and development experience. Personal attention, individual and team coaching, opportunities for specialization and a deep commitment to student success characterize the Smith experience.