Our mission
Obvia identifies the societal challenges of artificial intelligence and digital technologies and contributes to solutions that place living beings and the biosphere at the center of their development and use.
Our research community generates open knowledge that strengthens individual and collective capacities in collaboration with civil society, public actors, industry, and developers.
Key numbers
Invested directly in research since 2019
Research teams funded
Research axes
Scholarship recipients
Partners
Research members
Our approach
Societal
Our goal is to place the common good, humans, and the biosphere at the heart of the development of new technologies.
Responsible
We support AI innovation, use, and governance for the benefit of society.
Interdisciplinary
We work with experts from various fields and sectors.
International
We collaborate closely with partners from around the world to encourage knowledge exchange.
Our Background
Obvia was established in 2019 at the initiative of the Fonds de recherche du Québec to encourage cross-sectoral research on the societal impacts of AI and digital technologies, to support the Quebec ecosystem in the development of AI, and to showcase Quebec research internationally. Led by Université Laval, we bring together 19 post-secondary institutions in Quebec. Obvia's mandate was renewed by the Fonds de recherche du Québec in 2023 for a five-year period.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
We encourage greater participation from members of groups that have been underrepresented or marginalized, to enrich research and foster a more inclusive, responsible, and respectful development of AI and digital technologies for the benefit of the population.
Member institutions
Université Laval
Université de Montréal
Université de Sherbrooke
Université Concordia
H.E.C Montréal
Université McGill
École nationale d'administration publique
Université de l'Outaouais et des Laurentides
Polytechnique Montréal
École de techologie supérieure
Université du Québec à Rimouski
Collège Ahuntsic
École Bréveuf
Cégep de Sainte-Foy
Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe
Cégep John Abbott
Cégep Limoilou
Collège Dawson
Collège de Bois-De-Boulogne
Collège Rosemont