Bell Canada and Queen’s University signed a Memorandum of Understanding plan and operate a new generation AI supercomputing installation in Canada. This partnership marks a broader shift toward sovereign AI infrastructure, as governments, academia and industry seek to secure domestic computing capacity and reduce reliance on foreign-controlled systems.
Focus on sovereign computing and national AI capacity
The proposed facility is positioned as a Canadian-owned and operated supercomputing platform intended to support academic research while enabling businesses and government organizations to develop and deploy large-scale AI applications. Bell and Queen’s say the project aims to strengthen Canada’s digital sovereignty by keeping sensitive data and intellectual property under national surveillance.
Bell will lead the design, construction, financing and long-term maintenance of the facility, which will operate over the company’s high-speed fiber optic network. Queen’s will oversee the development of the supercomputer itself, including system architecture, chip procurement, advanced technology programs and operations, drawing on the expertise of its Center for Advanced Computing.
The announcement was shared publicly by Bell President and CEO Mirko Bibic on LinkedIn, where he wrote: “Bell and Queen’s University are joining forces to plan and build Canada’s next-generation sovereign AI supercomputing facility. This partnership will accelerate Canada’s AI ecosystem, drive domestic adoption of AI tools, and strengthen digital sovereignty.”
Leadership in research and systems design
Queen’s researchers will lead work on systems architecture and advanced computer programs, with sustainability also forming part of the facility’s design, including the use of heat recovery. The university has already contributed to the development and operation of large-scale supercomputing systems and AI research infrastructure.
Dan Rink, President of Bell AI Fabric, says: “Our collaboration with Queen’s University is a key step in building a strong, independent AI ecosystem right here in Canada. This facility will enable our country’s best talent to turn groundbreaking research into real-world solutions and economic growth. By giving our innovators more resources, we are building a more competitive and resilient future for Canadian technology.”
Nancy Ross, Deputy Director (Research) at Queen’s University, adds: “Queen’s University is proud to partner with Bell on this transformative project. Our researchers are world leaders in supercomputing, having contributed to the development of seven of the world’s top ten systems. Our researchers are also at the forefront of innovation in green supercomputing to help move the field towards more sustainable operations. This new facility will serve as a national test bed for Canadian technology and will significantly strengthen our ability to advance AI innovation and support research and discovery, attract top talent, and ensure essential AI development remains in Canada.
The planned facility is designed as an additional pillar of the Canadian AI ecosystem, supporting the transition from research to real-world deployment. The announcement follows recent public investments to increase national research capacity and attract global AI talent, with universities and industry partners increasingly working together to solve computing constraints.
