Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. has announced a C$2.6 million project to accelerate the development of secure Industrial Artificial Intelligence technologies, with partial funding of C$1.04 million from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The initiative focuses on enhancing Skkynet's proprietary Cogent DataHub® data intelligence platform to meet growing demand for AI in industrial automation while maintaining security protocols. This project addresses a fundamental challenge in industrial AI adoption where security concerns have often hindered implementation, potentially transforming how industries implement AI-driven automation.
The investment will support the development of secure, real-time data bridges that allow industrial operators to feed training data to AI models and execute AI-driven control logic without exposing critical operational networks to security risks. According to company executives, this represents a significant step in bridging the gap between industrial operations and advanced AI capabilities while maintaining the security standards required in critical infrastructure. The development of these secure data bridges could allow for real-time optimization without compromising network security, addressing what has been a major barrier to industrial AI adoption.
The project was highlighted during a public announcement by the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. Minister Solomon stated that Southern Ontario is home to a thriving tech ecosystem and Skkynet is a great example of the innovation happening in the community. By helping companies like Skkynet scale their AI capabilities, the government aims to strengthen the local economy and secure Canada's place as a leader in the industrial software market. Additional details about the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario can be found at https://feddev-ontario.canada.ca.
Gary Tillery, CEO of Skkynet, stated that the announcement marks a major milestone for Skkynet and Canada's industrial AI ecosystem, noting that the support will help expedite delivery of AI capabilities that help industries optimize operations and improve efficiency. The project will expand Skkynet's engineering team and accelerate commercialization of next-generation Industrial AI solutions tailored for complex industrial environments where security is paramount. Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet, emphasized that this contribution will allow Skkynet to fast-track critical developments in their technology, ensuring that industrial clients can adopt AI solutions securely and effectively.
The company also acknowledged strategic guidance from Aarif Nakhooda, CFO of CoreAI and Customer Success at Keystone AI, whose expertise in artificial intelligence frameworks helped refine the project's scope to address modern industrial demands. This initiative represents more than just technological advancement—it signals a strategic move toward making industrial AI both accessible and secure, potentially setting new standards for how industries integrate artificial intelligence into their operations while maintaining necessary security protocols. For more information about Skkynet and its Industrial AI initiatives, visit https://skkynet.ai.
