The university will benefit from a hub to house its AI and biomedical research in addition to co-working space and a think-tank targeting the ethics of emerging technologies.
University of Toronto yesterday detailed plans to develop a 750,000 square foot innovation complex with the help of a C$100m ($74.7m) benefaction from Canadian philanthropists Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman.
The development, to be named the Schwarz Reisman Innovation Centre, will anchor Toronto’s artificial intelligence (AI) and biomedical research together with its entrepreneurial outreach and startups led by Toronto faculty and students.
Artist impressions of the complex, designed by architectural firm Weiss/Manfredi, depict a vast glass-paned structure containing collaborative spaces adorned by elegant features such as vertical lawns and elevated atriums.
Development will take place in two sections, with the first commencing in autumn 2019 on a 12-storey tower for new initiatives including the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence research, and the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology Society, a think-tank intended to address ethical implications of emerging technologies including AI and regenerative medicine.
The second phase will deliver a second, 20-storey tower to house research in regenerative medicine, genetics and precision medicine, together with programs catered to translating discoveries into medical therapies and applications. Both sections will include working space for businesses and startups.
University of Toronto hopes the centre will succeed in enhancing its relationship with the city of Toronto and in driving economic growth, by facilitating research and providing space for small Canada-based businesses to grow.
In the coming months, the university expects to appoint a director for the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society and outline plans for the think-tank’s inaugural flagship event, the Schwartz Reisman International Conference.
David Palmer, vice-president for advancement at University of Toronto, said: “This gift from Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman is visionary in its scope.
“Two of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs are helping us build a facility that will support the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs and ensure Canada’s global leadership in the responsible use of technology. The impact on our city, economy and society will be profound.”
– Feature image courtesy of University of Toronto
