Question 1

What is ISAIC?

Accepted Answer

At ISAIC, the Industry Sandbox and AI Computing, we're a not-for-profit cloud provider right here at the University of Alberta, built to serve Canadian businesses. We provide a secure, affordable environment with flexible Virtual Machines, offering the CPU, GPU, and storage you need to bring your data and AI/ML ideas to life, from Proof-of-Concepts to full-fledged pilots.

So, why choose us over the big cloud players?

First, no egress fees. We believe you should have complete freedom to move your data without extra costs.

Second, your IP is yours. You always retain full ownership of your intellectual property.

Third, we’re completely vendor-neutral. Our platform is built on open-source technologies, so you're never locked into a specific vendor.

And finally, we're local. As an Edmonton-based organization, your data is stored in Canada and governed by Canadian laws. That's a peace of mind you won't get everywhere.

Question 2

What is Alberta CREATE Centre?

Accepted Answer

The Alberta CREATE Centre (https://www.albertacreate.ca/)is our visionary parent organization that ISAIC proudly operates under! This innovative hub accelerates cross-industry innovation by bringing together cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing, AI compute power, and quantum technologies. As the umbrella organization for ISAIC, Alberta CREATE empowers researchers, startups, and industry partners to develop next-generation technologies. Through this connection, we're able to provide you with exceptional AI infrastructure while being part of Alberta's vibrant technology ecosystem that's focused on "where hardware meets AI." As ISAIC, we specifically deliver the AI compute power component of Alberta CREATE's broader mission to foster innovation across Western Canada.

Question 3

What does "CREATE" stand for in Alberta CREATE Centre?

Accepted Answer

CREATE stands for Collaborative Resources Empowering Advanced Technology Experiences. It perfectly captures our mission - bringing together shared resources that empower innovators like you to create cutting-edge technology solutions. As part of the Alberta CREATE family, we're committed to making advanced technology experiences accessible to Canadian businesses of all sizes.

Question 4

What is the relationship between Alberta CREATE Centre and ISAIC?

Accepted Answer

Alberta CREATE Centre is the mother umbrella of the nanoFAB, ISAIC, and the Elko Garage bringing together shared resources that empower innovators. For more information, visit the Alberta CREATE Centre website.(https://www.albertacreate.ca/)

Question 5

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

We're proudly Canadian! While our headquarters is located at 9127 - 116 St NW, T6G 2V4, Edmonton, Alberta, our servers are securely housed at the University of Alberta's data center, which provides high-performance computing infrastructure across multiple campus locations.

Question 6

When's the right time to reach out to ISAIC?

Accepted Answer

ISAIC supports small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at any stage of their AI/ML journey. Many clients find ISAIC services especially valuable in three key scenarios.

For Early-Stage Companies
Before securing VC funding: Our cost-effective solutions allow early-stage companies to make significant progress without straining their budgets.

After exhausting free cloud credits: When initial offers from hyperscalers run out, ISAIC provides an economical alternative for continued development.

For Academic Collaborations
ISAIC helps maintain project continuity for academic collaborations with SMEs. A common issue is that after a project with professors and students is complete, it loses momentum because the SME doesn't have a place to continue the work. ISAIC is the perfect environment for them to continue these projects.

For Established Businesses
While many clients run production operations on major cloud platforms, they often turn to ISAIC to accelerate AI training iteration cycles and R&D efforts. This allows them to avoid paying production prices for R&D and training iterations. ISAIC offers an optimal balance between performance and affordability, making it an ideal solution for intensive development work that drives faster and more efficient innovation.

Question 7

Can my company work with you?

Accepted Answer

If you're registered in Canada, we'd love to work with you! 
ISAIC supports a wide range of industries focusing on applied AI, including healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing Canada-wide. We welcome companies of all sizes and from every industry. Explore some companies' use cases (https://www.isaic.ca/use-cases)on our website.

Question 8

Does ISAIC only work with Alberta companies?

Accepted Answer

While we're based in Alberta, we're here for all Canadian businesses! We especially love working with SMEs and innovation teams from established companies across the country.

Question 9

What about my Intellectual Property?

Accepted Answer

Your IP is 100% yours – no ifs, ands, or buts!

Question 10

Ready to get started?

Accepted Answer

We'd love to chat! Just fill out our contact form on the Contact page,(https://www.isaic.ca/contact) and we'll set up a friendly Discovery call to explore how we can help bring your ideas to life.

FAQ