Canada & Germany forge Digital Alliance on AI, quantum

Canada and Germany have agreed on a new Digital Alliance to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and digital infrastructure.

The agreement came during a meeting on the margins of the G7 Industry, Digital and Technology Ministers' Meeting in Montréal.

Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, and Karsten Wildberger, Germany's Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, set out a framework for closer collaboration on digital policy and commercial innovation.

The Canada-Germany Digital Alliance will cover AI, digital sovereignty, digital infrastructure, quantum technologies and the wider digital economy. It will also include cooperation on startup ecosystems.

The German-Canadian High-Level Steering Group, set up in 2021, has provided a forum for broader cooperation in trade, energy, climate action and research innovation. The new Alliance will sit within this broader relationship.

Solomon and Wildberger instructed officials to prepare a work plan under the Alliance. Each ministry will assign key contacts to advance projects.

The two governments said they want stronger commercial outcomes from their research and policy work. They highlighted the goal of "growing commercial champions" that can compete on a global scale.

The first concrete step under the Alliance will be a joint declaration of intent on AI. Officials expect this document in the coming months.

The declaration will encourage the commercialisation and adoption of AI in both countries. It will also act as a structure for technical and policy cooperation between the two governments.

AI focus

The Alliance will place large language models and generative AI at the centre of its agenda. It will also look at frontier algorithmic innovation and industrial uses of AI.

Areas under discussion include compute infrastructure, AI safety and policy interoperability. The ministers also identified physical AI and industrial AI as priorities for joint work.

Officials will study options for shared research and commercial projects on generative AI. They will also examine how to align risk and governance approaches.

Talent attraction and mobility will be part of the AI agenda. Both countries want closer links between researchers, engineers and startups.

Business engagement and entrepreneurship will form another element of the AI workplan. The ministers discussed ways to connect small and medium-sized enterprises to new AI tools and markets.

Canada and Germany are already aligning their national AI strategies through regular symposiums and ministerial dialogues. These talks cover compute capacity, skilled talent and industrial applications of AI.

Germany is Canada's largest trading partner in the European Union. Both countries use the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to cut barriers and expand digital trade.

Solomon said the Alliance reflects a broader economic and technology agenda between the two partners.

"As G7 partners, Canada and Germany stand together in innovation and prosperity. Through the Canada-Germany Digital Alliance, we are deepening our collaboration on artificial intelligence, research exchanges and digital infrastructure. The partnerships announced today reflect our shared commitment to building a modern, tech-enabled economy that will enhance productivity across our countries," said Solomon.

Quantum push

The governments also unveiled a joint call for proposals in quantum technologies. The call will launch in January 2026.

The initiative will focus on the commercialisation of quantum computing and quantum sensing. It will support collaborative research and development projects between Canadian and German organisations.

The National Research Council of Canada will lead the effort on the Canadian side. The German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space will lead in Germany.

The quantum initiative builds on the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies. It also reflects commitments in the G7 Leaders' Statement issued earlier this year.

Canadian officials view the joint call as a contribution to Canada's National Quantum Strategy. That strategy focuses on computing, sensing and secure communications.

The National Research Council of Canada already works with domestic industry and international partners on commercialising research. The new call will extend that model into joint quantum projects with German counterparts.

Startup and SME links

The ministers framed the Alliance within a wider effort to support startups and digital entrepreneurship. They stressed the role of small and medium-sized firms in adopting AI and quantum technologies.

Both sides discussed business delegations and cross-border networking events. They also examined options to connect technology firms in both markets.

Wildberger said the agreement builds on a long-standing political and economic relationship.

"Germany and Canada have a lot in common and have a fruitful relationship, nourished by our shared values. I believe there is a big potential for strong and deep collaboration between our two countries around topics such as artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty," said Wildberger.