The Canadian innovation cluster is providing $31.7 million in funding for 23 projects, with participating companies putting up the rest in cash and resources. Scale and other clusters are federally backed non-profits that bring together startups, companies and universities. (The Logic)

Talking point: Several of the efforts fit Scale’s original focus of applying AI to streamline and improve supply chains. For example, Rio Tinto’s Alcan unit worked with R&D shop Ivado Labs to develop AI models that better forecast the firm’s aluminium sales, letting it hold less inventory  and make transportation more efficient. Scale contributed $1.6 million of the $4-million project cost. The cluster has also expanded into other AI applications. Montreal-based Coveo is working with Ivado and other partners to improve the results that online shoppers get when they search on brands’ websites; Coveo sells personalization tools. The project partners are spending $16.1 million, with $4.5 million of that coming from Scale.