Innovation Saskatchewan Invests $92,500 in Technology Pilot Projects Through the MIST Program

Released on May 28, 2024

Innovation Saskatchewan invested $92,500 in four technology pilot projects through the Made in Saskatchewan Technology (MIST) program in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The MIST funding was matched by project partners allowing startups to leverage an additional $92,500. This marks a milestone as the program has deployed its highest funding allocation since its inception in 2019.

The program funding matches project costs up to $30,000 for companies to pilot their technology with Government Ministries, Agencies, Crown Corporations, as well as Saskatchewan non-profit organizations and municipalities.

"Saskatchewan companies are creating cutting-edge technologies which creates a substantial impact on key sectors," Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison said. "MIST allows startups to successfully launch new innovations with public partners to drive economic growth, improve service delivery and create new jobs across our province."

MIST funding is supporting four pilot projects that are at various stages of implementation:

• Super GeoAI partnered with Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation to examine insurable causes of loss across multiple wheat fields in Saskatchewan. In response, the company piloted a Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) platform for crop insurance assessment to calculate wildlife damage areas and crop yield loss.
• TrailCollectiv partnered with Tourism Saskatchewan to enhance outdoor experiences for residents and tourists exploring the province by providing comprehensive trail information, eliminating the struggle of finding hikes locally or during vacations.
• MemoryKPR partnered with Tourism Moose Jaw (TMJ), Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT), Saskatchewan South Community Futures (SSCF), Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK), and multiple members within Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) to equip project partners with technology to harness the power of storytelling and create connections within their communities.
• drOPs partnered with SaskWater to streamline the onboarding of operators, thereby enabling efficient plant operation. The collaboration focuses on system monitoring, maintenance protocols and direct service request integration.

"Innovation Saskatchewan is proud to support the continued growth of our province's tech sector with the MIST program, which offers Saskatchewan-based technology companies a unique opportunity for collaboration with our government services," Innovation Saskatchewan CEO Kari Harvey said. "The growing popularity of this program and adoption of Saskatchewan technologies truly shows Saskatchewan's competitive advantage: a robust tech sector that embraces startups, small businesses, and large corporate players, and a collaborative environment where the private sector works with governments to get things done."

MIST is among the few programs in Canada that directly support Saskatchewan startups as they work to solve public sector challenges with innovative solutions. The program aims to create a win-win situation by giving startups the opportunity to work with a large customer while giving project partners the opportunity to improve service delivery with a local solution.

Since 2019, MIST has committed more than $162,000 to technology pilot projects by Saskatchewan-based technology companies whose products may improve public service delivery within the Government of Saskatchewan.

For information on how to apply for the MIST program, please visit innovationsask.ca/initiatives/mist or email mist@innovationsask.ca.

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