Force.IA

What Force.IA does

Force.IA is an applied artificial intelligence research alliance headquartered in Montréal, Quebec, that helps Quebec-based businesses and organizations integrate machine learning technologies into their products and processes. Officially launched on December 8, 2020, the alliance is led by JACOBB (Jumeaux Architecturaux et Cognitifs Borderless) and brings together seven Centres collégiaux de transfert de technologie (CCTT) — JACOBB, CDRIN, CIMEQ, CIMMI, CRVI, CyberQuébec, and Productique Québec — strategically distributed across the province with 125+ applied research professionals. The consortium positions itself as one of the largest concerted applied-AI forces in Canada, providing cohesion in AI deployment for Quebec enterprises.

The alliance delivers applied AI capabilities across computer vision (vision artificielle), natural language processing (TALN/NLP), AI applied to robotics, multimodal data valorization, and decision-support technologies. These capabilities are deployed across diverse verticals including manufacturing, healthcare, agri-food, legal technology, maritime research (Numérique Mer / Saint-Laurent project), forestry, and multimedia. The alliance also integrates with the broader Réseau Synchronex (59 CCTT) and QuébecInnove innovation networks to extend reach beyond the founding seven partners.

Force.IA operates primarily on a co-financed, project-based engagement model supported by government funding rather than a transactional SaaS or licensing revenue stream. The alliance received a $2.6M CAD grant from Quebec's Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation (MEI) at launch, with additional municipal support from Ville de Lévis for partner CRVI. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; client engagement is contact-based via the website form routed through JACOBB and partner CCTT centers. The revenue model is best characterized as professional services and government-funded applied research rather than productized software.

Name

Force.IA

Legal name

Force.IA

Website

https://forceia.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Force.IA is a Montréal-based alliance of seven Quebec CCTT research centers, led by JACOBB, that provides applied AI services — computer vision, NLP, robotics, and decision support — to Quebec businesses and organizations, backed by government funding and 125+ research professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied AI Research Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAIAM

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Engineering & Technical Consulting

SECONDARYIMAGABAK

Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Electrical Equipment & Industrial Electronics/Industrial Automation & Control Systems (PLCs, SCADA, DCS)

SECONDARYBPAHAIAL

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Engineering & Technical Consulting

Keywords

• Applied AI research
• Machine learning integration
• Computer vision solutions
• Natural language processing
• Industrial AI services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Co-financed Research Services: The alliance accelerates co-financing of industrial solution development projects with Quebec business networks, funded through MEI government support and collaborative partnerships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Force.IA is an alliance of seven Quebec CCTT (Centre Collégiaux de Transfert de Technologie) applied research centers that provides applied artificial intelligence research and integration services to businesses. Led by JACOBB together with CDRIN, CIMEQ, CIMMI, CRVI, CyberQuébec, and Productique Québec, the alliance helps companies integrate machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics AI capabilities into their operations, drawing on 125+ applied research professionals.

Product overview

Force.IA is an alliance of 7 Quebec-based CCTT (Centres collégiaux de transfert de technologie) research centers—JACOBB (lead), CDRIN, CIMEQ, CIMMI, CRVI, CyberQuébec, and Productique Québec—providing applied AI research services to businesses and organizations. With over 125 applied research professionals, the alliance offers AI integration services including machine learning, computer vision, and NLP applied to industrial, manufacturing, health, agriculture, and multimedia sectors. The consortium operates as a unified service offering rather than individual products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Applied AI Research and Integration Services End-to-end applied AI research engagements that help Quebec-based businesses integrate machine learning, computer vision, NLP, and robotics AI into their operations, delivered through the alliance of seven CCTT partners.
• Machine Learning Integration Applied machine learning research and integration support for businesses adopting ML-based systems.
• Computer Vision Solutions Applied computer vision research and integration support for business use cases across Force.IA partner sectors.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) Applied NLP research and integration support, including engagement with legal-sector clients such as Edilex.
• Robotics AI Applied robotics AI research and integration support for industrial and operational use cases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Co-financing of concrete industrial solution development with business network

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered lead partner, core partner and minor.

• JACOBBlead partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner of the Force.IA alliance. JACOBB provides AI, innovation and applied research expertise to help businesses redefine industry standards. Located in Montréal.
• CDRIN (Centre de développement et de recherche en intelligence numérique)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital intelligence R&D center located in Matane, working on AI, artificial vision and NLP projects including the Numérique Mer initiative.
• CIMEQ (Centre d'innovation en microélectronique du Québec)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicroelectronics innovation center located in Sainte-Thérèse, specializing in AI-related technologies.
• CIMMI (Centre en imagerie numérique et médias interactifs)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital imaging and interactive media center located in Québec, focusing on multimedia data valorization and user experience design.
• CRVI (Centre de robotique et de vision industrielles)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobotics and industrial vision center located in Lévis, working on AI applied to robotics for manufacturing, health and agri-food sectors.
• CyberQuébeccore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCybersecurity innovation center located in Gatineau, contributing AI expertise to the alliance.
• Productique Québeccore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing intelligence innovation center located in Sherbrooke, focusing on AI for manufacturing sector optimization.
• Réseau SynchronexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 52 additional CCTT (college technology transfer centers) that will be engaged through the alliance for broader AI deployment.
• QuébecInnoveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation network whose members will collaborate with the alliance for AI technology adoption.
• MitacsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research organization supporting innovation partnerships, listed as partner of the alliance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• QuébecInnove: Quebec innovation network that aggregates public and private innovation actors. Direct Force.IA partner; comparable as an ecosystem orchestrator rather than a direct AI service provider.
• Mitacs: Canadian national research organization that connects industry with academic researchers. Already listed as a Force.IA partner; comparable as an intermediary that funnels public funding and graduate-level research talent into private-sector AI projects.
• National Research Council Canada (NRC): Canada's federal applied research organization with dedicated AI capabilities. Comparable to Force.IA as a publicly funded applied-AI research provider that partners with Canadian industry; operates at a larger, national scale.

Direct peers

• Mila (Quebec AI Institute): Montreal-based applied AI research consortium founded by Yoshua Bengio. Like Force.IA, Mila is a Quebec AI research alliance working with industry and government to translate AI research into real-world applications, but operates at significantly larger scale and with deeper global research brand.
• Stradigi AI: Montreal-based applied AI solutions provider delivering AI integration and applied research services to enterprises. Comparable to Force.IA in productized applied AI consulting, though Stradigi is a private commercial firm rather than a government-funded alliance.
• IVADO: Montreal-based AI research, training, and technology transfer consortium linking academia and industry. Highly comparable to Force.IA in mission (applied AI adoption) and Quebec institutional positioning, but with a stronger academic core (HEC Montréal, Polytechnique, Université de Montréal).
• Scale AI (Canada's AI Supercluster): Canadian industry-led AI supercluster co-financed by federal and provincial governments to accelerate AI adoption in supply chains. Directly comparable to Force.IA in its public-co-financed model, but operates at a national level and is supply-chain focused.

Emerging players

• Borealis AI: RBC-backed applied AI research lab with offices in Montreal. Comparable in its focus on applied AI for industry verticals and Quebec presence, but affiliated with a single corporate parent and oriented toward financial services primarily.
• PromptQL: Applied AI consulting firm specializing in enterprise AI integration, including LLM and ML deployment. Comparable to Force.IA in offering pragmatic applied AI integration services to enterprises, though U.S.-headquartered and product-led.

Broad incumbents

• Element AI (ServiceNow): Montreal-founded AI solutions and consulting firm, acquired by ServiceNow in 2021. Closest historical commercial analog to Force.IA in applied AI consulting for enterprises; now operates inside a global software incumbent with vastly greater resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/jacobb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Force.IA