UNB and IGT make a game-changing announcement
Author: Kathleen McLaughlin
Posted on Sep 7, 2023
Category: UNB Saint John , UNB Fredericton
International Game Technology (PLC) will invest $3 million at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) to support interdisciplinary research and teaching, focusing on AI, data science, gaming software and hardware platforms, game design, theory and modelling.
At an announcement last week in Moncton, Dr. Paul Mazerolle, UNB’s president and vice-chancellor, said the investment will also support scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students and upgrades to UNB’s Significant Play and Research in Games Lab on UNB’s Fredericton campus.
“IGT’s investment in innovation will help UNB and the McKenna Institute establish New Brunswick as a national center for design in regulated gaming technologies,” said Dr. Mazerolle. “It will provide our students with increased opportunities to use AI and data science to develop knowledge and skills in a field that is in high demand. On behalf of everyone at UNB, I wish to thank IGT for its commitment to developing the next generation of talent for the gaming industry and beyond.”
Over five years, this new partnership will support:
- new faculty positions;
- interdisciplinary research and teaching;
- opportunities to conduct applied research on technical problems in the fields of AI, data science and gaming software and hardware platforms and automation;
- scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students;
- new experiential education opportunities for UNB students and the creation of a multidisciplinary talent pipeline in gaming-related technologies in New Brunswick.
“We’re excited to establish this strategic agreement between IGT, UNB and the McKenna Institute to fortify gaming technology, data science and artificial intelligence platforms at UNB,” said Renato Ascoli, IGT CEO Global Gaming.
“IGT’s strong commitment to New Brunswick takes an important step forward with our establishment of this significant research and educational partnership in the region. Our investment can greatly foster the development of a larger and more effectively aligned talent pipeline in gaming-related technologies.”
With the recent announcement of the new Research Institute in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RIDSAI), this partnership will build on UNB and the McKenna Institute’s mission to advance the technological ecosystem and the development of AI and data science research at UNB and across New Brunswick.
Banner photo, left to right: Carman Misener (BA 1990), VP, Content Strategy, IGT; David Flinn (BA 1990), Senior Vice President, Canada, South and Central America, IGT; Adrienne Oldford, executive director, McKenna Institute; Frank McKenna, benefactor, McKenna Institute; and Dr. Paul Mazerolle, president and vice-chancellor, UNB.