Telus and Nvidia have announced a landmark partnership to establish a so-called “sovereign AI factory” in eastern Quebec.

The facility in Rimouski, Quebec, aims to provide Canadian businesses and researchers with the high-performance supercomputers and software needed to train AI models. Telus says the site, which is powered by 99% renewable energy sourced from Hydro-Quebec, offers both “advanced computing resources and enhanced data privacy measures.”

“Collaborating with Nvidia gives us the advanced computing capabilities needed to drive Canadian AI innovation while strengthening Canadian digital independence,” said Telus chief information officer Hesham Fahmy.

Nvidia, has seen its stock market value surge to nearly $3 trillion, placing it second only to Apple on the S&P 500 index.

“Sovereign AI infrastructure is critical for every nation to advance their society and economy, while preserving their own data, enabling them to drive a local intelligence revolution with global technology advancements,” said Ronnie Vasishta, senior vice-president of telecom at Nvidia.

Once the initial capacity in Rimouski is reached, Telus has indicated plans to expand at its data center in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Quebec facility, located roughly 250 kilometers from a major urban center, is also marketed as an ideal option for disaster recovery or backup operations, reflecting Telus’s commitment to infrastructure resiliency.

This announcement coincided with a keynote speech by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the company’s annual GTC AI conference in San Jose, California, where the world’s attention was focused on the transformative potential of emerging AI technologies.

Telus, which has become the first North American service provider to be designated an official Nvidia Cloud Partner, said it aims to leverage that spotlight to position Canada at the forefront of AI innovation.

Information for this briefing was found via Bloomberg and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.