A major sustainability effort is taking shape in Canada’s forest sector as IBM and Polytechnique Montréal launch a two-year partnership to bring advanced AI and quantum tools into one of the country’s most economically vital industries. The collaboration—part of the IBM Impact Accelerator—is designed to help a sector that contributes $33.4 billion to GDP manage growing challenges around climate stress, supply chain instability, and rising operational costs. The project will develop decision-support systems that improve harvest planning, forecast yields more accurately, and help communities maintain healthier, more resilient forests. Polytechnique Montréal’s VP of Research and Innovation, François Bertrand, said the partnership will be key to advancing the university’s AI- and quantum-enabled planning tools.
The initiative is designed to build long-term societal impact by strengthening environmental stewardship, improving supply chain stability, and supporting the transition to sustainable forest products such as construction materials, packaging, and bioenergy. IBM will begin with its IBM Garage approach, then provide implementation support, pilot deployments, and scaling guidance. IBM’s Chief Impact Officer, Justina Nixon-Saintil, noted, “This new IBM Impact Accelerator cohort shows what's possible when we combine our tools with local insight to build stronger, more sustainable systems.” The IBM Impact Accelerator has supported 25 organizations and helped millions through projects in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, water systems, and resilient cities.
