The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, today announced support totalling $488,000 from the Business Growth Program to assist Virtual Marine with its Machine Learning Project. This investment from the Business Growth Program leverages other contributions from investors and the company, for a total project investment of $977,000.
Funding will be used for capital costs including computers, simulators and software licencing, as well as salaries.
Virtual Marine provides simulator-based training for small vessel and ice management operations. Since its inception in 2004, it has been providing expertise in marine testing, research and simulation-based training to provide realistic, effective, and safe training tools for small craft and large vessel operators.
The Machine Learning Project aims to add predictive algorithms that will integrate operations data such as sensors and weather forecasts and training data to present a real-time risk profile.
This project is also used to adjust course curriculum and feedback for both novice and expert users. This will help provide training that is adaptable to individual needs and a learning experience that instills confidence and keeps trainees engaged.
Virtual Marine has already implemented adaptive training algorithms in some of its training systems and aims to make adaptive training a core feature for all its simulators.
Quotes
“Virtual Marine is well respected in the marine training and simulation sector, both nationally and internationally. This project will create new opportunities to extend the company’s training and technology reach to worldwide clients while continuing to operate here in Atlantic Canada. I wish the company continued success as it moves forward with this latest innovation.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“We’re pleased to work with our Provincial Government on another project that will allow VM to expand our technical capability, with the core work performed in our province. This project draws on our company and province’s maritime experience and expertise, it will benefit a global oceans market that’s continually increasing its use of AI, machine learning and digital twins. We’re also pleased to be supporting our marine workforce by providing a safer and proven way to train.”
Dr. Randy Billard
President and CEO, Virtual Marine
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Business Growth Program
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