November 13, 2025 — Leads & Copy —
IBM and Polytechnique Montréal have announced a new collaboration through the IBM Impact Accelerator, a pro bono social innovation program designed to help nonprofit and government organizations scale AI-powered solutions. This initiative supports communities and systems grappling with environmental and economic challenges.
The project, part of IBM’s 2025 cohort, focuses on strengthening supply chains sustainably. IBM had issued a global request for proposals at the start of 2025, seeking nonprofit and government organizations that use AI to optimize resources, modernize supply chains, reduce emissions, and expand digital readiness.
Polytechnique Montréal, a Canadian engineering university known for its research group focusing on AI and data-driven tools for sustainable industrial transformation, was chosen after a review based on multiple criteria. François Bertrand, VP of Research and Innovation at Polytechnique Montréal, expressed enthusiasm for joining the IBM Impact Accelerator program, noting that the partnership with IBM will be key to fully developing their AI and quantum-enabled decision-support tool.
Canada’s forest sector, contributing $33.4 billion to GDP and supporting numerous jobs, is vital to the economy and environment. It provides renewable materials for construction, packaging, and bioenergy but faces challenges from climate change and supply chain disruptions.
The collaboration aims to bring advanced AI- and quantum-enabled technologies to this sector, helping build smarter and more resilient forest systems. Polytechnique Montréal will work with IBM to develop an AI and quantum-enabled decision-support tool for Canada’s forest value chain.
Polytechnique, as part of the IBM co-founded Sustainability Quantum Working Group, will work with IVADO, accessing the IBM Quantum System One administered by PINQ2, to explore relevant models. The project will integrate operational data and machine learning, exploring digital twins and multi-objective optimization to enhance harvest planning, yield forecasting, and supply chain decisions, while balancing cost, energy use, and emissions.
IBM and Polytechnique Montreal will collaborate over two years in two phases. The first phase involves the IBM Garage, a methodology for accelerating digital transformation. The second phase includes development and implementation, with IBM experts configuring resources and technology to help participants meet their goals and support pilot deployments. EY teams will provide capacity-building workshops and coaching, and ServiceNow will offer technical expertise and digital transformation support to eligible projects.
Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at IBM, highlighted the potential of combining advanced technologies with local insight to build stronger, more sustainable systems.
In 2024, IBM committed up to $45 million in cash and in-kind donations over five years for the IBM Impact Accelerator. Including the new supply chain modernization cohort, the program has supported 25 organizations, benefiting approximately 2.5 million people globally across sustainable agriculture, clean energy, water management, and resilient cities projects.
The IBM Impact Accelerator, launched in 2022, selects five new projects each year to develop and scale technology and AI solutions addressing topics like sustainable agriculture, clean energy, water management, resilient cities, and supply chains.
Ruhee Dhar
ruhee@ibm.com
Source: IBM
