NORAI vs DOE Genesis
The United States is investing $3B+ in AI for science through Project Genesis. Canada needs its own sovereign platform to remain competitive and protect its research interests.
Understanding the Landscape
DOE Project Genesis (USA)
The U.S. Department of Energy's flagship AI for science initiative, launching in 2025 with over $3 billion in funding.
- $3B+ investment over 5 years with 200 MW dedicated compute
- Autonomous laboratories at Argonne and Berkeley National Labs
- AI foundation models trained on DOE scientific datasets
- Integrated with US national lab network and supercomputers
NORAI: Canada's Answer
A made-in-Canada platform designed for Canadian researchers, with complete data sovereignty and Indigenous governance.
- $1.4B investment with 100% Canadian data residency
- First platform to automate OCAP/CARE Indigenous data principles
- Fully bilingual (English/French) with Arctic research focus
- Integrated with Digital Research Alliance and Canadian labs
Feature Comparison
How NORAI stacks up against DOE Genesis across key capabilities
| Feature | NORAI | DOE Genesis |
|---|---|---|
| 100% Canadian Data Sovereignty | ||
| Indigenous Data Governance (OCAP) | ||
| Bilingual Support (EN/FR) | ||
| Arctic/Northern Research Focus | ||
| Autonomous Science Labs | ||
| Scientific Foundation Models | ||
| Federated Compute Access | ||
| Open Science Commitment | ||
| Total Investment | $1.4B | $3B+ |
| Compute Capacity | 50+ PF | 200 MW |
Why Canada Needs Its Own Platform
Relying on US infrastructure puts Canadian research at risk. Here's why sovereignty matters.
Data Sovereignty
Canadian research data stays in Canada. No risk of US CLOUD Act access or foreign jurisdiction over sensitive datasets.
Indigenous Governance
First platform worldwide to automate OCAP and CARE principles. Essential for reconciliation and ethical research with Indigenous communities.
Bilingual by Design
Full French language support for Quebec researchers and Francophone scientific literature. Not an afterthought.
Arctic Expertise
Canada owns 40% of the Arctic. We need dedicated AI infrastructure for permafrost, sea ice, and northern ecosystem research.
Privacy-First Architecture
Federated learning enables cross-provincial health research without centralizing patient data. Essential for Canadian privacy laws.
Green Computing
Route workloads to Quebec hydro and BC clean energy. Reduce research carbon footprint by 30-50% compared to gas-powered US datacenters.
The Bottom Line
Without NORAI, Canadian researchers will increasingly depend on US infrastructure, losing control of their data and research direction. With NORAI, Canada builds sovereign AI capability, leads in Indigenous data governance, and positions itself as a global leader in ethical AI for science.