Sheridan’s SIRT to advance AI-driven virtual production innovation through $1.7 million federal investment

Sheridan is proud to announce that its Screen Industries Research and Training (SIRT) Centre has been awarded a $1.7-million Government of Canada investment, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The funding will support the development of the Screen Industries and Performing Arts Regional Innovation Growth (SPRING) program, a critical applied research initiative integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into virtual production (VP) for the screen industries and performing arts sectors.

As AI-driven tools and VP technologies rapidly transform how film, television, immersive media and performing arts content is produced, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the sector are struggling to keep pace. Many organizations lack the research and development capacity, technical expertise and financial resources required to adopt emerging AI solutions. Without targeted support, SMEs risk falling behind competitors in global markets that are increasingly defined by sophisticated digital workflows and new forms of content creation.

SPRING directly responds to this urgent need. The program will help SMEs understand, test and integrate AI-enabled VP tools into their creative and operational processes. Through hands-on training, applied research partnerships and customized AI-adoption support, SPRING will guide SMEs in modernizing their systems and building new capabilities that enhance productivity and global competitiveness. This includes everything from enhancing workflow efficiency, to enabling new types of storytelling, to developing products and services that can be commercialized domestically and internationally.

“With AI and virtual production transforming how storytelling is imagined and delivered, SMEs need the expertise, training and space to experiment to stay competitive. SPRING will give them exactly that.”

– Dr. Vicki Mowat, Dean of Research at Sheridan

“We’re thrilled to receive this support from FedDev Ontario,” said Dr. Vicki Mowat, Dean of Research at Sheridan. “This investment arrives at a pivotal moment for the creative industries. With AI and virtual production transforming how storytelling is imagined and delivered, SMEs need the expertise, training and space to experiment to stay competitive. SPRING will give them exactly that, empowering companies to innovate with confidence, strengthen their resilience and bring bold new ideas to market.”

“Our investment in Sheridan’s SPRING program will equip SMEs in the screen industries and performing arts sectors with the tools, expertise and research support needed to harness the power of artificial intelligence and virtual production,” said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). “By fostering innovation and accelerating technology adoption, this initiative will strengthen the sector’s growth, competitiveness and long-term resilience.”

Beyond supporting individual companies, this initiative strengthens Ontario’s capacity for innovation and prepares the creative sector for emerging technologies.

“By definition, creativity doesn’t stand still. The evolution of AI is unlocking new and bold opportunities across industries, including the arts,” said Dr. Cindy Gouveia, President and Vice Chancellor at Sheridan. “At Sheridan, creativity is our superpower and drives our approach to programs like SPRING. This investment is a testament to the value of innovation, and the impact it will have on our workforce and economy.”

Sheridan’s leadership in initiatives such as SPRING builds on its strong track record in applied research excellence, including recognition by Research Infosource Inc. as Canada’s top college for AI research partnerships. This distinction reflects Sheridan’s ongoing commitment to advancing industry-driven AI innovation that delivers measurable impact for partners and the broader economy.

About the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre

The Screen Industries Research and Training (SIRT) Centre drives creative and technological advances within the screen industries — such as film, television, interactive digital media, gaming and virtual/augmented reality — and innovative application of screen industry technologies within the performing arts and other sectors. SIRT empowers industry and community partners to advance innovation in storytelling and content creation through leading-edge applied research and customized training to equip professionals with the skills and practical knowledge they need to make an immediate and positive impact on the workforce. SIRT is an integral part of Generator at Sheridan, where people with diverse perspectives work together across disciplines and sectors to spark ideas and advance solutions that really matter. For more information, visit sirtcentre.com.

About Generator at Sheridan

Generator at Sheridan is where purpose and passion unite the extraordinary research, innovation and entrepreneurship undertaken by Sheridan’s faculty, staff and students, working across disciplines and sectors, to drive meaningful impact for an ever-changing world. In addition to our exceptional faculty-led research, Sheridan also boasts five renowned research and entrepreneurship centres that provide innovation supports to community, industry and government partners. Learn more at sheridancollege.ca/generator.

About FedDev Ontario

Since 2009, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impact the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring its impact stories, its Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.