Balsillie School receives $5 million for responsible technology

Donation strengthens ethics, social equity, and responsible innovation in Canada's tech capital University Relations The Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) received a $5 million dollar donation from the Balsillie Family Fund to establish the Technology Governance Initiative (TGI) at the School. As part of the Technology Governance Initiative, the Balsillie Scholars Program will invite leading international technology governance scholars and practitioners to the School for periods ranging from three months to one year, fostering mentorship, research, and collaboration. "We are excited to be part of the Balsillie School's Technology Governance Initiative, which promises to extend the school's research leadership across a wide range of domains helping shape better futures for humanity," said Vivek Goel, President, and Vice-Chancellor at Waterloo. This initiative aligns with our Global Futures which aim to inspire collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to the world's biggest problems - Vivek Goel For example, while the frictionless exchange and analysis of health data across jurisdictions, practitioners and laboratories has the potential to deliver optimal health outcomes, that data is deeply personal. "If we're going to trust AI to process big data sets, the kinds of governance thinking developed as part of the Technology Governance Initiative will be vital in designing systems that maintain public trust," Goel said. Normally, students who complete BSIA programs get their degrees from either UWaterloo or Wilfrid Laurier University, depending on their specific program.