INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY: AI

AI venture studio AXL and professional services firm RSM Canada have entered a strategic partnership to turn Canadian Artificial Intelligence research into scalable, real-world business solutions – with a focus on the underserved middle market.

Together, the two organizations are driving innovation by challenging existing models and reimagining what’ s possible in professional services by integrating AI advancements with real-world business needs.

RSM will serve as the exclusive provider of accounting, tax and consulting services to AXL, offering strategic guidance, compliance expertise and growth planning support. Additionally, RSM will act as a preferred provider of these services to AXL’ s portfolio of startup companies.

RSM is also one of several leading Canadian organizations participating in AXL’ s AI Catalyst program, a corporate partnership initiative designed to validate and accelerate breakthrough ideas driven by real industry demand. The goal is to fast-track the commercialization of high-potential AI applications and ensure Canadian innovations are built into the country’ s economic future rather than being exported before they scale.

“ Canada doesn’ t have an innovation gap, it has a commercialization gap,” said Dr Daniel Wigdor, co-founder and CEO, AXL.“ With RSM, we’ re taking demand signals from the market and moving fast to turn that into scalable, enterprise-ready solutions. This is execution over hype. This is how Canada leads – not just in ideas, but in outcomes.”

Canada leads in AI academic research but struggles to retain its economic benefits, as much of its advancements are commercialized internationally.

Fewer than 20 % of mid-sized Canadian companies have begun adopting AI, according to the OECD, citing barriers such as limited technical talent, high costs and an uncertain return on investment. These findings are echoed in RSM’ s 2025 Middle Market AI Survey, which highlights similar challenges and underscores the need for practical, scalable AI solutions tailored to the middle market.

Meanwhile, nearly 75 % of AI patents from Canada’ s top institutes are acquired by international tech firms, with only 7 % remaining in the country.

By integrating real-time industry feedback, the

AXL-RSM collaboration advances Canadian AI venture growth, commercialization and talent development, ensuring solutions scale domestically and drive lasting economic impact.

“ We’ re seeing incredible momentum around AI and the value it can unlock,” said Harry Blum, National Managing Partner at RSM Canada.“ With AXL as a strategic collaborator, we’ re accelerating innovation – helping businesses move beyond legacy models and positioning them to grow, compete and thrive in a futureready economy while embedding AI across our own solution sets.” p

32 INTELLIGENTCIO NORTH AMERICA www. intelligentcio. com