REGINA — Four Saskatchewan technology companies have been selected for pilot projects under the province’s Made In Saskatchewan Technology (MIST) program, pairing startups with public-sector, post‑secondary and community partners to test locally developed technology in real-world settings.
Program aims and funding
The province says the MIST pilots are intended to help early-stage companies move from concept to proven solution while giving partner organisations access to tools designed to address workforce pressures, service delivery and operational challenges.
Collectively, the selected startups will receive more than $100,000 in funding to implement the projects. Several pilots centre on artificial intelligence and digital platforms that seek to improve efficiency, support frontline workers and bolster critical‑infrastructure operations across Saskatchewan.
"MIST helps Saskatchewan startups move from promising ideas to proven solutions," said Warren Kaeding, the minister responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan. "By connecting companies with public partners willing to test new technology, the program helps innovators build a track record for growth while delivering real benefits to Saskatchewan communities."
Who’s involved and what they’ll test
The provincial release lists the four 2026 MIST recipients and their partner organisations. The projects are aimed at a range of sectors from human services to water operations and career development for students and newcomers.
- BOMS (HD Advanced Technologies) — partnering with Creative Options Regina to trial an operations management platform focused on safety, compliance, training and staff communications in the human services sector.
- drOPS — expanding its work with SaskWater by providing a digital maintenance and operations platform to more operators and technicians, with goals of improving training, onboarding and consistency for rural water and wastewater services.
- Tech Career Bridge — working with Sask Sport to integrate AI-powered resume-building and career-planning tools into its platform for high school student‑athletes, supporting earlier career preparation and potential broader use in Saskatchewan schools.
- TrackPoint — partnering with the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, Regina Open Door Society and Carlton Trail College to test an AI-driven communication and career‑readiness platform.
| Company | Partner(s) | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| BOMS (HD Advanced Technologies) | Creative Options Regina | Operations management for human services |
| drOPS | SaskWater | Maintenance and operations for water services |
| Tech Career Bridge | Sask Sport | AI tools for career planning and resumes |
| TrackPoint | U of S, U of R, Regina Open Door Society, Carlton Trail College | AI communication and career‑readiness platform |
Local impact and potential
Officials framed MIST as a practical step to accelerate local innovation and to help public and community organisations adopt new tools. For the startups, the pilots offer the chance to test products in operational environments, capture user feedback and build a record that could support future growth and wider adoption.
For partners such as SaskWater and community service providers, the pilots aim to target persistent challenges: maintaining consistent operations across dispersed sites, improving onboarding and training in rural locations, and giving frontline staff digital tools that reduce administrative burden.
Integrating AI in school and newcomer-focused platforms also reflects a growing interest among Saskatchewan institutions to introduce career-readiness tools earlier, and to tailor supports for diverse learners and job seekers.
What comes next
The projects will proceed as pilots within their partner organisations. The provincial announcement did not specify timelines or detailed evaluation criteria; however, the stated goal is to generate evidence of effectiveness so the companies can expand beyond pilot stages.
For residents and organisations interested in the program, Innovation Saskatchewan manages the MIST initiative and will be responsible for monitoring the pilots and reporting outcomes as projects progress.
The announcement underscores a broader push in the province to connect public institutions with local technology firms and to seed applications of artificial intelligence and digital platforms in everyday services.
