Ottawa – In a globalized economy, cutting-edge telecommunications are critical to ensuring a competitive edge for Canada. That is why the federal government is investing to strengthen Canada’s telecommunications ecosystem.
Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of $45 million in a $66 million project led by the Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN). This investment, made through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), will support the establishment of a unique 5G testbed and living lab program to develop 5G-enabled applications and advanced network technologies, including artificial intelligence solutions. These key efforts will deliver a wide variety of economic and societal benefits for Canadians through digital transformation.
This project aims to increase productivity across key Canadian economic sectors, including smart manufacturing, mobility, campuses and infrastructure. The program also focuses on environmental sustainability by developing technologies to improve environmental outcomes across multiple industries.
In partnership with industry leaders, the program will enable Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to test and develop their advanced network technologies. This will accelerate the development and adoption of digital solutions in the Canadian economy, driving economic growth and maximizing value from Canadian intellectual property (IP) while creating well-paying jobs and supporting technological talent development in Canada.
“Wireless network technologies such as 5G are vital to enabling a fast, responsive and versatile modern economy. That is why we are investing in Canada’s advanced networks and telecommunications ecosystem to create a 5G testbed and living labs to ensure that our businesses have the tools they need to compete and thrive in an increasingly globalized economy.” – François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Since its founding in 2014, CENGN has been a welcome addition to the Kanata tech community. Telecommunications technologies such as 5G provide the infrastructure that allows our economy to thrive, and the sector is a true catalyst for our economy. Every new job in the telecommunications industry creates 1.3 new jobs within the broader Canadian economy, and this investment is expected to create and maintain an estimated 400 new highly skilled jobs across Canada.” – Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development