Montréal – Canada continues to position itself as a global supplier of semiconductors, crucial for security, economy and technological progress. Semiconductors are critical to Canadians’ daily lives and for current and future innovations in nearly every industry: automotive, telecommunications, low-carbon technology, and more.
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of $120 million in an over $220 million project led by CMC Microsystems (CMC). This investment, made through the Strategic Innovation Fund, will support the creation of a pan-Canadian network bringing together stakeholders from a wide range of fields to support the design, manufacturing and commercialization of semiconductors and the development of state-of-the-art intelligent sensor technology.
CMC will support the creation of the Fabrication of Integrated Components for the Internet’s Edge (FABrIC) network, which will operate alongside CMC’s partners located across Canada. FABrIC is an initiative designed to strengthen the Canadian semiconductor and smart sensor industry by creating a talent pool of highly qualified people, encouraging innovation in the semiconductor manufacturing process, and providing Canadian businesses with access to foundries. Over the next five years, the FABrIC network will create close to 325 highly skilled jobs across Canada and maintain an estimated 440 jobs for the duration of the project.
With activities that will span across the country, FABrIC will ensure a strong domestic production of semiconductors. FABrIC will also improve North American competitiveness and supply chain resiliency, foster economic and national security, and create good middle-class jobs.
“Semiconductors are at the centre of Canadians’ daily lives and Canada’s economy. We have an innovative semiconductor industry that continues to flourish in global markets and capitalize on an increasingly digital and green economy. The creation of FABrIC through CMC will help support Canadian innovators, and I look forward to seeing how it expands our semiconductor industry while creating good jobs. By investing in semiconductors today, we are investing in economic security and sustainability for all Canadians.”- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry