Nokia confirmed on Monday a partnership with federal, provincial and municipal governments that will support the creation of cutting-edge labs and infrastructure at its Kanata North site.
The new tech centre would expand Nokia Canada’s capacity in 5G, information and communications technology and cyber security innovation.
The federal government is supporting the transformation with up to $40 million to the project through its Strategic Innovation Fund, while the Government of Ontario will provide $30 million to the project. The City of Ottawa, through Hydro Ottawa, will make a capital contribution of $2 million for control system upgrades.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Francois Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Member of Parliament Jenna Sudds, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson were at Nokia on Monday to make the announcement.
“I don’t think Canadians appreciate just how much leadership in this country comes from this area here. Kanata has been a really important driver of some very big parts of the Canadian economy for a long time,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the event.
Nokia says the transformation will create more than 340 new, high-value jobs that will help attract highly-skilled global talent to the region. Site construction is expected to begin in 2023, with the new facility scheduled to be opened in 2026.
A larger facility with major impact
The project will transform the company’s 26-acre campus in the Kanata North business park into a sustainable, accessible, mixed-use corporate, residential and commercial hub where nearly 2,160 local employees, Ottawa residents and businesses and the tech ecosystem can “collaborate, innovate and drive Canadian and global wellbeing and prosperity,” according to a statement from the company.
The new Ottawa facility will also support Nokia’s global target of 50 per cent greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2030 by implementing sustainable technologies, including water side heat recovery, air side heat and energy recovery, water side free cooling, and rainwater harvesting.
“Today’s announcement reinforces Nokia’s commitment to the Canadian market, where we have invested $1.4 billion in R&D over the past five years,” said Jeffrey Maddox, President of Nokia Canada. “Nokia’s R&D hub will generate net-new Canadian IP and bring innovative advanced telecommunications and cyber security technologies to market, helping us achieve our goal of improving people’s lives in Canada and across the world.
