Digital Technology Supercluster kicks into high gear

Funding will help the British Columbia-based supercluster create more than 13,500 jobs

VANCOUVER, Nov. 27, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to growing the economy, creating good jobs and keeping Canada competitive. That is why the Government is teaming up with small, medium-sized and large companies, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations from five high potential sectors to develop them into major engines of growth and job creation under the Innovation Superclusters Initiative.

Today, Marco Mendicino, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced the signing of an agreement to invest up to nearly $153 million, matched dollar for dollar by the private sector, in the British Columbia-based Digital Technology Supercluster, a group of businesses, post-secondary institutions and non-profits working together to create digital solutions for the growth of Canada's top industries.

The funding agreement means the supercluster can move forward with activities to unlock the potential of data using augmented reality, cloud computing and other cutting-edge technologies to improve service delivery and efficiency in the natural resource, precision health and manufacturing sectors. It is projected that this supercluster will create more than 13,500 jobs and add more than $5 billion to Canada's economy over 10 years.

The Innovation Superclusters Initiative is a centrepiece of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to prepare Canada's businesses for the economy of tomorrow and our workers for its good middle-class jobs.

Quotes

"The Digital Technology Supercluster is set to unlock the potential of Canada's digital industries to create thousands of good jobs and grow the Canadian economy. By teaming up with companies of all sizes, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations, we're building a crucial hub for this sector and developing a culture of openness and collaboration that leads to more innovation, successful commercialization and scale-up."
? The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"We are thrilled to officially launch Canada's first-ever Digital Technology Supercluster and to join forces with employers in key industries throughout B.C. and across Canada. Our agreement with the Government of Canada's Innovation Superclusters Initiative, along with signed member agreements with our initial cohort of members, brings the total amount of committed funding to more than $360 million. Our leadership team and Board of Directors are excited to launch ambitious collaborative projects that will propel Canada to be a global leader in our digitally driven future."
? Sue Paish, CEO, Digital Technology Supercluster

Quick facts

• Superclusters are dense areas of business activity where many middle-class jobs are created. They attract large and small companies that collaborate with universities, colleges and not-for-profit organizations to turn ideas into solutions that can be brought to market.
• The Innovation Superclusters Initiative is projected to create more than 50,000 jobs and grow Canada's GDP by more than $50 billion over the next 10 years.
• Canada's five superclusters?the Digital Technology Supercluster, the Protein Industries Canada Supercluster, the Next Generation Manufacturing Supercluster (NGen), the AI-Powered Supply Chains Supercluster (SCALE.AI) and the Ocean Supercluster?offer ongoing opportunities for collaboration to individuals, businesses and post-secondary institutions across the country.
• Together the five superclusters represent more than 450 businesses, 60 post-secondary institutions and 180 other participants in sectors covering 78 percent of Canada's economy.

Associated links

• Innovation Superclusters Initiative
• Digital Technology Supercluster

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada