OTTAWA, ONTARIO — (Marketwired) — 11/06/14 — CANARIE, a vital component of Canada–s digital infrastructure supporting research, education and innovation, today announced that it is partnering with telecommunications industry leaders to support Canadian excellence in next-generation network technologies.
The Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN) was officially launched today in Ottawa. It brings together the entire industry supply chain-leading multinationals, scores of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), high-tech start-ups, service providers, research scientists and academics to create a web of organizations focussed on commercializing new network and communications technologies.
CENGN–s unique multi-vendor platform will enable the development of intelligent, software-defined networking solutions that will support the growing demand for content on multiple platforms; make effective use of cloud-based applications; and prepare for the –Internet of Things,– which promises to connect a vast number of –smart– devices, and revolutionize the way people go about their business. CENGN will provide testing facilities, business support, mentoring and help in finding financing for the businesses that participate in the Centre.
“CANARIE provides the critical network infrastructure that links the CENGN partners and enables rich collaboration among them,” says Peter Wilenius, Vice President, Business Development at CANARIE. “CANARIE is pleased to support this initiative to create a focal point for collaborative development and commercialization of new technologies that will sustain Canada–s leadership position in the global ICT industry.”
“The stakes are enormous,” says Ritch Dusome, Executive Director of CENGN. “CENGN is about making sure Canadian companies are winners in the $5 trillion global information technology market. It provides partner companies-at all levels-with market advantages by accelerating product research and by reducing product development times and costs.”
Dusome says CENGN will foster “co-opetition” between member organizations, which together are responsible for 90 per cent of Canada–s telecommunications R&D.
With its headquarters in the Kanata Research Park in west-end Ottawa, CENGN will have satellite offices across Canada. Through its partnership with CANARIE, CENGN partners will connect with researchers across the country. CENGN will also link to regional innovation centres to ensure start-ups get the business support they need in order to grow.
“The CENGN partnership creates a unique environment and a one-of-a-kind facility that will spawn new technologies, new services, new skills, new businesses, new jobs and new international investment,” says Dusome.
Last August, Minister of State for Science and Technology Ed Holder announced CENGN was awarded $11.7 million over five years through the federal government–s Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program.
“Our government is committed to supporting world-class research while creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians,” said Holder.
“Collaboration is key to mobilizing innovation. This is why our government continues to invest in initiatives such as the CECRs, which match clusters of research expertise with the business community to help bring innovations to market faster.”
ABOUT CANARIE Inc.
CANARIE designs and delivers digital infrastructure and drives its adoption for Canada–s research, education and innovation communities. CANARIE keeps Canada at the forefront of digital research and innovation, fundamental to a vibrant digital economy.
CANARIE–s roots are in advanced networking, and CANARIE continues to evolve the national ultra-high-speed backbone network that enables data-intensive, leading-edge research and big science across Canada and around the world. One million researchers, scientists and students at almost 2,000 Canadian institutions, including universities, colleges, research institutes, hospitals, and government laboratories have access to the CANARIE Network.
CANARIE also leads the development of research software tools that enable researchers to more quickly and easily access research data, tools, and peers. In support of Canada–s high-tech entrepreneurs, CANARIE offers cloud-computing services to help them accelerate product development and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Twelve provincial and territorial network partners, together with CANARIE, collectively form Canada–s National Research and Education Network (NREN). This powerful digital infrastructure connects Canadians to national and global data, tools, colleagues, and classrooms that fuel the engine of innovation in today–s digital economy.
Established in 1993, CANARIE is a non-profit corporation, with the major investment in its programs and activities provided by the Government of Canada.
For more information, please visit: .
Contacts:
CANARIE
Ela Ienzi
Communications Manager
(613) 943-5432
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