OTTAWA and BRAMPTON, ON – Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX) and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) today announced the Ontario Cybersecurity Excellence Initiative (OCEI), a $10-million program “to drive Ontario’s cyber competitiveness and resilience in six key sectors: advanced manufacturing, automotive, life sciences, mining, law enforcement and smart infrastructure,” according to a press release.
This initiative is being supported by $5 million in funding from the Ontario government’s Critical Technology Initiatives program. Rogers Communications is providing $3.8 million to Brampton, Ont.-based Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to enable the implementation and delivery of OCEI, with other in-kind contributions bringing the program total to $10 million over three years, the press release explains.
OCEI is designed to help Ontario companies develop and adopt cybersecurity technologies that enhance data security and protect company assets from cyber threats and other advanced technologies.
As part of OCEI, new streams of programming at Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst will be activated to:
- Empower tech startups to solve key cybersecurity-related challenges in Ontario’s critical sectors, driving new made-in-Ontario security solutions; and,
- Train small and medium-sized businesses in Ontario to adopt and integrate cybersecurity technologies into their products and processes, thereby driving their competitiveness and ability to access international supply chains.
The OCEI programs will be free to participating companies and individuals, according to the press release. “Additionally, they will leverage membership within CCTX to give participants exposure to the Canadian cybersecurity threat landscape,” the release adds.
“Rogers is pleased to contribute to this first of a kind effort in Ontario,” said Navdeep Bains, chief corporate affairs officer at Rogers Communications, in the release. “The Ontario Cybersecurity Excellence Initiative will energize the digital transformation taking place in industries and sectors across the province, and ensure that those transformations are secured by homegrown solutions and talent.”
“CCTX is delighted to join forces with the Catalyst to launch the Ontario Cybersecurity Excellence Initiative,” said Jennifer Quaid, executive director of Ottawa-based CCTX. “This partnership is a unique opportunity to pool our expertise, resources and networks within the cybersecurity ecosystem to help foster a technologically advanced economy in Ontario, secured by best-in-class cybersecurity products and processes.”
