BlackBerry’s connected car software unit gets $40-million boost from feds

OTTAWA — The federal government is investing $40 million in BlackBerry’s QNX business unit to help the company develop safe and secure software systems for the next generation of connected and autonomous vehicles.BlackBerry will invest $310.5 million in the project, as well as commit $5 million to cybersecurity to collaborate with government, post-secondary institutions and private-sector firms. The Government of Canada’s $40-million investment is being made through its Strategic Innovation Fund.With this funding, BlackBerry QNX will develop new automated control systems, upgrade and secure communications in vehicles, and improve vehicle safety and security by expanding its advanced driver-assistance system. BlackBerry...