Ericsson Canada and the University of Toronto announced Wednesday a new multi-year partnership to accelerate research and development in next-generation AI-powered mobile network technologies.
Under the initial three-year agreement, Ericsson will invest $1 million to advance the technological infrastructure underlying wireless communications, strengthening the Canadian R&D ecosystem, an Ericsson press release said.
The agreement builds on more than a decade of collaboration between Ericsson and the U of T and formalizes a shared commitment to drive excellence in mobile communications, advanced computing and applied AI, the release said. The U of T was awarded the partnership following a formal process performed by Ericsson to identify a university partner whose capabilities and culture are aligned with Ericsson’s commitment to innovation, research and collaboration, Ericsson said.
“This partnership represents a strategic investment in Canada’s innovation ecosystem — advancing world-class research, developing highly skilled talent, and strengthening the foundation for secure and reliable next-generation wireless technologies,” said Nishant Grover, president of Ericsson Canada, in a statement. “As 5G continues to transform industries and societies, and as we look ahead to 6G, Ericsson and the University of Toronto are working together to help shape the future of connectivity in Canada and globally.”
“We’re very proud that U of T has been successful in being selected in this process,” said Leah Cowen, vice president of research and innovation at the university. “We have a long and positive track record of catalyzing next generation technology with Ericsson, and with these types of industrial collaborations in general. It’s a win-win proposition, enabling us to apply the expertise of our researchers, enhance the skills of our students, and elevate the global competitiveness of a major global technology innovator with major R&D operations right here in our own backyard. This strategic partnership is a great opportunity to take things to the next level.”
The partnership will focus on solving real-world research problems through industry-linked projects and promote research excellence for state-of-the-art mobile communications, mobile computing and synergistic machine learning solutions, Ericsson said. The collaboration will also build talent attraction and development strategies to equip students with the skills required in today’s technology industry.
“This partnership will foster cutting-edge research, develop world-class talent, and support the creation of secure and reliable technologies for the future of wireless communications,” said Marcos Cavaletti, head of Ericsson’s Ottawa R&D site. “As 5G continues to drive profound changes across industries and societies, Ericsson and the University of Toronto are committed to tackling these challenges together.”
