TORONTO – Huawei has announced plans to accelerate its partnership with the Government of Ontario on “5G Ontario”, a major research and development project that it says will help to create hundreds of new jobs for the province.
Announced Tuesday during Premier Kathleen Wynne’s visit to Huawei’s Canadian headquarters in Markham, 5G Ontario will see the government invest up to $16 million through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund to support Huawei’s initial $212 million investment. Huawei said the initiative will create 250 new R&D jobs in Ontario, while maintaining 250 existing R&D jobs. The partnership builds on an agreement Premier Kathleen Wynne announced with Huawei in Beijing during her first trade mission to China in 2014.
Huawei said that it will invest up to $303 million in new 5G-related research initiatives in Ontario over the next five years. As part of 5G Ontario, Huawei will continue to grow its existing research facility in Ottawa, and expand its Canada Research Centre to establish new research labs in Markham and Waterloo. The R&D centres will focus on advanced communications research initiatives, including 5G networks, and related technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics, enterprise applications and mobility security.
“Ontario has a vibrant innovation ecosystem that we’ve been proud to be a part of for the past six years, so we’re incredibly excited about expanding our research and development facilities in the province,” said Huawei's rotating CEO Ken Hu, in the news release. “Our Canadian research team is helping to drive pioneering projects around the world, and this accelerated investment in the Province of Ontario reflects our confidence in Ontario, and the talent of Ontario’s skilled ICT workforce.”
In photo: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to the left of plaque; Huawei Canada president Sean Yang, right.
