Siemens invests $150 million in Canadian AI battery tech centre
Siemens Canada has announced a $150 million five-year plan to establish the company’s global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center for Battery Production in Canada.
The company’s new research and development centre will be “initially at Siemens Canada’s head office in Oakville, as well as in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo.” The centre will focus on cutting-edge AI manufacturing technologies for battery and EV production.
The new R&D centre will also leverage Siemens’ AI, edge computing, machine vision, digital twins, and cybersecurity to drive innovation and efficiency in battery production, according to the news release.
Siemens says it chose Canada to house its R&D Center because of Canada’s highly qualified talent and strong collaborations with some of the best universities in the world. According to the press release, the R&D Center for Battery Production will better position Siemens as a key player in the battery sector, alongside developing advancements in the industry.
The $150 million over five years will go towards labour, equipment, software, and ecosystem support. Siemens was made possible through the support of both the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. Specifically, the Government of Ontario provided $7.2 million through the Invest Ontario Fund. Interestingly, the Government of Canada announced its support for the project but didn’t provide any money towards the five-year plan.