KANATA, Ont. — Nokia Canada, the governments of Canada and Ontario, and the City of Ottawa announced today a $340-million* expansion of Nokia’s Kanata, Ont., facility, which will include a new office and sustainable research and development hub.
“The tech center will significantly expand Nokia Canada’s capacity in next-generation information and communications technology (ICT) and cyber security innovation. This transformation is expected to create more than 340 new, high-value jobs and help Nokia attract highly-skilled, global talent to Canada’s tech ecosystem,” reads a Nokia press release.
Site construction is scheduled to begin in 2023 and Nokia Canada plans to open the new facility in 2026, according to the release.
“This project will transform Nokia Canada’s 26-acre campus at the Kanata North Business Park into a sustainable, accessible mixed-use corporate, residential and commercial hub where nearly 2,160 local employees, Ottawa residents and businesses, and Canada’s entire tech ecosystem can collaborate, innovate and drive Canadian and global wellbeing and prosperity,” the release says.
Nokia Canada’s new R&D hub “will help secure Canada’s position as a global leader in the green digital future by broadening Nokia Canada’s expertise in 5G, cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, accelerating growth in cloud software, and enhancing digital identity management and security for devices connected to critical networks.”
The company’s new Ottawa facility “will support Nokia’s global target of 50 per cent greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2030 by implementing sustainable technologies, including water side heat recovery, air side heat and energy recovery, water side free cooling, and rainwater harvesting,” the release notes.
Parent company Nokia Corporation is investing $340 million to expand its operations in Canada, according to an Ontario government press release.
Nokia notes in its release its $340-million investment will go toward labs and equipment, labour and operating costs between 2023 and 2027.
To support the project, the Ontario government through Invest Ontario is providing Nokia with a $30 million loan, the government’s release says.
In addition, the Government of Canada will provide up to $40 million through its Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), Nokia’s press release says, and the City of Ottawa, through Hydro Ottawa, will make a capital contribution of $2 million for control system upgrades.
“Nokia is helping to drive Canada’s tech leadership. This world-class, sustainable R&D hub will be one of Nokia’s most dynamic developments — and I’m proud that it will benefit the people of Ottawa also,” said Pekka Lundmark (above), president and CEO of Nokia, in the company’s release. “I want to express my appreciation to the local, provincial and national governments for working with us on this project.”
“Today’s announcement reinforces Nokia’s commitment to the Canadian market, where we have invested $1.4 billion in R&D over the past five years,” added Jeffrey Maddox, president of Nokia Canada. “Nokia’s R&D hub will generate net-new Canadian IP and bring innovative advanced telecommunications and cyber security technologies to market, helping us achieve our goal of improving people’s lives in Canada and across the world.”
In addition to growing its team of employees at its expanded Kanata campus, Nokia Canada will “increase co-op and intern positions for university and college students in STEM fields by 100 to 400 per year,” Nokia’s release says.
“This monumental investment from Nokia shows once again that there is no better place for businesses to grow and jobs to be created than here in Ontario,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford (right). “We are proud to work alongside our partners to secure hundreds more in demand, high skill jobs for the Ottawa region and we welcome this long-term commitment from Nokia to our province, and our workers.”
Screen captures taken during a press conference earlier today announcing the expansion of Nokia’s Kanata facility.
*A previous version of this article noted it was a $770-million project, as explained in a press release from the Ontario government. The province has since updated its release to indicate the number is $340 million.
