Achi news desk-
The federal government has announced an investment of nearly $60 million in semiconductors, a technology that is ubiquitous in electronic devices and is also used to develop artificial intelligence.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement Friday morning in Bromont, Eastern Townships, along with several federal and Quebec ministers.
The $59.9 million will be invested in projects by IBM Canada and the MiQro Innovation Collaboration Center (C2MI) in Bromont, “to increase semiconductor production and stimulate economic growth,” according to the government press release.
Ottawa’s goal is to make Canada a “world leader in semiconductor manufacturing.”
Quebec, for its part, is providing IBM Canada with $38.9 million through Investissement Québec, Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced in a press release.
The companies’ projects, worth $226.5 million, will create more than 280 “high-skill” jobs in the region, as well as 240 skilled trades, according to the federal government.
Semiconductors, also known as microchips, are used in many sectors, including computing and medical equipment. They are also useful in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
According to the government, this industry includes over 500 Canadian and multinational companies.
“Today’s announcement is a big win for Canada and our dynamic technology sector,” Trudeau said in a press release.
“It will create good-paying jobs, invest in innovation, strengthen supply chains and ensure the most advanced technologies are made in Canada.”
– This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 26, 2024.
