Government of Canada creates jobs and economic growth through expansion of Invest Ottawa’s Area X.O
News release
FedDev Ontario invests nearly $5.4 million to support 140 new companies, create and maintain 745 jobs and the commercialization of 40 new products, services or processes at Area X.O
January 31, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario
For 10 years, Invest Ottawa has provided innovators in the Ottawa Region with the tools and space needed to realize their ideas for products and services. This includes Area X.O, a leader in its field across North America. Area X.O provides access to connected and autonomous vehicles, low-speed automated shuttles, advanced robotic and unmanned aerial systems, cybersecurity technologies, and one of the most advanced communications infrastructures in the world with pre-commercial 5G to help Canadian entrepreneurs fast-track product R&D design testing and validation to build and sell products that can reach global markets.
Today, at Invest Ottawa’s 10-year anniversary event and six-year anniversary of Bayview Yards (Invest Ottawa’s Innovation Hub), the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), joined by Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean; Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre and Jenna Sudds, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth and Member of Parliament for Kanata–Carleton, announced a contribution of nearly $5.4 million, through the Jobs and Growth Fund, to expand the capabilities of Invest Ottawa’s Area X.O.
Through this project, Invest Ottawa will add remote simulation capabilities at Area X.O to allow entrepreneurs to remotely conduct tests and demonstrations. In addition, this investment will support new programming developed to boost the growth and market success of companies involved in defence, emergency management, public safety, security, and disaster preparedness. The new programming will focus on testing and validating solutions to quickly bring products and services to market, and will enable the creation of the first advanced robotic and unmanned aerial systems testbed of its kind in Canada. It will also support increased access to foreign direct investment and global smart mobility, autonomy, and connectivity market access for client and partner organizations by creating collaboration opportunities across Ontario and internationally.
As a result, Area X.O will enable the commercialization 40 new products, services or processes, create and maintain 745 jobs, and support 140 SMEs. Today’s investment builds on a previous $7-million investment from FedDev Ontario that was instrumental in the creation of Area X.O, supporting more than 35 SMEs and over 360 jobs, and continues to position Area X.O as a unique national asset supporting not only Canadian-made innovations but also attracting foreign direct investment.
With the goal of supporting an inclusive economy, Invest Ottawa is also targeting 70 percent of participating businesses to be founded, owned or co-led by members of underrepresented groups, including women, racialized Canadians, Black entrepreneurs, Indigenous entrepreneurs, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. More information is available on the Area X.O website.
Quotes
“Congratulations to Invest Ottawa on 10 years in Ottawa and six years at Bayview Yards! The work being done at Area X.O will be felt across Ottawa and Canada, as innovators and entrepreneurs aim to bring their solutions to Canadians, create jobs and contribute to our thriving tech industry.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Agency for Southern Ontario
“Congratulations Invest Ottawa on 10 years in the Ottawa region. As Area X.O continues to set roots in Nepean, today’s Government of Canada investment will support this growth while boosting the local economy and providing valuable opportunities for local entrepreneurs, including underrepresented Canadians. We look forward to seeing what the next 10 years has in store for you!”
– Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean
“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Invest Ottawa on its 10-year anniversary, including six years with Bayview Yards. The Government of Canada continues to support Ottawa-area businesses and entrepreneurs through Invest Ottawa and today’s announcement for Area X.O will boost growth in important emergency sectors while strengthening our regional economy and increasing the participation of underrepresented Canadians.”
– Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre
“Today’s investment in Area X.O will boost the meaningful participation of underrepresented Canadians, support our emergency sectors with the vital job of protecting Canadians, and will provide our local innovators with tools and resources they need to thrive.”
– Jenna Sudds, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth and Member of Parliament for Kanata–Carleton
“We are incredibly grateful to FedDev Ontario, the Government of Canada, Ansys and all partners for this visionary investment. It will enable more companies to seamlessly access the right capabilities at the right time and accelerate the commercialization and global export of their smart mobility solutions. This will stimulate new jobs, revenue and investment that build our regional economy. It will also bolster our thriving smart mobility cluster which is anchored by world leader BlackBerry QNX, more than 100 tech companies and organizations, and the highest tech talent concentration in North America.”
– Michael Tremblay, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa, Area X.O and Bayview Yards
Quick facts
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Founded in 2013, Invest Ottawa is a not-for-profit corporation which acts as the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in the Ottawa region, facilitating economic growth and job creation.
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Since 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested over $61 million in Invest Ottawa, including support for Bayview Yards, Area X.O and the Scale-Up Platform. Through these investments, Invest Ottawa has delivered targeted and timely regional programming supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, including those from underrepresented groups, in the Ottawa Region.
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FedDev Ontario is delivering $224 million of the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) to help businesses in southern Ontario and the organizations who support them, future-proof, build resiliency, and prepare for growth by transitioning to a green, inclusive, and competitive economy.
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Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $210 million in more than 200 projects in Ottawa region, estimated to create near 8,000 jobs and maintain over 7,000 jobs.
Associated links
Contacts
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca
Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
feddevontariomediarelations-relationsmedias@feddevontario.gc.ca
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