Innovation at SSC
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Advances in digital technology have changed the way Canadians want to receive services from their government. The Government of Canada (GC) is meeting that demand by developing new and exciting ways to provide those services, and Shared Services Canada (SSC) is leading the way through experimentation and innovation.
SSC is testing the use of emerging technologies to learn how they might be used to evolve existing services to match Canadians’ expectations.
These tests, many of which are collaborations with GC organizations or Canadian industry partners, have resulted in projects such as:
- CANChat, SSC’s first generative AI chatbot
- GC Application Platform as a Service
- Innovative solutions for remote Internet connectivity
- Internet of Things to track and analyze DFO lab equipment
- Augmented reality
- Zero trust architecture for scientists
In addition, SSC is also exploring potential uses of:
- 3D printing
- edge computing
- intelligent automation
- quantum computing
- robotic process automation
- robotics
To stay up to date on SSC’s other innovative projects, visit Our stories.
Definitions of emerging technologies
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- A subfield of computer science that develops computer programs to behave in a way that would be considered intelligent if observed in a human (e.g., solves problems, learns from experience, understands language, interprets visual scenes).
- Edge computing
- A computing framework that allows Internet of Things (IoT) devices to quickly process data at locations at the “edge” of the network, either by the device or a local server.
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Physical devices (also called “smart” or “connected” devices) that connect to each other via the Internet. They collect and exchange information with one another and with users. Smart devices can be remotely controlled and monitored, or work automatically through a variety of software, cameras and sensors.
- Quantum computing
- A quantum computer will be able to process a vast number of calculations simultaneously. Whereas a classical computer works with ones and zeros, a quantum computer will have the advantage of using ones, zeros and “superpositions” of ones and zeros. Certain difficult tasks that have long been thought impossible for classical computers will be achieved quickly and efficiently by a quantum computer.
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
- A division of artificial intelligence (AI) in which the AI is given a set of routine instructions to perform. RPA allows for simple tasks to be completed at a high volume and speed with few or no errors.
- Zero trust architecture (ZTA)
- A security framework focused on protecting infrastructure and data. The central idea behind ZTA is that subjects in a system should not be trusted by default. This includes applications, users and devices.
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