Nokia is transitioning its facility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to a sustainable research and development (R&D) center focused on using 5G, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to build a "green, prosperous, equitable future," to which "connectivity is key," Jeffrey Maddox, President of Nokia Canada, wrote in an email to SDxCentral.

The R&D hub, which pulls on efforts from Nokia Canada, federal, provincial, and municipal partners, is expected to create more than 340 additional high-value local jobs and attract talent to the country's tech industry.

"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," Nokia President and CEO Pekka Lundmark said in a statement.

The transformed site will allow Nokia to grow its Ontario team to 2,500 individuals, including an increase of co-op and intern roles for college students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from 100 to 400 per year. The campus will also introduce new lab space and equipment, in which – along with labor and operating costs – Nokia plans to invest upwards of USD $249 million before 2027.

Canada's government is also expected to contribute up to $29 million from its Strategic Innovation Fund, and Ontario's local government will contribute $21.8 million, which will "support the long-term capability of Nokia, Canada, and Ontario in cybersecurity, R&D, and next-gen technology, including 6G, while delivering high-paying jobs in construction and technology," according to the company.

Construction will begin on the 26-acre campus at the Kanata North Business Park next year, with an opening date of 2026 set for the accessible and mixed-use corporate, residential, and commercial hub. Nokia expects this will bolster the country's tech collaboration and innovation and drive wellbeing and prosperity.

"The project we’re announcing will help connect Canadians to the jobs of today and tomorrow. It will bring economic benefits to the National Capital Region and stimulate Canada’s tech ecosystem. This is about building a strong economy and a better future for everyone," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.

Nokia claims its connectivity offerings make up the foundation for major Canadian industries like transportation, utilities, smart cities, and government services, making the telecom operator an easy choice to partner on sustainable research.

"The Ottawa-Gatineau region has produced some of Canada’s most successful tech businesses, making it a natural home for Nokia Canada’s expanded operations. This project will support a thriving local community by creating a first-of-its-kind destination in Ottawa," Maddox explained.

The R&D facility will also aid Nokia in its ambitions to reduce its global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030 through the development and implementation of sustainable tech like water side heat recover, air side heat and energy recovery, water side free cooling, and rainwater harvesting, Maddox added.

In a similar vein, Ericsson Canada recently introduced a research partnership with École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), Concordia University, Polytechnique Montréal, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to study the potential of AI in lowering 5G networks' energy consumption.

Ericsson's program is aimed at helping communication service providers (CSPs) reduce their carbon footprint and operational costs by building industrialized solutions that can be integrated into Ericsson's 5G products and services. By integrating AI into energy-intensive 5G networks, Ericsson says its researchers will seek ways for networks to self-configure and reconfigure to push energy consumption to as low a level as possible while supporting the required quality of service.

According to Steven Guilbeault, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, "the Government of Canada is in a constant search for innovative ways to cut pollution and fight climate change, in industries both young and old. Teaming up Ericsson Canada with Montreal’s world-class universities and globe-leading AI research and development community is another smart step forward in the pursuit of net-zero jobs and growth."