By CRM Staff
Toronto, Ontario – February 19, 2019 – Blackberry will be receiving a helping hand with their development of self-driving technology, as reported by Global News.
The Canadian government will be donating $40 million in federal funding to assist in developing technologies that make vehicles safer, more connected to cyberspace and, capable of driving themselves.
In addition to the funding, Blackberry will be investing $300 million of its own money into the initiative, which is expected to create 800 jobs over the next decade at Blackberry’s campus in Kanata, Ontario, as well as support the 300 existing jobs there.
Blackberry will use federal money to invest in software development for the next generation of autonomous vehicles, as well as skills training for workers.
The company explained that its QNX software is already in tens of millions of cars, helping systems related to driver assistance, hands-free features, and entertainment consoles.
Blackberry QNX is set to develop new automated control systems, upgrade and secure communications in vehicles, and improve vehicle safety and security by enlarging its driver-assistance system. The company explained that these milestones will help in developing truly driverless cars.
The $40 million in federal money being given to Blackberry is a part of the government’s Strategic Innovation Fund, which is a program intended to stimulate the development of innovative products.
During an event Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that his government will support companies both large and small looking to take risks in a growing and transforming the global economy.
