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Ericsson unveils Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator in Montréal

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  • Hub will focus on innovative R&D work in cutting-edge AI and automation
  • Montreal selected for global R&D location because of area's robust AI ecosystem
  • Combination of AI and machine learning needed to enable next-generation 5G networks in Canada

 

Press release
May 02, 2019
Man looking at several screens

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) announced the creation of a Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator (GAIA) innovation hub in Montréal. This newly-unveiled hub in Canada will focus on research and development (R&D) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create data-driven, intelligent and robust systems for automation, evolution and growth.

Ericsson's Montréal GAIA will create more than 30 new jobs for data scientists, engineers, AI/machine learning (ML) architects, and software developers in 2019, with potential for additional positions in the future.

Graham Osborne, Head of Ericsson Canada, says: "We are excited to establish the Montréal GAIA to both leverage and collaborate with the local AI ecosystem and customers in order to collectively drive industrialization of new opportunities. Maturing AI capabilities will have a significant impact on 5G and existing networks’ automation and evolution. The leadership shown by governments in Canada has helped create a robust Montréal AI ecosystem with world-class talent from which we can recruit.”

Ericsson will leverage the Montréal AI ecosystem, one of the most advanced globally, to accelerate the execution of Ericsson's focused strategy by using AI and automation technologies to create data-driven, intelligent products and services.

5G wireless networks with distributed edge compute and access to real-time data in a mobile environment will drive next-generation networks and solutions towards economic and social transformation in all aspects of society. The combination of 5G with AI and ML technologies will be vital in taking advantage of these transformation opportunities.

Ericsson’s Montréal location has 1,000 professionals working in Ericsson's R&D and Services Centre, including world-class experts developing and implementing advanced and next-generation wireless systems for customers in Canada, United States, and across the world.

Ericsson’s commitment to R&D in Canada also includes being one of the founding members of ENCQOR (Evolution of Networked Services through a Corridor in Québec and Ontario for Research and Innovation), a transformational Canada-Québec-Ontario partnership focused on research and innovation in the field of 5G disruptive technologies, on adoption initiatives and system uses. ENCQOR established the first Canadian pre-commercial corridor of 5G digital infrastructure.

Ericsson has additional GAIA innovation hubs in the United States, Sweden and India. Globally, Ericsson will employ more than 300 data scientists, data engineers, ML/AI architects, and software developers across its Global AI accelerators.