Liberals narrow list of contenders for 'supercluster' innovation hubs to 9

The Liberal government has whittled down the list of contenders eligible for a piece of its $950-million "supercluster" program, an initiative to foster innovation and create jobs in five specialized hubs across the country.

The nine finalists on the government's short list include partnerships in ocean and digital technologies, artificial intelligence, transportation, manufacturing, mining, agri-food and infrastructure.

The government defines superclusters as collaborations between companies anduniversities, colleges or not-for-profit organizations "to turn ideas into solutions that can be brought to market."

Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains likened the model to California's Silicon Valley, a region defined by its software and computer industry.

• Ottawa offers $950 million for 'superclusters' to create jobs

"Superclusters are job-creating regions with strong economies, like Silicon Valley, and our government intends to create five of them in Canada," Bains said in a release.

The federal government announced its 'supercluster' shortlist today

7 years ago

Duration 7:48

Minister of Innovation Navdeep Bains discusses the nine finalists competing for a piece of the $950 million in allocated funding

After receiving 50 proposals, involving more than 1,000 firms and 350 participants, the government said it has created a shortlist of nine pitches from across the country. Up to five consortiums will be eligible for a piece of the $950-million fund, which will be spent over five years.

Bains has said he hopes to name successful applicants by the end of the government's fiscal year in March.

The innovation minister will be making stops in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, with help from cabinet colleague Ralph Goodale in Saskatchewan, to unveil the finalists, but alist of the top contenders was obtained by Radio-Canada.

The short list includes:

• From the Atlantic region: an oceans supercluster to invest indigital ocean technologies for industries such as aquaculture, the fishery, offshore oil and gas, and clean energy. Proponents includePetroleum Research Newfoundland and Labrador,Emera Inc., Clearwaterand Dalhousie University.
• From Quebec: an artificial intelligence supercluster to bolster Canadian leadership in AI and data science. Proponents are led by Optel Group and include more than other 80 firms, including AgroPur, Aldo and Polytechnique de Montreal.
• A mobility superclusterfocused on innovation andcommercialization in the aerospace, ground transportation and advanced manufacturing. Proponents include CAE Inc., Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. and Polytechnique Montreal.
• From Ontario: a superclusterlooking at transforming Canada's mining sector and focusing on clean resources, clean technology and responsible sourcing of metals. Proponents includeCanada Mining Innovation Council, Barrick Gold Corp. and the University of British Columbia.
• Another supercluster from Ontario promises to speed up Canada'smanufacturing competitiveness. Proponents includeCommunitech Corp. and MaRS Discovery District, Maple Leaf Foods and the University of Waterloo.
• From the Prairies: A protein supercluster to capture the export market opportunity for safe, nutritious plant-based food. Proponents includeAg-West Bio Inc., AGT Food and Ingredientsand the University of Saskatchewan.
• A superclusterto invest in technologies related to Canada's crop, livestock and agri-food processing sectors. Proponents: Agrium, Telus, and Olds College.
• A infrastructure superclusterpromising tochange how Canada's infrastructure is designed, built and operated using advanced digital communications, cutting-edge tools and interconnected applications and services. Proponents include Stantec Consulting Ltd., PCL Construction Management Inc.,Athabasca University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
• From British Columbia: a digital technology superclusterdedicated to making Canada better at inventing, developing and applying digital technologies to drive competitiveness inenvironment and resource technology,precision health and manufacturing.Proponents includeTelus, Microsoft Canada Development Centre and six post-secondary institutions.