We notice the Edmonton region is gunning for a central role in strengthening Canada's defence and security sector with the formation of the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance. "We are the closest major metropolitan area to key strategic locations in the Arctic and the North," Mayor Andrew Knack said at the Feb. 18 announcement. "But it's more than just location — Edmonton is a leader in AI, research, advanced manufacturing and life sciences … As Canada's fastest growing region, we also have the labour force necessary for the future." The announcement follows federal plans to increase defence spending, with a goal of $180 billion in procurement spending and $290 billion in capital investment over the next 10 years.
The "core conveners" of the consortium are Edmonton Global, the University of Alberta, NAIT, Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association, and the Edmonton International Airport, with several other network partners on board. ERDA says the two post-secondary institutions provide the right mix of innovation and workforce training, the Heartland is home to vast manufacturing capabilities, and YEG is the closer to the Arctic than any other major city's airport. "ERDA leverages the Edmonton region's strategic location, industrial readiness, resources, talent and the grit it is known for to protect Canadian sovereignty," says the announcement.
Technology companies are already seeing funding from the federal initiative. Eleanor Olszewski, Edmonton Centre MP and the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, announced $6.5 million from the Regional Defence Investment Initiative for two companies on Feb. 19. Zero Point Cryogenics will receive $5 million to advance the commercialization of its cooling technologies for quantum computing. Logician Technologies, which manufactures electronics for defence clients, will receive $1.5 million. Defence and dual-use technologies will continue to be the topic of interest at the next MIT REAP Town Hall on March 3 at Edmonton Unlimited, where Stephanie Enders of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute will moderate a discussion among founders.