Canada to invest $240M in semiconductor and photonics industries
by CM Staff
The government is calling on businesses to identify proposals in the priority areas of research, commercialization, and expanded semiconductor manufacturing capacity.
OTTAWA — Innovation and Science Minister François–Philippe Champagne introduced the Semiconductor Challenge Callout, a fund of $150 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund to reinforce Canada’s domestic development and supply of semiconductors.
Additionally, Champagne also announced funding in the amount of $90 million for the National Research Council of Canada’s Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre.
The government is calling on businesses to identify proposals in the priority areas of research, commercialization, and expanded semiconductor manufacturing capacity.
The statement put out by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada says the government anticipates this will help the country’s semiconductor industry enhance its role in the integrated North American information and communications technology supply chain.
The investment in the CPFC will see upgrades of equipment.
The CPFC is a compound semiconductor foundry in North America that is publicly operated and open to all for use. It has a history of delivering photonics device fabrication services to the research and private sectors as well as helping small and medium-sized enterprises in telecommunications, environmental sensing, automotive, defence and aerospace.
“Our government wants Canada to be a strategic global leader in the semiconductor industry. That’s why we’re investing $240 million today to strengthen our semiconductor ecosystem, which will allow us to build a more innovative and resilient economy. By investing in Canada’s semiconductor industry, we are making a firm commitment to businesses looking to invest in Canada. Whether it’s high-value or large-scale manufacturing, we want to see Canada be home to the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers. We are also proud to support the revitalization of the National Research Council’s CPFC, which will enhance Canada’s already impressive photonics sector,” said Champagne in a statement.
