The federal government is investing $23 million in a Siemens Canada EV battery-production research and development hub in Oakville, Ont.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced announcement was made today at Hannover Messe industrial conference in Germany.

The funding, provided through the Strategic Response Fund, supports a $70-million project that is part of a broader $150-million initiative to scale-up Siemens’ Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Centre for Battery Production. The facility will focus on advancing battery efficiency and production methods while developing and commercializing technologies aimed at overcoming key barriers in the global battery sector.

The project is expected to maintain 3,310 Siemens jobs in Canada, create 90 new full-time positions and secure 625 co-op placements. It is aligned with Canada’s new auto strategy and is intended to strengthen the country’s role in the integrated North American automotive supply chain while deepening collaboration among academia, industry and researchers, said the federal government. The investment also builds on a joint Canada-Germany declaration aimed at accelerating growth in the EV sector.

“Canada is an auto nation and home to world-class workers, cutting-edge innovation and some of the best vehicles manufactured anywhere in the world,” said Joly. “This investment is a significant milestone in Canada’s new auto strategy and builds on our deep and growing industrial partnership with Germany. Our government is taking bold action to attract investments that will create good jobs, strengthen our industries and build a competitive, resilient Canadian economy.”

Rainer Brehm, chief operations officer for digital industries automation at Siemens AG, said Ottawa’s investment in AI manufacturing technologies research and development will help to accelerate the deployment of AI and software defined automation.

“Siemens is excited to make Industrial AI real for industry and thus support industrial companies in Canada and around the world on their way to adaptive, AI-powered production,” he sasid.

Faisal Kazri, Siemens Canada’s president and CEO, said the federal funds will empower the centre to deploy industrial AI in the real world while enabling the optimization of battery production, reducing waste, and cementing Canada’s position in global battery manufacturing.

Pictured: Siemens Canada’s EV battery-production research and development hub in Oakville, Ont.

Image: Siemens