Feds give BlackBerry $40M for autonomous vehicles

February 15, 2019 – BlackBerry is getting $40 million in federal funding to help it develop technologies for self-driving cars.

The company is putting $300 million of its own money into the initiative, expected to create 800 jobs over the next decade at BlackBerry’s campus in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata, as well as support 300 existing jobs there.

The one-time smartphone leader is now working on advanced software for autonomous vehicles and will use federal money for software development and skills training for workers.

BlackBerry says its QNX software is already in tens of millions of cars, guiding systems related to driver assistance, hands-free features and entertainment consoles.

During an event this morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the money is a sign the government has the backs of Canadian tech companies who want to lead in a new economy.

Trudeau says his government will support companies both large and small looking to take risks in a growing and transforming global economy.

News from © The Canadian Press Enterprises 2019