NRC and University of Waterloo launch research hub for critical infrastructure

June 18, 2019 – The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the University of Waterloo have launched a research hub on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, machine vision and the Internet of Things.

The Collaboration on Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and Cybersecurity is housed on the University of Waterloo’s Ontario campus and will produce publications, patents, and the commercialization of technology, as well as training opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The centre brings together 20 researchers and students from the National Research Council of Canada and the University of Waterloo.

The research will focus on battery-free touch sensors for internet of things (IoT), neuromorphics for vision-based movement planning and control, reliable gesture recognition in virtual reality environments, secure, scalable quantum-safe blockchain for critical infrastructure, and automated material discovery using deep reinforcement learning, for use in intelligent logistics and other applications.

“This collaboration centre brings together leading researchers to make significant advances in artificial intelligence for Canadians and Canadian businesses. We are proud to partner with the University of Waterloo and look forward to the success of this exciting collaboration,” says Iain Stewart, president, National Research Council of Canada, in a release.

To help position Canada as a global leader in these fields, the NRC says it is increasing its collaboration with regional ecosystems, universities, polytechnic institutions, and colleges, and establishing select collaboration centres across the country.

The University of Waterloo is home to more than 39,000 students and the world’s largest co-operative education system of its kind.