University of Waterloo Partners with BlackBerry on Cybersecurity, AI Research
The University of Waterloo in Canada has embarked on a five-year partnership with BlackBerry focused on research and technology in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning and safety assurance. The institution will collaborate with BlackBerry's Advanced Technology Development Labs group, comprised of software developers, architects, researchers and security experts, to explore new technologies and develop them into market-ready products.
To start, faculty in the university's mathematics, engineering and science departments will work with the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute and Waterloo Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute to "refine BlackBerry's product ideas through prototyping and R&D challenges," according to a news announcement. Faculty and students will also have the opportunity to form new business partnerships to help commercialize their ideas.
Other elements of the partnership include:
In addition, BlackBerry will become a founding partner of the University of Waterloo's Gateway for Enterprises to Discover Innovation, an office created to help companies establish partnerships with the institution.
"We are delighted to work with BlackBerry in the coming years to tackle disruptive, global challenges," said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo, in a statement. "This agreement is an important milestone in our long-standing partnership, and further cements the university's unique position at the heart of a critical innovation community — where talent, world-class research and entrepreneurial spirit come together to connect ideas and impact."
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Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].