Ottawa, ON – IBM (NYSE:IBM) and the University of Ottawa today announced the launch of a uOttawa hub for cybersecurity and cyber safety. Together, IBM and the University will address critical government, public, and private sector needs for advanced cybersecurity, specializing in research, solutions, skills, and services. IBM will provide research support and substantial access to special data sets, software, and resources.

Based at uOttawa, the hub will deliver critical security innovation, training, and expertise in both official languages to help grow Canada’s skilled cybersecurity workforce and to develop and apply new and improved approaches to protect the public from cyber threats and attacks.

With further focus on collaborative research and security innovation, the hub will pair IBM’s technology expertise in data analytics, deep learning, software, and systems with uOttawa’s research, training, and teaching strengths in disciplines that underpin cybersecurity and cyber safety, ranging from engineering to ethics and law. Additionally, there are plans to develop a space where students, researchers, and professionals can gain experience with the latest techniques for detecting and defending against cyber attacks.

“The University of Ottawa is delighted to partner with IBM on cybersecurity and cyber safety, a national strategic priority,” said Sylvain Charbonneau, Vice-President, Research. “Joining the expertise of our researchers with that of industry will enhance Canada’s ability to successfully prevent and counter cyber breaches.”

The hub will host and exchange senior technical and research staff with the nearby IBM Ottawa Lab site and will work in close collaboration with IBM Security experts located elsewhere in Canada (Fredericton, Toronto) and around the world (Germany, Ireland, Israel, United States).

“Concern over threats to cybersecurity is escalating, especially when it comes to keeping the information of Canadians secure,” said Steve Astorino, Vice President of Development, Data and AI, Hybrid Data Management and Canada Lab Director. “The work IBM and uOttawa are undertaking will enable both public and private organizations to develop and apply new and improved approaches to protect the public from cyber threats and attacks. Most importantly, this cybersecurity hub will create a nucleus of both skilled and reskilled government and industry professionals essential for the digital safety and security of Canadians.”

The uOttawa hub for cybersecurity and cyber safety will build on the foundation of 11 years of successful collaboration between IBM and the University related to software security testing, advanced forensics, cybercrime prevention, counter-cybercrime, and scam prevention.

About the University of Ottawa

As the world’s largest bilingual (French-English) university, the University of Ottawa is committed to academic and research excellence and values cultural diversity, equity and inclusion. With more than 24 interdisciplinary research centres, institutes and a hub, uOttawa promotes dynamic research collaboration and leverages Ottawa’s government laboratories, industry and policymakers. For more information, please visit: research.uottawa.ca

About IBM Canada

IBM is one of Canada's top 10 private R&D investors. IBM has a unique approach to collaboration that provides academic researchers, small and large business, start-ups and developers with business strategies and computing tools they need to innovate. For more information, please visit: www.ibm.com/ca

Media Contacts:

Isabelle Mailloux Pulkinghorn
University of Ottawa
imaillou@uOttawa.ca

Lorraine Baldwin
IBM Canada
lorraine@ca.ibm.com