Halifax (NS), December 14, 2021: IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) have today announced a new agreement that will bring 350 new, highly skilled jobs focused on AI and hybrid cloud to the province. As part of IBM’s global network of Client Innovation Centres (CIC), the Nova Scotia centre is expected to create 350 new jobs over the next five years to meet clients’ growing and evolving technology and innovation needs.

Opened in March 2013, the Nova Scotia CIC serves several clients from around the world and has over 300 open roles to fill in coming months. This expansion will create more opportunities for new graduates and experienced professionals in the digital sector, with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. As an entrepreneurial startup within IBM Consulting, the CIC specializes in application management solutions and consulting services to support businesses, enterprises, and governments in digital transformation.

“Nova Scotia has a special place for us at IBM. The province has a globally recognised culture of innovation, and we are proud to be contributing to local economic growth by creating high value jobs,” said Dave McCann, Managing Partner, IBM Consulting Canada. “By significantly expanding our team, we will create more opportunities for Nova Scotians, and build capacity for IBM to help our clients as they seize a wide array of opportunities created by evolving digital technologies.”

The expansion comes at a time when COVID has led organizations to realize the potential for digital services and process automation and aligns with investments the Government of Nova Scotia is making to expand and enhance computer science programs in the province.

“As a government, we are focused on strategic economic growth, and that means creating jobs, increasing wages and bringing more businesses to our Province. As our ICT sector grows, we must work together with companies, such as IBM, to ensure we invest in the highly skilled talent here in Nova Scotia with equity and inclusion at the forefront,” said Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development.

NSBI’s work with industry, academia, and other partners has led to successful growth in the province’s Information, Communications and Technology sector.

“As the province’s lead business development agency, this announcement is reflective of our work to help companies such as IBM choose Nova Scotia when making investment growth decisions. ICT is a key sector that is fundamental to our growing economy and increasing population here in Nova Scotia. NSBI continues to act as a partner to help attract and expand the investment of high value companies such as IBM. The work we do enables and harnesses the ability of the private sector to grow Nova Scotia's economy,” said Laurel Broten, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc.

IBM Canada has created economic and social impact in the province by significantly growing its presence in Nova Scotia over the past eight years, in large part through academic partnerships with universities and colleges such as Dalhousie and Nova Scotia Community College.

Continuing its commitment to shaping the future skills and education, IBM established the first P-TECH (Pathways in Technology, Early College High School) model with three Technology Advantage Program schools in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the recently announced first ever Mi’kmaw P-TECH school in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The program offers integrated high school and college curriculum focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). It will enable the students to graduate with a high school diploma, and a tuition-free, industry aligned, two-year college diploma, with workplace experiences within six years or less. Hallmarks of the program include industry one-on-one mentoring, workplace visits, paid summer internships, and be considered as first-in-line for interviews regarding IBM open positions.

In 2018, IBM also collaborated with Dalhousie University, the Ocean Frontier Institute, the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), the Government of Canada, local industry, and the Province of Nova Scotia on DeepSense – a world class big ocean data innovation environment, powered by IBM technology to drive innovation, job creation and economic growth.

About NSBI: For more information, please visit
https://www.novascotiabusiness.com/fun
dingdisclosures 

About IBM Canada: For more information, please visit https://www.ibm.com/ca-en

Media Contact:

Ruhee Dhar
IBM Canada External Relations
ruhee@ibm.com