Canadians will develop next-generation solutions for electric vehicles as a result of a $67.5 million investment by Swiss engineering firm ABB, which is establishing a new headquarters and research and development centre in Montréal.
“As a pioneering technology leader, ABB is helping its customers unlock value from digitalization and the Energy and Fourth Industrial revolutions,” said Ulrich Spiesshofer, President and Chief Executive Officer, ABB. “With its excellent universities and associated ecosystem, Canada provides all the right ingredients for research and development needed to develop global technology platforms. There are huge opportunities in making transportation systems smarter and greener. At ABB, we want to run the world without consuming the Earth.”
The new Montréal headquarters, set to open in 2017, will maintain 700 jobs and consolidate ABB’s research and development, manufacturing, assembly and testing facilities under one roof. The new facility will also house the company’s North American Centre for Excellence in e-Mobility, which will focus on developing energy-management solutions for electric buses and trains.
The investment will put Canada on the map in a number of emerging technologies, such as robotics and Internet-connected devices, that will power the industrial systems of the future. The Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda aims to make the country a global center for innovation—one that drives economic growth and leads to better skills, jobs and opportunities for all Canadians.
“When global companies look to invest, many seek the most innovative countries—the ones with the most creative and entrepreneurial people who can turn ideas into solutions,” said Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “ABB’s decision to select Canada for its flagship North American operations is a clear vote of confidence in the talent and expertise of highly skilled Canadians. As a result of this investment, Canadians will develop next-generation industrial systems and the skills needed for the jobs of the future.”
ABB employs more than 4,500 Canadians in 50 locations across the country.