Canada invests millions to build chip network as U.S. races ahead
BNN Bloomberg
Canada will invest $120 million (US$88.2 million) over five years to build a national chip network, as calls intensify for the government to do more to bolster its lagging semiconductor sector.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the outlay from the federal Strategic Innovation Fund on Thursday. The investment supports a $220 million project led by the nonprofit research accelerator CMC Microsystems to help Canadian startups commercialize new technologies.
Called the Fabrication of Integrated Components for the Internet’s Edge (Fabric) network, the program will subsidize the production of prototypes and give participants cheaper access to tools, software and training, The Logic first reported. Fabric also offers funding of up to $10 million for hardware development in semiconductors, superconductors, smart sensors and photonics.
“Support for Fabric secures Canada’s future in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing,” CMC President Gordon Harling said in a statement.
