Cisco Invests $15 Million to Grow Presence in Western Canada

A global tech leader is going to invest new funds to bring AI and cybersecurity jobs to Western Canada.

Cisco has announced a $15 million investment in its Western Canada team to better focus on digital transformation. This money will go towards hiring senior AI jobs within their cybersecurity divisions in Vancouver as well as a $7 million investment to create a new cybersecurity office in Calgary. Cisco will also build on its networking partnership with YYC Net Lab, a non-profit organization that provides cost-effective access to networking education for immigrants and Indigenous women. Finally, Cisco will use the money to grow NPower Canada’s presence in Calgary.

“Getting the most out of the digital world of tomorrow means investing and preparing for it today,” said Rola Dagher, president of Cisco Canada. “The commitments announced today build on our strong track record of creating successful partnerships in Western Canada that have empowered individuals to grow their careers, strengthened the country’s technology ecosystem and laid the foundations for a prosperous future for all Canadians.”

these investments are the first wave of Cisco Canada’s Country Digitization Acceleration program, which will look to create jobs and inspire further digital transformation across the country. Cisco will fund and prototype “smart and connected community” innovations in several sectors with the goal of determining which smart city solutions are the ones worth investing in for real change.

“Cisco has been a key partner in growing the skills, knowledge and experience of Calgarians who are intent on achieving successful careers in the technology sector,” said YYC Net Lab’s Nick Jeffrey. “This continued collaboration sets the stage for us to prepare students from all walks of life for rewarding and engaging careers in technology. This is precisely the kind of talent that’s needed here, and we’re proud to be working with Cisco to help further grow Calgary’s local technology expertise.”

Cisco has been making strategic investments all over Canada, most recently in April of 20-18 when they worked with the University of Waterloo to pursue research into 5G technology.