WATERLOO, ON, May 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry
Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) and the University of Waterloo today announced a
five-year, multi-million dollar partnership agreement focused on
driving research-powered innovation in Canada.
Combining the University's world-renowned research and
BlackBerry's ability to deliver transformational products and
services, the two organizations will work together in a unique
program designed to fast-track the development of research and
technology into market-ready products.
BlackBerry's Advanced Technology Development Labs group, which
is a team of over 120 software developers, architects, researchers,
and security experts, will work with the University toward the
common goal of identifying, exploring, and creating groundbreaking
technologies.
The primary focus will be to develop and conduct research
projects—beginning with the University's Faculties of Mathematics,
Engineering, and Science, in conjunction with the Waterloo
Artificial Intelligence Institute and the Waterloo
Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute—to refine BlackBerry's product
ideas through prototyping and R&D challenges. This will
include the development of new business partnerships with faculty
members and students who have commercial aspirations for their
invented intellectual property.
"At BlackBerry, we are constantly searching for ways we can
advance the development of innovative technologies to secure and
protect our increasingly hyperconnected world," said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO,
BlackBerry. "We are thrilled to be doubling down on that mission
while helping to foster the next generation of innovators and
imagineers as part of our expanded partnership with the
University of Waterloo and look forward
to working with them to investigate new ideas with a view to taking
them from hand-scribbled diagrams to fully formed technologies
ready for the global marketplace."
Focus areas for the research activities include cybersecurity,
artificial intelligence, machine learning, and safety assurance to
align with BlackBerry's core business areas such as BlackBerry
IVY™, the company's recently announced Intelligent Vehicle
Data Platform.
Building on a partnership spanning over three decades, this
agreement represents the most comprehensive and concerted effort
yet to combine the unique strengths of BlackBerry and the
University to turbocharge the company's technological
innovation.
"We are delighted to work with BlackBerry in the coming years to
tackle disruptive, global challenges," said Feridun
Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. "This agreement is an
important milestone in our long-standing partnership, and further
cements the University's unique position at the heart of a critical
innovation community—where talent, world-class research and
entrepreneurial spirit come together to connect ideas and
impact."
As part of the agreement, BlackBerry will become one of three
founding partners of the Gateway for Enterprises to Discover
Innovation (GEDI), an office at the University that streamlines
corporate engagement. GEDI helps companies establish unique
partnerships with the University of
Waterloo spanning research, talent, training, and
Waterloo's robust entrepreneurial
ecosystem.
Additional collaboration highlights include:
- An annual $10,000 BlackBerry
Cybersecurity and Privacy Excellence Scholarship, awarded as part
of BlackBerry's membership with the Cybersecurity and Privacy
Institute
- Collaboration with various schools and groups within the
University of Waterloo, including
Conrad School of Entrepreneurship
and Business, Stratford School of
Interaction Design and Business, Problem Lab, and other student
innovation programs
- Cross-campus co-curricular learning opportunities like
hackathons.
For more information on BlackBerry's products and services,
please visit BlackBerry.com.
To learn more about how to partner with the University of Waterloo, visit GEDI.
About BlackBerry
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB)
provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises
and governments around the world. The company secures more
than 500M endpoints including
175M cars on the road today.
Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the
company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative
solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy
solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security,
endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems.
BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can
trust.
BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.
For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow
@BlackBerry.
Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and
EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are
expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any
third-party products or services.
About the University of
Waterloo
The University of
Waterloo is a leading global innovation hub driving economic
and social prosperity for Canada
and the world. With more than 41,000 students, we are home to
game-changing research and technology, an unmatched entrepreneurial
culture, and the world's largest co-operative education talent
pipeline. We create partnerships and solutions to tackle the
challenges of today and tomorrow.
Find out more at uwaterloo.ca.
Media Contact:
BlackBerry Media Relations
+1 (519) 597-7273
mediarelations@BlackBerry.com
University of Waterloo media
relations
+1 (226) 929-7627
media.relations@uwaterloo.ca
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SOURCE BlackBerry Limited