Collaborative space to facilitate tech
ecosystem innovation, showcase latest advancements
VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2022
/CNW/ - Today, Mastercard unveiled the " Experience Centre" at its
Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence ("Centre
of Excellence") in Vancouver, BC,
where local, national and international tech communities are
invited to collaborate on cyber security innovation. The Experience
Centre also features emerging Mastercard products and solutions
that are already securing digital payments on a global scale,
including those developed locally in Vancouver.
"Rapid advancements in digital technology have changed the way
we shop, pay, work and interact, but with increased convenience
comes increased risk," said Sasha
Krstic, President of Mastercard Canada. "Building on the
world-class innovations developed at our Centre of
Excellence in Vancouver, this
new Experience Centre offers a venue for much-needed industry
collaboration to anticipate and neutralize ever-expanding cyber
threats to our global digital economy."
Announced in 2020, Mastercard's Global Intelligence and Cyber
Centre of Excellence is leading innovation in cyber and
intelligence (C&I), artificial intelligence (AI) and the
Internet of Things (IoT). Research from the Centre is already
enhancing Mastercard solutions, combining the Centre's biometric
security algorithms with existing cyber capabilities is creating
new approaches to enhance online security. In just two-and-a-half
years, the Centre of Excellence is making quick progress against
its long-term goals, such as:
- filing more than 30 local patents that will secure
cyberspace by building confidence in our connected devices,
reducing the presence of malicious bots, bad human actors, and
establishing a seamless experience for online interactions;
and
- creating and maintaining more than 230 quality tech jobs to
date, ranging from software engineers to data scientists to
product and program managers, with many more roles to fill.
"We are achieving this unprecedented level of cyber security
innovation by attracting top talent from across Canada and the world to work smarter, better
and faster in a creative, inclusive environment embedded in
Vancouver's vibrant tech
community," said Sasha Krstic.
"Mastercard's Centre of Excellence is not only making digital
payments safer for consumers and businesses everywhere, it's
helping cement Canada's role as a
global powerhouse in cyber security innovation."
INVESTING IN CANADIAN
INNOVATION
Mastercard has significantly expanded its technology footprint
in Canada over the past five
years. In 2020, Mastercard announced a $510 million CAD investment to establish
the Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence in
partnership with the Government of Canada to achieve their shared vision of
building a better, more secure digital economy for everyone by
leveraging Canadian innovation. This builds on the acquisitions of
Vancouver-based NuData Security
and Toronto-based Ethoca.
As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening Canadian
innovation, Mastercard has proudly invested more than
$6.3 million in strategic
partnerships and knowledge-sharing across Canada's entire tech ecosystem through the
Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence to-date.
These investments are designed to:
- scale C&I research and development (R&D) and bring
Canadian innovations to market faster, making the global digital
economy more secure;
- nurture next-gen Canadian talent and expand STEAM opportunities
for underrepresented groups, as true cyber security demands that
diverse talent drive inclusive innovation; and
- provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with the same cyber
security tools and protection as larger enterprises so Canada's economy can continue to thrive.
Strategic partnerships and community investments announced by
Mastercard include:
- Digital Main Street: creating engagement tools that help
Canadian "mom and pop" businesses become more cyber aware, as well
as 10 post-graduate internship spaces at the Mastercard Global
Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence over five
years;
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB):
creating gamified, mobile-first cyber training for small- and
medium-sized businesses;
- Pow Wow Pitch: sponsoring a new tech stream in the
Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program;
- Mitacs: creating 50 internships at Mastercard's
Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence for
graduate students across Canada
over five years;
- University of New Brunswick:
funding the Mastercard Research Chair in IoT and a new Cyber
Security Research Lab;
- Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst: accelerating cyber security
training and young leader development at Toronto Metropolitan University;
- Science World: developing STEAM training for girls in
grades 2 to 9 through the "Tech-Up" program; and
- Girls4Tech: expanding cyber programming for Canadian
girls.
"Vancouver and Canada more broadly are brimming with talent
and expertise in a range of STEM fields, including cyber and
intelligence," said Mansur Mirani,
VP of the Mastercard Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of
Excellence in Vancouver.
"Investments across our tech ecosystems, especially in diverse
communities, unlocks additional potential in our knowledge economy
that will keep Canada on the
forefront of global cyber security innovation for generations to
come."
About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology
company in the global payments industry. Our global payments
processing network connects consumers, financial institutions,
merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries
and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make
everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running
a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more
efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews,
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SOURCE Mastercard