CENGN Living Labs

Supported by the Canadian Government’s Strategic Innovation Fund

CENGN has developed eight Living Labs across Canada to support over 100 Canadian startups and scaleups looking to prepare their innovative network technology products for market entry, commercial growth, and industry adoption. This initiative is supported by a $45 million investment from the Federal Government’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).

CENGN Living Labs drive nationwide digital transformation for key Canadian economic sectors. Through Living Labs, CENGN provides the services, expertise, and infrastructure required to test, validate, and certify network technology solutions. This initiative will advance the competitiveness of Canadian industry while also supporting the development of new IP and the growth of our most innovative tech startups and scaleups.

Submit your CENGN Project Proposal now!

CENGN Living Labs	Details
Location	The eight collaborative Living Labs are located in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec
Sectors	Currently, the Living Labs are focused on validating network enabled solutions for Smart Mobility, Smart Building, Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics, and Network Technology sectors. However, Living Labs will be multi-purpose supporting projects in all sectors.
Impact	This funding is providing a major return on investment, including: • A significant boost in GDP growth • The creation and safeguarding of critical tech jobs in Canada • The launch of innovative Canadian products to market • The generation of disruptive and impactful Canadian IP patents • Sales growth and substantial follow-on investment for participating Canadian startups and scaleups • Acceleration of Technology Readiness Levels for participating Canadian companies • The entry of skilled professionals into critical digital technology roles nationwide

Hyperinnovation Living Labs

CENGN Living Labs leverage the latest network technology in cloud, 5G, and edge computing, to provide sector-relevant testing environments for digital solutions that utilize IT technology, like AI/ML, IoT, VR/AR, and automation, to improve the competitiveness, efficiency, and productivity of industry and service operations.

Living Lab services are available through Innovation and Adoption Projects that are supported by CENGN’s robust ecosystem and promote the generation of Canadian IP and commercial growth of Canada’s digital transformation innovators and adopters.

Submit your CENGN Project Proposal now!

Innovation Projects

Startups and scaleups utilize a CENGN Living Lab environment to test, validate, and certify their solutions/products for market entry or to meet scaling requirements for estimated growth. The learnings generated by testing in a commercial-grade physical environment allow the startup to identify and address any remaining issues with their product and reach out to potential customers with third-party evidence of the solution’s value and performance.

Adoption Projects

Startups and scaleups collaborate with a potential customer (adopter) to validate their digital technology solution in the direct context of the adopter’s requirements in a Living Lab, potentially concluding the project with a contract to implement the solution into the customer’s operations.

Participating startups and scaleups are eligible for up to $250K in project support for Innovation Projects and up to $500K for Adoption Projects.

Submit your CENGN Project Proposal now!

Critical Technology Skill Building

SIF contributions to CENGN also support the creation of internships in critical technologies that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Participating startups and scaleups can take on an intern to aid in their commercial goals, whether the intern is directly supporting the CENGN Living Lab project or coming in after project completion based on the next required steps to prepare for commercial entry or growth. These internships facilitate the entry of skilled professionals into the critical technology roles needed nationwide to ensure industry remains competitive and the innovation economy continues to thrive in Canada.

Contact services@cengn.ca to learn more about CENGN Internship opportunities.

CENGN Living Labs Ecosystem

The Living Labs are connected through CENGN’s nationwide ecosystem of tech-leading multi-national enterprises, innovation hubs, and sector-focused organizations. The CENGN ecosystem acts as a conduit for communicating Living Lab services across Canada and its many innovation regions, ensuring all companies are exposed to the potential benefits of a CENGN Living Lab project. Beyond this, the ecosystem is leveraged to share project learnings through Innovation Highlights and Blueprints. By showcasing project results and lessons learned, the ecosystem heightens digital transformation knowledge, expediting technology adoption in Canadian industry.

CENGN Living Labs are supported by main technology partners:

Want to join the CENGN Ecosystem? Contact us at memberships@cengn.ca

About ISED’s Strategic Innovation Fund

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is a federal government program under Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). SIF accelerates the growth and attraction of investment for all sectors through supporting innovation projects, like CENGN Living Labs, that foster the collaboration and innovation needed to drive the competitiveness and productivity of Canadian industry.