BlackBerry and the University of Waterloo have announced plans to develop a joint innovation lab with a focus on fast-tracking research and development to get products into the market.
Working out of an official partner suite on the University of Waterloo’s campus, the two organizations will look into ways that students can work with top BlackBerry R&D and business leadership teams in research, workshops, and economic development sessions.
This will include sessions with Blackberry executives like the “Marketing and Sales Strategy 101” session which is due to kick off on November 12.
“We are proud to have worked with the University of Waterloo for more than 30 years to help build our company and turn it into one of the world’s most recognized and celebrated technology brands,” said Charles Eagan, Blackberry’s chief technology officer, in a press release. “We are thrilled to reinvigorate our relationship which promises to strengthen the entire Canadian technology and cybersecurity industry.”
Additionally, the partnership will see senior representatives from BlackBerry’s sales, product, R&D and leadership teams on campus interacting with groups like the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research, students, and faculty to establish the future of the partnership.
“We are pleased that one of Canada’s leading technology firms wants to explore ways to leverage the deep knowledge and amazing talent of Waterloo’s faculty and students,” said Charmaine Dean, the vice president of University, research and international at the University of Waterloo, in a press release. “We are keen to build on the deep partnership fostered between BlackBerry and centres like the WatCAR and expand research into new areas where Canada can lead the world in technology development.”