Canadian firms BlackBerry and Solace are also participating in the IoT acceleration initiative
Canadian software-as-a-service (SaaS) accelerator L-SPARK and compatriot telecommunications services company TELUS have inked a partnership to launch the Secure IoT Accelerator program in collaboration with BlackBerry Limited and Solace.
The Secure IoT Accelerator program is intended to enable Internet of Things (IoT) ventures in Canada by providing them global market reach capability.
“Telus is dedicated to fostering a thriving and secure IoT ecosystem in Canada, capable of both serving the needs of Canadians and providing reach to markets around the globe. Ensuring that next-generation security products and services are available to that ecosystem is vital to its success, so we are proud to support L-SPARK’s Secure IoT Accelerator,” said Ibrahim Gedeon, CTO, TELUS. “The mentorship and resources that participants receive as part of the Secure IoT Accelerator, including access to the world-class TELUS LTE-M network, provide a springboard for these companies’ growth and, ultimately, strengthening the entire Canadian IoT market.”
The Secure IoT Accelerator program is currently accepting applications from growth stage companies developing IoT products in a variety of industries including: automotive; healthcare; access management; smart home and building; retail and supply chain management; logistics and fleet management; natural resources and asset management; among others.
The partners said that ideal applicants must have a Canadian headquarters as well as the required team and financial capacity to execute projects during the accelerator program timeframe.
“Adoption of IoT products and services by Canadian firms is accelerating at a rapid clip, and industry analyst predict the global connected IoT devices market will grow at a CAGR of approximately 19% through 2023,” said Leo Lax, Executive Managing Director of L-SPARK. “We’re excited to create an accelerator program that provides the tools and technology necessary for Canadian IoT innovators to scale their businesses and compete internationally.”
The acceleration program will support its portfolio companies in developing innovative IoT products and services that leverage the combined capabilities of TELUS Global Connectivity and IoT Cybersecurity services, BlackBerry’s operating system, and Solace’s data movement capabilities.
Companies taking part in the four-month program will receive access to LTE-M ready software development kits from the corporate partners to facilitate the development and demonstration of new applications prior to the general market availability of the platform, as well as technical mentoring from TELUS, BlackBerry and Solace experts
