GM Canada launches innovation lab at Communitech
Posted Feb 4, 2016 06:09:43 PM.
Last Updated Feb 9, 2016 10:50:56 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was a big day at Communitech as General Motors Canada launched their brand new innovation lab “2908”.
Steve Carlisle, President and Managing Director of General Motors Canada, tells 570 news about the event.
“It’s a digital ribbon cutting for our presence and activity here at Communitech. We’re very excited about it– we’ve staffed the team, we’ve built out our space and we’re looking forward to meeting our neighbours here.”
The lab will focus on areas like smartphone applications, ride sharing services and approaches. They’ll also be exploring opportunities to incubate new ideas for urban and public transit.
GM Canada is the first automotive company in Canada to establish a lab presence at Communitech. Carlisle tells 570 news why they thought the region was a good-fit.
“There’s two major reasons why we chose Waterloo Region– the innovation aspect of it, as in where we’re going as a company involving technology, but also having access to talent. We believe that Waterloo Region is the best fit.”
Carlisle added that he was an engineering student at the University of Waterloo in 1986, and is thrilled to be back in the region.
“We’re thrilled to be here– that’s the main thing. We think it’s important for our company and will make a contribution to charting out the future of the auto industry in Canada. We’re here at the beginning of the beginning and we’re thrilled with that.”
Carlisle also said that the name “2908” was chosen for the new Communitech lab as it evokes a vision of GM over a thousand years after they opened in Canada in 1908.
You can learn more about GM Canada and their innovation initiatives by clicking here.
