Siemens to Establish Global Cybersecurity Centre in Fredericton
June 1, 2018
Multinational technology company Siemens has chosen to establish a cybersecurity centre in Fredericton.
The venture is expected to create up to 30 highly skilled jobs in the province by 2020 with another 30 jobs in Phase 2, and will also support training, education and research and development. The new positions are expected to be in engineering, cyber analysis and consulting.
“Your government’s multi-year economic growth plan has identified cybersecurity as a growth opportunity,” said Premier Brian Gallant. “It is great to see Siemens joining a growing list of companies that are transforming New Brunswick into a cybersecurity research and innovation hub in Canada.”
The Siemens Cybersecurity Centre, to be housed at Knowledge Park, aims to bring together Siemens’ expertise in critical infrastructure protection with New Brunswick’s emerging cybersecurity ecosystem, creating potential for global exports of locally created Internet protocol, methods and technology.
“Cybersecurity is crucial to the success of the digital economy,” said Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser. “Businesses and governments need to join together in order to keep pace with continuous advances and threats in the market. Our investment in New Brunswick is an example of how taking action and working together will help secure a digital future.”
The project will have two phases. Phase 1, which begins immediately, involves the initial opening of the centre and the hiring of up to 30 people. Phase 2, which could begin as early as 2020, will see up to another 30 employees hired.
To support the establishment of the centre and the new jobs in Phases 1 and 2, the company is eligible for an investment of up to $3.6 million from Opportunities NB, which is a Crown corporation that seeks to attract and support opportunities to grow the economy and create jobs. It provides support services for businesses across the province. Up to $2 million of this funding comes in the form of payroll rebates, which are performance based and only disbursed to a company once it has created and maintained the jobs for one year and provided proof of salary levels and employment.
This investment will be distributed as follows:
Phase 1 – A $1 million payroll rebate ∂ A $1-million non-repayable contribution to support capital expenditures to establish the centre’s operations.
– A $600,000 non-repayable contribution in support of eligible relocation expenses for employees moving to New Brunswick from another jurisdiction.
Phase 2 – A $1 million payroll rebate.
The creation of up to 30 new jobs in Phase 1 is expected to add $17.1 million to the province’s GDP over seven years.
Siemens currently has offices in Moncton and Fredericton, as well as a global Smart Grid Centre of Competence in Fredericton that was established in 2012 to integrate Smart Grid technology into the province’s electrical system.
