Videotron, Ericsson, École de technologie supérieure and Quartier de l'innovation join forces to create Canada's first open-air smart living lab

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 20, 2016  /CNW Telbec/ - Videotron, Ericsson, École de technologie supérieure and the Quartier de l'innovation (QI) today announced the creation of Canada's first open-air smart living laboratory. It will be located in the heart of the Quartier de l'innovation and will serve to test the many facets of innovations associated with the emerging industry revolving around fifth-generation telecommunications. Concrete technological applications with the potential to improve and simplify Quebecers' lives will be field-tested under real-life conditions.

This unique partnership will bring together expertise, knowledge and technology in a vast test site in order to begin laying the foundations for smart living. The laboratory will also be a model for collaboration in which the community, the municipality, higher education, manufacturers and the telecom industry will cohabitate as they work to make the next technological revolution a reality.

The lab will also be inclusive: from day one, its doors will be wide open to Montréal tech businesses and developers connected to the ICT industrial ecosystem that want to participate in the project.

First concrete project: smart dorms
ÉTS students will be the first to enjoy the fruits of the lab's work. Starting in early 2017, they will see the products of the project partners' expertise in the heart of their campus: students living in dorms will experience a "smart home," an environment managed on the basis of analysis of the data generated by various objects in the building.

Raising the innovation bar
"We are very proud to have initiated the creation of this vast smart living lab and to have brought such distinguished partners together around a common objective: the development of an innovation ecosystem in Montréal," said Manon Brouillette, President and CEO of Videotron. "For Videotron, this laboratory will be another tool for identifying the applications and services that can best improve and simplify consumers' daily lives, and those that can create the most value for businesses."

"ÉTS is contributing at two levels," said Pierre Dumouchel, Director General of the École de technologie supérieure. "First, we are contributing the knowledge, cutting-edge expertise and talents of the ÉTS professors, researchers and students who are involved in the open-air lab. Secondly, the ÉTS campus will be the site of experimentation, hands-on learning and skill development by students and our partners in this innovative, collaborative initiative."

"By forming a partnership to create Canada's largest open-air laboratory, we are giving entrepreneurs and students a playing field where they can prepare for the world of the future," said Graham Osborne, President of Ericsson Canada. "At Ericsson, we are very excited about contributing to this project with our technological leadership, our global knowledge of smart cities, and most of all our people."

"The Quartier de l'innovation is a major hub of innovation and creativity in Montréal," said Damien Silès, Executive Director of the Quartier de l'innovation. "It is also a catalyst for the city's development. It was therefore a natural site for this open-air lab. We are pleased to be part of this unique project in Canada which will raise the profile of QI and of the city."

Harout Chitilian, Vice-Chair of the City of Montréal Executive Committee responsible for smart city initiatives and information technology, commented: "This first open-air laboratory will channel institutional innovation and the dynamism of our startups in order to test bold solutions to urban problems. More than ever, Montréal is showing leadership on the smart city front with transformative projects that enhance the quality of life of residents and promote the city's economic development."

Videotron (www.videotron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development, Internet access, cable telephone and mobile telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its illico interactive television service and its broadband network, which supports high-speed cable Internet access, analog and digital cable television, and other services. As of June 30, 2016, Videotron was serving 1,697,500 cable television customers, including 1,559,800 Digital TV subscribers. Videotron is also the Québec leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,571,700 subscribers to its cable service as of June 30, 2016. As of the same date, Videotron had 828,900 subscriber connections to its mobile telephone service and was providing cable telephone service to 1,284,000 Québec households and organizations. For the eleventh consecutive year, Videotron was ranked as Québec's most respected telecommunications company in the annual Léger survey. Follow us on the Web | facebook.com/videotron || Follow us on Twitter | twitter.com/videotron

Ericsson (www.ericsson.com) is the driving force behind the Networked Society – a world leader in communications technology and services. Our long-term relationships with every major telecom operator in the world allow people, business and society to fulfill their potential and create a more sustainable future. Our services, software and infrastructure – especially in mobility, broadband and the cloud – are enabling the telecom industry and other sectors to do better business, increase efficiency, improve the user experience and capture new opportunities. With approximately 115,000 professionals and customers in 180 countries, we combine global scale with technology and services leadership. We support networks that connect more than 2.5 billion subscribers. Forty percent of the world's mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks. And our investments in research and development ensure that our solutions – and our customers – stay in front. Founded in 1876, Ericsson has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Net sales in 2015 were SEK 246.9 billion (USD 29.4 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX stock exchange in Stockholm and the NASDAQ in New York. Follow us on the Web | facebook.com/ericsson || Follow us on Twitter | twitter.com/ericssonpress

The École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS ) is one of the 10 components of the Université du Québec system. The engineers and researchers it trains are recognized for their practical, innovative approach, for developing new technologies and transferring them to enterprise. Nearly one out of four engineers in Québec graduated from ÉTS. In all, ÉTS has more than 10,600 students, including nearly 2,600 graduate students. ÉTS specializes in applied training and research in engineering. It has a unique partnership with the business community and industry. More information: www.etsmtl.ca.

The Quartier de l'innovation (QI) is an innovation ecosystem in the heart of Montreal that aims to boost the city's potential for creativity. QI was launched in May 2013 by École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and McGill University, which were subsequently joined by Concordia University and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). Some 20 corporate partners have since come on board. QI draws on the complementary resources of its numerous partners in research, training, innovation and entrepreneurship to create concrete projects that are changing the face of the city. The site is bounded by René Lévesque Boulevard on the north, the Lachine Canal on the south, McGill Street on the east and Atwater Avenue on the west. QI's activities focus on four areas: training and research, social and cultural innovation, industrial innovation and urban innovation. quartierinnovationmontreal.com

SOURCE Videotron

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Media contacts only: Videotron, Youann Blouin, Phone: [phone]; Ericsson, Jimmy Duvall, Phone: [phone]; ÉTS, Olivier Audet, Phone: [phone]; Quartier de l'innovation, Antoine Leduc, Phone: [phone]