Toronto 
Nokia is pressing ahead with a major expansion of its Canadian research presence, breaking ground on a new innovation campus in Ottawa that the company says will anchor its next phase of technological development.
Nokia’s new innovation campus in Ottawa. (CNW Group/Nokia)
The project centres on a nearly 750,000-square-foot facility in the Kanata North Tech Park, which will house the bulk of Nokia’s Canadian R&D operations. The company already employs more than 1,900 researchers in Ottawa and over 2,500 across Canada.
The new site is expected to advance work in AI-powered networks, data-centre networking, quantum-safe infrastructure, and future 6G technologies, while expanding collaborations with industry and academic partners.
Jeffrey Maddox, President of Nokia Canada, said the investment reflects the company’s push to develop “trusted, secure, and advanced networks” that support what he called the “AI supercycle.” He noted that the Ottawa campus will also contribute to technologies tied to Canada’s defence and national-security needs, adding that Nokia is “doubling down on local talent, partners, and technology.”
The campus will continue to be the design home for Nokia’s routers, 800G optics, data-centre equipment and quantum-safe networking tools. The company says the site will lean on Canadian suppliers and incorporate LEED-aligned sustainable design, low-carbon materials, and resilient energy systems.
David Heard, President of Network Infrastructure at Nokia, said expanding the Ottawa footprint strengthens the firm’s role in advancing AI and quantum technologies. Partnerships with NVIDIA and Canadian universities are expected to help attract global talent and support energy-efficient, next-generation digital infrastructure across the country.
