Denso Opens Research and Development Lab in Montreal

Leading Japanese automotive supplier Denso Corporation has set up a new research and development laboratory in Montreal. The company has thus become a member of the city’s growing artificial intelligence.

Denso’s Chief executive, Koji Arima said that Denso chose to locate the new facility in Montreal due to the city’s collaborative AI ecosystem. Denso is now engaged in a drive to strategically open such research and development facilities in different locations across the globe and develop new products and solutions through global collaboration. Research activities at the Montreal facility will specialize in advanced technology like artificial intelligence. Denso had announced this long-term plan to expedite innovation by broadening its research and development activities outside Japan back in 2017.

Kenichiro Ito, chairman of DENSO’s North America Board of Directors and chief executive officer of DENSO’s North American Headquarters said that DENSO has had a presence in Canada for 46 years. He went on to add that the company was glad to reinforce its relationship with Canada by opening the lab in Montreal and thus helping to build the community and the future of mobility. The company’s aim is to create and develop the best AI and mobility solutions, by leveraging both local talent and global expertise.

Commenting on this development, Quebec premier Francois Legault, said that AI will make productivity increase across the globe and can increase nominal GDP in Quebec by over USD 4 billion on an annual basis.

Over the past few years, the growing big-data sector in Montreal has attracted many leading companies like Facebook, Microsoft, Alphabet Inc., Samsung, and all of them have opened or acquired local AI labs in the city.