Feds to unveil ‘supercluster’ winners

OTTAWA - The Trudeau government on Thursday will announce the winners of a competition to form technology “superclusters” - a prize that will guarantee the chosen groups a piece of up to $950 million in federal funding.

The contest is central to the Liberals’ so-called innovation agenda and is designed to encourage academia and businesses to work together on strategies to boost fast-growing sectors.

Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains will unveil the five winning bids at an event at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

Last fall, the government narrowed a field of about 50 applicants to nine finalists that are made up of groups pitching projects in many different areas, including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and clean technology.