Ottawa backs Siemens battery AI R&D with CAD $23M in funding

Canada will invest CAD $23 million in Siemens Canada for a battery production research and development project.

The project expands Siemens' Global AI Manufacturing Technologies Research and Development Centre for Battery Production in Canada, where it is developing tools to improve battery manufacturing efficiency and production methods. Ottawa said the work is intended to strengthen the country's battery value chain and its position in the North American automotive supply chain. The funding supports part of a CAD $70 million phase within a broader CAD $150 million program.

Funded through the Strategic Response Fund, the project is expected to maintain 3,310 jobs in Canada, create 90 new full-time roles and secure 625 co-op positions, according to the government. Siemens already employs about 4,600 people across Canada and operates 38 offices and production facilities.

Officials said the centre will develop advanced manufacturing technologies for battery production and work to commercialise the results. The aim is to address bottlenecks in the battery sector while improving the competitiveness of Canadian production

""The investment by the Government of Canada empowers our Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center to deploy industrial AI in the real world, thereby enabling the optimization of battery production, reducing waste, and cementing Canada's position in global battery manufacturing," said Faisal Kazi, President and CEO of Siemens Canada.

Battery manufacturing has become a strategic priority for governments seeking to secure supply chains for electric vehicles and related industries. In Canada, that effort has included support for mining, processing, cell production and assembly, alongside policies designed to keep automotive investment in the country.

Ottawa linked the Siemens project to Canada's automotive strategy and to a joint declaration with Germany intended to encourage more investment in the electric vehicle sector. It also said the project would foster collaboration among academic institutions, industry groups and researchers working on battery innovation.

For Siemens, the move builds on a long-standing presence in Canada. The German industrial group said its Canadian business generated roughly CAD $2.3 billion in revenue in its 2025 financial year.

Siemens has described the Canadian site as a global battery research and development hub. The latest investment suggests that the role is expanding beyond research into deployment in live manufacturing settings.

"Canada is an auto nation and home to world-class workers, cutting-edge innovation and some of the best vehicles manufactured anywhere in the world. This investment is a significant milestone in Canada's new auto strategy and builds on our deep and growing industrial partnership with Germany. Our government is taking bold action to attract investments that will create good jobs, strengthen our industries and build a competitive, resilient Canadian economy," said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.