November 19, 2024: CMC Microsystems and ventureLAB, leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada located in York region, have wrapped up a successful week at electronica 2024, the world’s leading trade fair for the entire spectrum of technologies, products and solutions from the electronics industry. CMC and ventureLAB were members of the Province of Ontario delegation, made possible through close collaboration with the Ontario Trade and Investment Office in Munich, Germany and the Trade Commissioner Service, who provided Ontario delegates with valuable connections to potential clients and partners in the European Union. The mission aims to foster and establish key relationships in Germany and Europe, positioning ventureLAB as the premier destination for founders and investors in hardtech sectors, and CMC as a main conduit to highlight Canadian semiconductor capabilities and capacity to attract international investment and Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) to Canada.
Over the course of the week, CMC, ventureLAB, and other members of the delegation participated in networking events, tours, and one-on-one meetings to establish strong connections with key stakeholders and foster long-term collaborations. They also showcased founders, investors, and ecosystem partners from across their networks, such as Untether.ai, Blumind, and MaxEpic, who were invited to present their technologies at Infineon’s headquarters. The session also included additional participants joining virtually from other locations. The delegation took part in knowledge-sharing sessions to promote collaboration, technology transfer, and best practices in the semiconductor and hardtech sectors. They also gathered market insights and trends in Germany and globally, providing valuable information for international expansion strategies within the semiconductor and hardtech industries for founders and investors.
Representing CMC in the delegation, President and CEO Gordon Harling said “This was an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the Canadian semiconductor opportunity to the world. Firms and organizations from around the world are very impressed by the energy and growth in the Canadian semiconductor ecosystem right now and are eager to do business with us.”
FABrIC: Strengthening Canada’s Semiconductor Ecosystem and Exporting to Global Markets
Electronica 2024 was also an opportunity for Harling to present FABrIC to potential global clients and partners. FABrIC, a five-year, $223M project to secure Canada’s future in semiconductors, is ramping up. Announced in July, 2024, and funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), FABrIC lowers barriers faced by Canadian companies to develop semiconductor manufacturing processes, to create semiconductor Internet-connected products and services (IoT), and to export into a global market. FABrIC leverages Canada’s innovation infrastructure and talent to grow the industry and become a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing. New manufacturing options, developed in Canada, can be used to build the next generation of semiconductor-based IoT products in Canada and then exported to partner countries around the world.
Avinash Persaud, VP of the Hardware Catalyst Initiative at ventureLAB, added, “This is a key opportunity to showcase Canada’s hardtech innovation on the global stage. Having our ecosystem’s top founders and industry leaders here highlights the growing recognition of Canadian capabilities. The connections we’re forging in Germany are crucial for building strong, cross-border partnerships that will drive advancements in semiconductor and AI technologies.”
Persaud highlighted the strong traction for startups during the mission, noting significant media interest and valuable connections made at Electronica. He added that several ventureLAB founders were interviewed, spotlighting Canadian innovation, and expressed interest in exploring technologies from other ventureLAB companies fostering collaboration.
Electronica, held biannually, is a leading global trade fair in the electronics sector that brings users, buyers, and decision-makers together with experts from all sectors of the industry and creates an international platform where projects can be outlined, business initiated, and contracts fixed. Companies of all sizes are represented on the exhibitor and visitor side. It is precisely the strong reference to applications across a wide range of customer industries and branches of industry that distinguishes electronica. It brings together the entire world of electronics. At Electronica 2022, almost 70,000 people from 100 countries visited the stands of 2,140 exhibitors.
