Critical Infrastructure Protection Cluster launched in Hamilton as industry-led effort to develop and promote Canadian expertise

Hamilton, Ontario — The Critical Infrastructure Protection Cluster (CIPC) has been established at the Hamilton Technology Centre (HTC), in alignment with Canada's National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure, to build partnerships and intelligence that support and enhance critical infrastructure resiliency. It serves as an industry-led consortium of companies aggregating skillsets, and activities that involve critical infrastructure protection.

CIPC engages in a series of projects designed to foster growth in Canadian expertise and provide comprehensive solutions to critical infrastructure owners and operators. The inaugural project, titled the Alliance for Resilience and Communications (ARC), features an initial cohort of Hamilton-based technology companies showcasing local talent and working together in a collaborative framework to identify, develop, and deliver integrated security, resilience, situational awareness, validation, and operational assurance initiatives specifically for Canadian municipalities. Participants include Alvian Networks, LIVESENS Inc., and Providius.

The ARC project promotes, aligns, and enhances the expertise of these complementary organizations by focusing on delivering comprehensive solutions related to the virtual and physical security of municipal networks, communications, cyber resilience, operational assurance, trusted timing, sensing, validation, data fusion, and critical infrastructure projects.

“As a repository for local skillset and intelligence, the Critical Infrastructure Protection Cluster shines a light on the existing expertise, local to Hamilton, that is working to strengthen infrastructure and protect stakeholders.”

Each participating company independently delivers their products and services while contributing their perspective and core competency to cluster projects. This approach offers stakeholders like Canadian municipalities the opportunity to leverage the collective wisdom and capabilities of the cluster to verify the integrity of their systems and mitigate infrastructure risk.

CIPC will continue to promote Canada's public safety and preparedness as the Centre of Excellence for critical infrastructure resilience by growing Canadian talent, promoting the development of Canadian companies and capabilities, and providing expert insights to various levels of government and private sector entities.