BlackBerry QNX and Carleton University are continuing their longtime relationship with a new five-year strategic research partnership agreement to advance the next generation of software engineers.

The USD $21-million partnership provides Carleton engineers and researchers with industry-leading BlackBerry QNX software, technology and guidance to support advancements within the research areas of automotive, robotics, transportation, Internet of things (IoT), aerospace and medical devices. The primary focus of this partnership will be establishing a state-of-the-art embedded operating system software research lab that will enhance course offerings and projects.

This lab is housed in Carleton’s Advanced Research and Innovation in Smart Environments (ARISE) building. It will be the hub to connect students with industry professionals and provide hands-on experience with industry standard operating systems—essential in training the next generation of software engineers.

Carleton students will be provided experiential learning opportunities with next-generation technology used and developed by BlackBerry QNX. Their collaborative research with QNX experts will also contribute to the discovery of new applications of this technology.

The company will provide BlackBerry QNX software development licenses annually to students throughout Carleton’s School of Computer Science and Faculty of Engineering and Design, along with training and product support. Senior representatives from BlackBerry QNX’s sales, product, R&D and leadership teams will collaborate with faculty, undergraduate and graduate co-op students to advance research projects, providing real-world experience on transitioning technologies more efficiently to market in the sphere of safe and secure autonomous systems of the future.

Student outreach is a top priority and BlackBerry QNX will provide this unique learning environment to train students to be ready to solve industry problems upon graduation.

BlackBerry QNX

Ottawa-based BlackBerry QNX delivers a time-tested, real-time operating system (RTOS), hypervisor and embedded software for use in ventilators, train controls, factory automation systems, medical robots and more. A trusted supplier of commercial operating systems, hypervisors, development tools, support and services, all purpose-built for the world’s most critical embedded systems. Their technology is trusted in more than 195 million vehicles and is deployed in embedded systems around the world across a range of industries including aerospace and defence, automotive, commercial vehicles, heavy machinery and industrial controls.