Google invests in Quebec cybersecurity ecosystem

According to Google Canada, Google.org will provide a $1.3 million grant to the Multidisciplinary Institute for Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience ( IMC2 ) to support research into global cyber-risks.

IMC2 is a partnership between Polytechnique Montréal, initiator of the project, the University of Montreal and HEC Montréal.

The company will also launch the Google Cybersecurity Certificate in French and work with non-profit partners CyberQuebec, Hackfest, Cybereco, Canada Learning Code, and ComIT to provide scholarships to at-need communities and those in their networks to access the certificate for free.

According to Google, in 2023, 60 per cent of Quebec small and medium-sized enterprises were targeted by cyber attacks, and in 2022, cyber attacks in Canada increased by 20 per cent. Sixty-five per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises said their company does not have the qualified staff to implement a cybersecurity solution or monitor attacks.

“The grant from Google.org empowers IMC2 to drive cybersecurity initiatives which are essential for our vision of a cyber-resilient society,” said Marc Gervais, executive director, IMC2, in a statement. “The project focuses on four critical areas: fostering a cyber-aware and cyber-responsible society, implementing a secure platform for our researchers to share and leverage cybersecurity data, addressing the alignment between cyber initiatives and the creation of an environmentally friendly future, and driving economic growth and employment opportunities in Québec and Canada by supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in cybersecurity ventures.”

“Cybersecurity concerns impact everyone, from families to local businesses. At Google, we want to be part of the solution, working alongside government, academics, industry, and civil society to combat threats and drive up the baseline level of security across the ecosystem,” added Robert Shield, Google Montreal co-site lead. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with such strong local and national partners to help to create a safer, more secure online ecosystem for Quebec, Canada and the world.”