Markham, Ontario-based technology hub ventureLAB has officially opened The Hardware Catalyst Initiative (HCI) on February 6, 2020. The HCI is Canada’s first hardware and silicon-focused incubator for tech companies building solutions for technologies like AI, IoT, wearable computing, 5G, and other transformative technologies that will enable the creation of products and solutions that scale globally.

Gap Wireless partnered with ventureLAB to provide their 24/7 access, 1500 square foot hardware lab with state-of-the-art specialized equipment from Keysight Technologies, such as high-speed spectrum analyzer and high-speed oscilloscope, as well as prototyping, production services, and Electronic Design Automation (EDA) toolsets.

Over the next five years, HCI plans to support up to 40 companies, create more than 200 jobs, and commercialize 15 new products and technologies.

Gap Wireless has again partnered with ventureLAB to help accelerate hardware prototyping with support and providing leading edge test equipment from Keysight Technologies for the first 8 startup companies selected as part of this initiative.

“When this started three years ago, it was a big vision to really rebuild and put this ecosystem from a silicon and semiconductor and hardware perspective back on the map,” said Melissa Chee, president and chief executive officer of ventureLAB. “And the bigger vision for this is that this becomes one of a select few global hubs around the world for semiconductor and semiconductor related products and companies, big, small, and in all in between.”

To learn more about ventureLAB’s Hardware Catalyst Initiative (HCI) watch the video below