Denso opens R&D office in Montreal

A new satellite office for research and development has been opened by Denso in Montreal.

The Japanese auto supply giant is opening R&D facilities around the world as part of a “second founding” in an effort to fast-track technological advancement in the automotive industry.

The company said research activities in the Montreal lab will focus on innovation in advanced technology like artificial intelligence.

The move was announced by Denso president and chief executive officer Koji Arima alongside many provincial and government officials including Premier François Legault and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

Montreal has become something of a hub for artificial intelligence research. The city has lured tech giants like Facebook, Google parent Alphabet and Samsung – all of which have opened or acquired AI centres. The city is attractive, Denso said, “due to its unique, interconnected and collaborative AI ecosystem.”

The company is looking for a local leader for the lab. In the meantime, Pat Bassett, vice president of Denso’s North America research and engineering center, will oversee the facility.

“Denso has had a presence in Canada for 46 years. Moving forward, we are glad to deepen our relationship with Canada by starting this lab with the great city and people of Montréal to build the community and the future of mobility,” said Kenichiro Ito, chairman of the company’s North America board and CEO of its North American headquarters. “We know that to quickly create and develop the best AI and mobility solutions, we must tap both local talent and global expertise. That is why Denso is strategically investing in research labs all over the world that are entirely dedicated to agile research and development through global collaboration.”