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Canada invests in five networks to stimulate innovation in key emerging technology sectors

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OTTAWA, ON, March 13, 2025 /CNW/ – Since its launch in 2017, the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has supported collaboration between businesses, research institutions and non-profit organizations to drive growth in key emerging technology sectors. It funds business-led projects in areas where Canada has an economic advantage, such as cleantech, life sciences, agriculture/agri-food, mining and aerospace. Over the years, SIF networks have supported over 750 small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) that have created over 1,200 jobs and attracted over $1.7 billion in investment.

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced additional funding to five SIF networks to attract large-scale investments to Canada. This additional funding will give the high-performing networks the opportunity to strengthen their ecosystems and support additional projects, with a particular focus on growing SMEs in Canada:

The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) is receiving an additional $8.6 million to accelerate cutting-edge research and development in food processing and production technologies. Since April 2021, CFIN-funded companies have created over 350 new jobs and leveraged $21 million in private sector investment. The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) is receiving an additional $8 million to help agricultural producers and the agri-food value chain boost productivity through automation and artificial intelligence. Since July 2019, CAAIN has supported the creation and maintenance of over 500 high-quality jobs and leveraged $67.6 million in private-sector investment.The Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) is receiving a $10 million investment to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative technologies and processes that aim to lower the oil and gas industry’s environmental impacts. Since July 2020, CRIN has supported the creation of over 200 jobs and leveraged $150 million in private sector investment.Natural Products Canada (NPC) is receiving an additional $5 million to accelerate the innovation and commercialization of products in the bioeconomy that support human, animal and plant well-being. Since August 2021, NPC has supported the creation of over 130 new jobs and leveraged nearly $15 million in private sector investment in its projects.The Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) is receiving a $5 million investment to contribute to innovation and modernization efforts in mining, strengthen industry supply chains, and increase the domestic and export sales of new products. Since January 2021, MICA has created and maintained over 435 jobs and mobilized investments of approximately $170 million from the private sector.

Quotes

“Our government has long valued the expertise of the private sector and research institutions, which is why we launched SIF to drive innovation and strengthen the Canadian economy. By boosting investments in areas with a high performance record and with strong growth potential, we’re securing high-paying Canadian jobs and positioning our industries to thrive in the rapidly evolving technology landscape. We are positioning Canada as a global economic leader and paving the way for success for generations to come.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Investing in innovation means investing in good jobs, economic growth, and a more competitive Canada. This additional funding for Strategic Innovation Fund networks will strengthen key industries, drive technological advancements, and create new opportunities for businesses and workers across the country. By supporting collaboration between businesses and research institutions, we are equipping Canadian innovators with the tools they need to lead globally in clean tech, agri-food, mining, and beyond.”
–  Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, Ontario and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Quick facts

SIF has contributed nearly $1.1 billion to support 14 networks in key emerging technology sectors, which have in turn funded over 750 small and medium-sized enterprises through nearly 650 collaborative projects. These networks, listed below, have leveraged over $1.7 billion in additional funding from the private sector and other sources, attracted over 17,000 members to their respective innovation ecosystems and created over 1,200 jobs:Conscience Open Science Drug Discovery (OSDD) NetworkCentre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN)Fabrication of Integrated Components for the Internet’s Edge (FABrIC)Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem (CMIE)Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT)envisAGENatural Products Canada (NPC)Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA)Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN)Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN)Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN)Digital Health and Discovery Platform (DHDP)INOVAITEvolution of Networked Services through a Corridor in Quebec and Ontario for Research and Innovation (ENCQOR)

Associated links

Strategic Innovation FundNetworks: Strategic Innovation Fund

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Seminar for Members of the Global Development Promotion Center Network Visits Qingdao, Exchanges on Media Convergence and Cooperation Opportunities

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QINGDAO, China, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from iqingdao.

The Seminar for Members of the Global Development Promotion Center Network visited Qingdao Daily Press Group to learn about media convergence and international communication practices. They then attended the Qingdao Development Opportunities Promotion and Exchange Conference, exploring the city’s strengths and potential for future cooperation.

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SOURCE iqingdao

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Saledock Gives Celerant ONE Retailers One Place to Market, Message and Manage Every Customer Conversation

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CES gives UK retailers a central marketing hub connected to live sales data.

KINGSTON UPON HULL, England, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Saledock, a Celerant company, today launched Customer Engagement Suite (CES) for Celerant ONE, giving UK retailers a central hub for email marketing, SMS, social media, reputation management and every customer conversation, from website live chat to WhatsApp messages.

Because CES connects in real time to Celerant ONE’s ePOS and eCommerce, retailers can automate targeted, personalised messages based on what customers do in-store and online, using the customer, sales, and product information already in their system.

Marketing That Knows What Your Customers Bought

Most independent retailers manage customer communication across a patchwork of tools: one for email, another for text messages, a social media scheduler, review sites, a WhatsApp inbox and a separate live chat on their website. None of those tools know what a customer bought last week, so campaigns stay generic and staff waste time exporting lists and copying product details between systems.

CES closes that gap. It sits inside Celerant ONE and draws directly on the data retailers already have, including customer records, in-store and online sales history, and product images and information. The result is marketing that reflects real buying behaviour, built and sent from the same platform the retailer uses to run the shop.

How It Works

Retailers can set up automated workflows triggered by what happens at the till or on their website, and get as creative as they like. A workflow might thank a customer after their first purchase, follow up with shoppers who bought a particular brand or category, or win back customers who haven’t visited in a while, by email or SMS. Once it’s set, it runs in the background.

For retailers who don’t want to build workflows from scratch, a built-in AI agent can create them, so even a small team can put automated marketing to work.

Building a campaign is faster too. Product images and descriptions come straight from Celerant ONE, so there’s no need to recreate content that already exists in the catalogue.

With CES, Celerant ONE retailers can:

Automate email and SMS campaigns based on in-store and online purchase activityLet the built-in AI agent build workflows for themAnswer website live chat and WhatsApp messages from a single inboxSchedule posts and engage with followers across Facebook, Instagram, and their other social channelsMonitor and respond to customer reviews to protect their reputationReduce the number of separate marketing and messaging tools they pay for and manage

“Retailers already own their most valuable marketing asset, which is their customer and sales data,” said Michele Salerno, Chief Growth Officer at Celerant Technology. “The problem is that data usually sits in one system while their email, texts, reviews, and social media live somewhere else. CES puts all of it in one place and connects it to every sale, so a retailer can send a message that’s actually relevant to that customer without exporting a list or logging into a handful of different tools.”

“Running a shop leaves very little time for marketing, and jumping between different apps to do it doesn’t help,” said Layla Gladwin, Managing Director of Saledock. “With CES, everything a retailer needs to talk to their customers is inside Celerant ONE and connected to what’s happening at the till and online. Set up a workflow once, or let the AI agent build it for you, and it keeps working while you get on with serving customers.”

Availability

Customer Engagement Suite is available now as an optional add-on for Celerant ONE retailers. Existing Celerant ONE retailers can contact their Saledock account representative to get started. Retailers considering new ePOS and eCommerce software can request a Celerant ONE demonstration to see CES and the complete platform at [https://www.saledock.com/customer-enagagement-suite/]

About Saledock, a Celerant Company

Saledock is the UK division of Celerant Technology, providing Celerant ONE, a cloud-based retail platform that connects ePOS, eCommerce, stock control, customer engagement and other critical retail operations within one system.

To learn more, Visit Saledock.com/ 

About Celerant Technology

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, Celerant Technology provides retail software to more than 1,800 retailers, supporting over 5,000 store locations. With approximately 250 employees across seven offices, Celerant connects point of sale, eCommerce, inventory, customer engagement, payments, marketplaces, and more for specialty retailers ranging from independent shops to multi-location and enterprise businesses.

To learn more, visit Celerant.com/

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Jackery Black Friday 2026: Up to 58% Off Explorer v2 Portable Power Stations and Solar Generators, Starting at Just £378

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LONDON, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Jackery is kicking off its Black Friday campaign with up to 58% off its popular Explorer v2 Series, with portable power stations starting at just £378. Running from 10 to 30 November 2026, the campaign offers some of the biggest savings of the year across the new-edition Explorer 1000 v2 2027 and Explorer 2000 v2 2027, as well as the Explorer 3000 v2, alongside selected solar generator bundles.

Combining compact design, lightweight portability and powerful, reliable performance, the Explorer v2 Series caters to different energy needs – from weekend camping and extended off-grid adventures to emergency backup power at home during unexpected winter power cuts.
 

Explorer 1000 v2 2027: Lightweight Power for Everyday Adventures – Now Just £378

With a 1,024 Wh capacity and 1,500 W output, the new Explorer 1000 v2 is ideal for weekend camping, road trips and outdoor activities. Compact and easy to carry, it powers everyday essentials such as laptops, cameras, portable fridges and lighting. Its long-lasting LiFePO4 battery and advanced ChargeShield safety technology ensure dependable performance. Emergency Charging enables a full recharge from 0 to 100% in just 50 minutes, making it ready for the next adventure or unexpected power needs.

Explorer 1000 v2: £378 (RRP £899) – 57% offSolar Generator 1000 v2 with SolarSaga 200W Panel: £629 (RRP £1,499) – 58% off
 

Explorer 2000 v2 2027: More Power for Extended Adventures – Save Up to 54%

With a 2,048 Wh capacity and 2,200 W output, the new Explorer 2000 v2 can simultaneously power energy-intensive devices such as coffee machines and electric coolers on the go. The compact power station features long-lasting LiFePO4 batteries, comprehensive safety features and a wide range of connectivity options, now with three AC outlets for added flexibility.  It can be recharged via a mains socket, Jackery’s portable solar panels or a 12V charging cable in a vehicle.

Explorer 2000 v2: £726 (RRP £1,399) – 48% offSolar Generator 2000 v2 with SolarSaga 100W Panel: £919 (RRP £1,999) – 54% off
 

Explorer 3000 v2: High-Capacity Power for Adventures and Winter Backup – Save Up to £1,004

For those who need greater energy reserves, the Explorer 3000 v2 offers a 3,072 Wh capacity and 3,600 W output with LiFePO4 battery technology. As one of the most compact and quietest models in its class, it is ideally suited for off-grid power while camping, on construction sites and as an emergency backup solution at home, particularly during unexpected winter power cuts. Thanks to app connectivity and bidirectional charging capabilities, users can also take advantage of variable electricity tariffs to schedule charging during off-peak periods.

Explorer 3000 v2: £1,352 (RRP £2,299) – 41% offSolar Generator 3000 v2 with SolarSaga 200W Panel: £1,595 (RRP £2,599) – 38% off

All Black Friday offers are available from 10 to 30 November 2026 at the official Jackery UK online store.

Media enquiries: Jiatong Li, jiatong@jackery.com, +4915223970329

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