Jim Balsillie, Ex-BlackBerry Exec, to Co-Lead Manitoba Innovation Task Force
A previous BlackBerry leader will co-lead a newly formed task force aimed at leveraging advanced technology to boost efficiency in Manitoba.
Jim Balsillie, the ex-co-CEO of Research In Motion, the Waterloo-based Ontario technology firm associated with the BlackBerry device, has been selected to foster innovation within the province. He will be doing this as part of an advisory team that also features various prominent Manitoba business figures, according to a provincial announcement made via a press release on Thursday.
The innovation and productivity (or “IP”) task force will provide guidance to the NDP government on adopting new and upcoming technologies aimed at “bolstering the economy and encouraging data-driven decision-making,” according to the statement.
The organization’s responsibility encompasses developing a strategic plan anticipated to be submitted to the provincial technology minister by the end of this year.
Mike Moroz, the Minister of Innovation and New Technology, stated in the press release that his department is contemplating the adoption of artificial intelligence, formulating an intellectual property policy, and developing “sovereign cloud strategies.” These strategies aim to manage and process data within jurisdictions that offer similar protective measures as those provided in Manitoba, avoiding regions with less stringent safeguards.
Balsillie stated in the news release that there is “significant potential for Manitoba to enhance its economic resilience and prosperity” via “independent strategies spanning all sectors and industries.”
The other members of the task force announced on Thursday were:
- Adam Herstein, a partner at Pitblado Law.
- Clara Buelow, who directs marketing and communications for the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, was formerly the head of the Digital Manitoba Policy Initiative.
- Jacqueline Keena, who leads the Enterprise Machine Intelligence Learning Initiative as its managing director.
- Gerry Price, who serves as the president of Price Industries.
- Gautam Srivastava, who teaches computer science at Brandon University.
- Debra Jonasson-Young, who leads entrepreneurship initiatives as the executive director at the Asper School of Business.
- Dr. Ernest Cholakis, who established the Cholakis Dental Group.