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Ottawa, ON – October 9, 2025 – The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) and Solace have announced a partnership to invest in Canada’s future digital infrastructure talent, equipping the country with the specialized workforce required to power sovereign artificial intelligence (AI), cloud services, and the real-time data economy.
As the enterprise integration platform for agentic AI, Solace enables the real-time flow of events data – be it an online purchase, a package that was just shipped, or a sensor reporting a temperature change – connecting systems across cloud, edge and on-premises environments so they can automatically react to things as they happen. This capability is essential for advanced agentic AI systems, which rely on immediate data movement to function effectively.
Canada’s leadership in artificial intelligence depends on the strength of its digital infrastructure and the people who design, manage, and scale it. Yet demand for digital infrastructure professionals is outpacing supply, creating critical bottlenecks for businesses and innovators. ICTC research highlights the need to expand, reskill, and upskill this workforce to close labour shortages, maintain competitiveness, and ensure Canada can fully capitalize on opportunities in AI and other advanced technologies. Without a robust pipeline of infrastructure talent, Canada risks productivity slowdowns, increased costs, and missed opportunities in commercialization and global leadership.
ICTC and Solace have already provided over 140 student work placements since 2022, preparing young professionals with skills in systems engineering, cloud infrastructure, and AI application development. Building on this success, the partnership will now see an additional 75 post-secondary students gain invaluable experience at Solace over the next year through ICTC’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program. Far more than traditional placements, these opportunities allow students to directly contribute to the systems that underpin Canada’s AI strategy and digital economy. They will acquire in-demand skills in data streaming, systems engineering, and infrastructure security, strengthening Canada’s long-term innovation and commercialization capacity.
Canada’s digital future will be shaped by the strength of its talent,” said Namir Anani, President & CEO of ICTC. “This partnership with Solace is a powerful step toward ensuring our students gain hands-on experience with world-class digital infrastructure technologies, while Canadian businesses access the skills they need to compete globally. Together, we are building the talent pipeline that will drive innovation, resilience, and prosperity in the digital economy.”
Canada’s AI leadership depends on more than just cutting-edge technology, it depends on people. At Solace, we’re proud to work with ICTC to give students hands-on experience with the digital infrastructure that powers intelligent AI applications,” added Sherrie Seward, Chief People Officer at Solace. “These placements are learning opportunities that cannot be replicated in the classroom, giving our future workforce the chance to help shape the systems that will drive Canada’s innovation economy for years to come.”
About the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a neutral, not-for-profit national centre of expertise with the mission of strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in the global economy. For over 30 years, ICTC has delivered forward-looking research, practical policy advice, and capacity-building solutions for individuals and businesses. The organization’s goal is to ensure that technology is utilized to drive economic growth and innovation and that Canada’s workforce remains competitive on a global scale.
About Solace
Solace helps enterprises adopt AI by enabling real-time, event-driven data integration across their entire business. Built on a modern event-driven architecture, Solace Platform connects systems, applications, and AI agents with the data they need — securely, seamlessly, and at scale. Established enterprises worldwide – including RBC Capital Markets, Heineken, PSA Singapore and Schwarz Group – trust Solace to enable time-sensitive applications and processes; modernize their application and integration landscape; and create seamless digital experiences for their customers, partners and employees. Learn more at solace.com.
Media Contacts:
● For ICTC: media@ictc-ctic.ca
● For Solace: David DeRosa, david.derosa@solace.com