G+D Ignites Secure AI Push with C$80M Montréal Hub at Mila

MONTRÉAL, QC – June 16, 2026 – In a move that reinforces Montréal’s status as a global AI powerhouse, German SecurityTech company Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has officially launched its new AI Hub, backed by a planned investment of over C$80 million (€50 million) over the next five years. Strategically located at Mila – the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute – the hub will serve as the core of G+D's Global Center of Excellence for AI, focusing on one of the most pressing challenges of our time: building secure, trustworthy artificial intelligence for critical infrastructure.

The investment is set to create approximately 60 high-skilled positions for AI specialists, researchers, and product developers, adding to the city's burgeoning tech talent pool. This commitment builds on G+D’s previous C$40 million investment in its Canadian operations over the past decade, signaling a deep and long-term strategic bet on Canada's innovation ecosystem.

A Strategic Bet on Secure AI

While AI development has captured global headlines, G+D is tackling a more foundational issue: ensuring that AI systems deployed in high-stakes environments are robust, private, and resilient. The Montréal hub's mission is to develop AI solutions for security-critical sectors, including digital authentication, cybersecurity for essential infrastructure, and secure financial transactions. This isn't about creating the next viral chatbot; it's about embedding trust into the digital backbone of society.

Initial projects already underway provide a glimpse into the hub's ambitious agenda. One team is developing AI-powered tools to detect anomalies in eSIMs, the embedded SIM cards crucial for secure connectivity in everything from smartphones to the Internet of Things (IoT). Other initiatives include advanced AI tracking and logistics solutions to secure complex supply chains and the development of a next-generation banking assistant, where fraud detection and transaction integrity are paramount.

G+D, a company with roots stretching back to 1852, brings a legacy of security expertise to the AI domain. From printing banknotes to securing digital payment networks, its business has always revolved around trust. This new initiative extends that mandate into the age of intelligent machines.

“At G+D, we see AI as a powerful driver of value creation for our customers and our business,” said Gabriel von Mitschke-Collande, Chief Digital Officer and member of the Group Management Board at G+D. “Together with Mila, we aim to build AI solutions that people can trust, because security, trust, and human benefit are not add-ons for us. They are the foundation of meaningful and sustainable innovation.”

Montréal's Magnetic Pull

The decision to anchor this global center in Montréal was no accident. The city has meticulously cultivated an AI ecosystem that is second to none, making it a magnet for international investment. The presence of Mila, the world’s largest academic research center for deep learning and home to pioneers like Yoshua Bengio, provides an unparalleled concentration of talent and intellectual capital.

This academic prowess is supercharged by robust government support. Canada's Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and the Quebec government’s own initiatives have created a fertile ground for growth. The federal government’s recent Budget 2024, which earmarked C$2 billion for a Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, further signals a national commitment to providing the resources necessary to compete on the world stage. G+D's investment is a direct validation of this strategy.

“Canada is proud to be at the forefront of AI, bringing together world-class talent with a strong foundation of trust, ethics and innovation,” said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. He noted that G+D's decision “highlights the strength and global competitiveness of Canada’s AI ecosystem” and advances the goal of using responsible AI to support critical infrastructure and drive economic growth.

Montréal’s ecosystem is a dynamic mix of academia, startups, and established tech giants. Global players like Google, Microsoft, and Meta have all set up major AI labs in the city, creating a virtuous cycle of talent attraction and innovation that benefits newcomers like G+D.

The Mila Synergy: Where Research Meets Reality

The co-location of G+D’s hub within Mila’s facilities represents a modern blueprint for academic-industrial partnership. This close physical and intellectual proximity is designed to collapse the traditional gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application. Mila’s community of over 1,500 researchers provides a direct line to the latest breakthroughs in deep learning, while G+D offers the complex, high-stakes industrial problems needed to test and refine those breakthroughs.

This symbiotic relationship accelerates the difficult process of translating theoretical concepts into secure, scalable, and commercially viable technologies. For G+D, it means direct access to a pipeline of elite talent and novel ideas. For Mila, it offers a pathway for its research to have a tangible impact on global security and a chance for its researchers to tackle real-world challenges.

“We are proud that G+D has chosen Mila to establish its new AI Hub in Canada,” said Valérie Pisano, President and CEO of Mila. “This underscores the strength of our ecosystem and Mila’s ability to bridge cutting-edge research with real-world applications in areas where security, trust, and responsibility are paramount.”

The partnership also reflects deepening ties between Canada and Germany in technology and innovation, creating a transatlantic corridor for developing secure and resilient digital solutions. As nations grapple with ensuring digital sovereignty, such international collaborations on shared values are becoming increasingly critical.

By embedding its innovation engine directly within one of the world's top research institutes, G+D is positioning itself to not only leverage existing knowledge but also to help shape the future of secure AI from the ground up. This model of deep integration is essential for tackling the complex security challenges that will define the next decade of technological transformation.