Google's philanthropic arm funds Quebec's IMC2 for cybersecurity research and introduces a French cybersecurity course. (IT World Canada)
Google's philanthropic division, Google.org, is allocating a substantial grant of $1.3 million to bolster cybersecurity research at the Multidisciplinary Institute for Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience (IMC2) in Quebec. This financial support aims to aid the institute's exploration of the escalating global cyber threats.
IMC2, a collaboration involving Polytechnique Montréal, the University of Montreal, and HEC Montréal, is at the forefront of this cybersecurity initiative. Google.org's mission is to back nonprofits and social enterprises with the potential to bring about meaningful societal changes.
In conjunction with this grant, Google Canada is set to launch the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, an online program under the Grow with Google umbrella. This course, conducted in French, is designed to equip learners with the skills required for entry-level positions in cybersecurity within a concise timeframe of less than six months.
To further democratize access to this certificate, Google Canada will partner with non-profit organizations, including CyberQuebec, Hackfest, Cybereco, Canada Learning Code, and ComIT, to provide scholarships to underserved communities and their networks. This strategic move is intended to enable a more diverse group of individuals to benefit from the cybersecurity education offered by Google.
Graduates from the Google Career Certificates program, of which the cybersecurity course is a part, gain access to a consortium of employers. This consortium includes reputable companies such as Bell, Shopify, Publicis Groupe, and Unilever, actively considering program alumni for relevant job openings. In Canada alone, Google reports that more than 19,000 individuals have successfully completed the Google Career Certificates program.
“The grant from Google.org empowers IMC2 to drive cybersecurity initiatives which are essential for our vision of a cyber-resilient society,” remarked Marc Gervais, the executive director of the institute.
Gervais emphasized that the project focuses on four pivotal areas: cultivating a cyber-aware and cyber-responsible society, establishing a secure platform for researchers to share and leverage cybersecurity data, aligning cyber initiatives with the creation of an environmentally friendly future, and fostering economic growth and employment opportunities in Québec and Canada by supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in cybersecurity ventures.
This multifaceted approach underscores the institute's commitment to addressing not only immediate cybersecurity concerns but also contributing to broader societal goals.
