CANARIE, a vital component of Canada's digital infrastructure supporting research, education and innovation,announced that over 600 Canadian startups across a range of industries have taken advantage of its DAIR cloud service.
Cloud computing enables businesses to use virtual computing, network and data storage resources on an as-needed basis, with the flexibility to scale these resources based on their needs at any given time. This means that Canadian businesses can develop, test, and demonstrate new products and services that simulate a range of potential scenarios – like different transaction volumes or geographic variations – while experimenting with a range of development options to determine the optimal method for building and launching their cloud-based products.
"CANARIE's free cloud computing service helps small and medium-sized businesses become more innovative without incurring additional overhead costs," says the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism. "The Government of Canada is pleased to support services like DAIR, which makes it easier for Canadian businesses to bring products to market."
"Cloud technologies are disruptive to the way companies operate, and the faster Canadian businesses can adopt them into their business models, the more competitive they will be on the global stage," says Randy Jones, Senior Director, Technology Innovation at CANARIE. "With DAIR, startups can experiment and test ideas and approaches in a risk-free environment. Our aim with this service is for Canadian startups to gain the experience and knowledge they need to be in a strong position to succeed when they launch commercially."
"In addition to ensuring our data stays in Canada, DAIR offers high quality, reliable, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure that supports our team as we continue to refine our product offering," says Pat Crosscombe, Founder and CEO of BoardSpace, a developer of document and workflow solutions for boards of directors. "DAIR has been invaluable as we continue to evolve, testing integration with e-commerce platforms and refining our onboarding processes."
Other innovative Canadian startups taking advantage of the flexibility and power of the DAIR cloud include:
- Advance Property eXposure's enterprise software uses smart mobile technology to deliver to first responders, secure, digital information such as building layouts, exits, electrical shutoffs, and building contact information reliably within seconds. Information is critical for situational awareness and their solution helps responders plan their approach while on route and save precious minutes in time-sensitive situations.
- BOS Forestry develops software solutions to help manage information flow in the forestry industry – from planning the harvest, to cutting and weighing the timber, to tracking its transport to the mill, right through to sending harvest information to relevant government departments.
- Curatio has created a mobile health platform that connects individuals with chronic health issues to a circle of support, including family, friends, caregivers, and medical professionals, with a goal of better managing ongoing treatment and wellness.
- EDMS integrates dental clinic data from different dental software programs to help corporate owners manage and interpret data generated from a wide range of clinic systems. EDMS' common reporting platform supports better decision-making and forward planning.
- Identos offers a range of security infrastructure solutions for mobile applications. Identos developers were able to collaborate with early customers on product development and evolution in real time by helping these customers test their application prototypes using DAIR.
