The inaugural Canada’s Innovation Future event, held on November 5 at the CIGI campus in Waterloo, brought together 150 business leaders, technology experts, startups, academics, and policymakers to explore the intersection of technology, regulation, and sustainability. Co-organized by OVHcloud and the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA), the event highlighted the vibrant ecosystem OVHcloud has fostered since opening its Cambridge data center in March 2024. Marking the first Canadian visit by newly appointed OVHcloud CEO Benjamin Revcolevschi, it provided a significant opportunity to reinforce OVHcloud’s commitment to trust and transparency in the digital space.

In a packed auditorium, Aron Shull, Managing Director at CIGI, set the stage by emphasizing the complexity of maintaining control over one's digital assets: “data sovereignty is not just a technical issue but a deeply geopolitical one". This remark underscored the growing importance of ensuring that nations and organizations have the tools and policies needed to safeguard their data from external influence and control.

In her opening remarks, Estelle Azemard, VP Americas at OVHcloud, reinforced the company’s commitment to trusted and sustainable cloud solutions, stating: “We are the only hyperscaler able to guarantee our customers that their data will stay their data, in a 100% no-lock-in environment.”

Jim Balsillie, former co-CEO of BlackBerry and founder of CIGI and BSIA, also stressed the strategic importance of digital sovereignty in his remarks: “Sovereign cloud and compute solutions are essential for controlling how our data is stored, managed, and protected, ensuring businesses can innovate free from foreign regulations or external risks.”

Building on the importance of digital sovereignty, the conversation turned to the critical role of infrastructure investments in supporting Canada’s technological growth and economic opportunities. Alexandra Dostal, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategy and Innovation Policy at Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, highlighted the pivotal role of cloud computing in Canada’s tech ecosystem: “Having companies such as OVHcloud make investments to build data infrastructure in Canada is critical to drive economic opportunity, especially in an innovative tech hub like the Waterloo region.”

This vibrant ecosystem, rich in talent and innovation, reflects OVHcloud’s strategic decision to establish its presence in the region, leveraging local expertise to target both the thriving tech sector and corporate market segments. Effie Triantafilopoulos, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, celebrated Ontario’s global tech prominence: “Ontario has become one of the world’s largest and most sought-after tech hubs, with over 400 AI and related tech companies generating more than 85,000 high-paying jobs.”

Benjamin Revcolevschi, OVHcloud CEO, announced a partnership with the Balsillie School of International Affairs, aimed at fostering deeper collaboration between academia and industry to advance digital sovereignty and sustainable technology. “This partnership aligns with OVHcloud’s core values of innovation, trust, and sustainability, and will foster meaningful discussions to shape a future defined by technological freedom and responsibility,” he said.

A multipolar tech landscape

A panel discussion, moderated by Ann Fitz-Gerald, Director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs, explored Canada’s unique opportunity to shape the global tech narrative amidst the dominance of U.S. and Chinese models. The conversation focused on balancing innovation, data sovereignty, and sustainability in a multipolar tech environment.

Participating in the panel discussion, Benjamin Revcolevschi emphasized Canada’s unique opportunity to collaborate with Europe in crafting a new approach to building a trusted digital future: “They can work together to establish an alternative technological model that prioritizes sovereignty and freedom while fostering innovation.”

Building on the call for proactive policymaking, the discussion shifted to the nuanced challenges of balancing digital sovereignty with economic growth and global cooperation. Vass Bednar, Executive Director of McMaster University's Master of Public Policy program, added: “Markets are made and remade all the time. We need to challenge assumptions about what infrastructure is necessary and how the state can actively foster innovation.”

Matt Malone, Balsillie Scholar and Incoming Director of CIPPIC at the University of Ottawa, pointed out the complex trade-offs involved in defining Canada's digital sovereignty while ensuring economic growth and international cooperation: “Canada is caught between U.S. and European approaches to data protection. We must decide whether to prioritize localization for privacy or navigate the trade-offs of global interoperability.”

In his closing remarks, French Ambassador Michel Miraillet reiterated the shared responsibility of nations like France and Canada to chart a new course: “The challenge for France and Canada is to envision an alternative model—one that balances governments’ roles in setting rules and standards with enhanced private investment.” He highlighted opportunities such as the AI Action Summit in France and Canada’s G7 presidency to create frameworks prioritizing transparency, trust, and sustainability.

The event concluded with a networking reception and lunch, celebrating the local ecosystem’s contributions to OVHcloud’s journey in Ontario. Estelle Azemard thanked key supporters, including Mayor Jan Liggett, Tony La Mantia, CEO of Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation, and Estelle Chen, President of La French Tech Toronto. She highlighted the transformative potential of OVHcloud’s Cambridge data center: “Our new Cambridge data center is not just a facility; it’s a gateway to performance and green innovation, enabling tech companies and organizations to stay at the forefront of digital transformation in a trusted environment."