Guests at the Kanata North Business Association’s AGM meeting in January received an exciting introduction to Hub350 – the KNBAs newest innovation space in the heart of the technology park.
Located on the ground floor of 350 Legget Dr., the hub will be a meeting place for industry leaders, academia and finance professionals to collaborate on projects – offering member companies unparalleled access to the connections and funds they need to get projects off the ground. The KNBA says the first phase of the new workspace will open in summer 2021.
“The Hub350 space will be the truest intersection of nature and technology – a trendy, natural atmosphere to attract world-class talent and companies, while showcasing Kanata North as Canada’s destination to live, work, play and learn,” said KNBA executive director Jamie Petten.
Deemed to be the “gateway to Canada’s largest technology park,” the Hub350 space is the latest step in Kanata North’s special economic zone development project, a city designation that would bring relaxed planning policies to the area, making it easier for the community to grow and evolve more quickly, nimbly and efficiently.
Steve Willis, the city’s general manager of planning, infrastructure and economic development, said the special economic zone designation would recognize Kanata North as a significant contributor to Ottawa’s economy, and further allow businesses to rezone and diversify their land use.
Speaking at the AGM, Willis also hinted at the autonomous vehicles feasibility study the city is conducting with Kanata North, which is exploring the possibility of connecting the tech park to other vital areas of the city via an autonomous public transit system. While there is no definitive conclusion to the study yet, Willis said the city is still exploring what the system would look like and how the facilities would operate using autonomous technology.