Digital media innovators in the Kitchener/Waterloo-area tech community have access to a new development lab, outfitted with hardware and software from Intel and its partners.

The Intel Software and Services Group has officially opened the Intel Developer Zone, a lab for digital media developers based in the Communitech Hub in Kitchener.

Meanwhile, another new initiative at Communitech is readying ultra-small, big data-gathering satellites for launch.

The new lab provides local developers with access to Intel technology and platforms, including processors, mobile platforms, and software development products, organizers describe.

As well, Intel staff and tech reps will be on hand to interact with local developers at the lab itself, as well as through online forums and blogs.

“This lab will support innovative developers in the region by providing them with access to software developer tools, platforms, and expertise to enable the development of technology for the future,” said Graham Palmer, Canada Country Manager, Intel.

The Communitech Hub, where the Intel Developer Zone will be located, is a 44,000 ft digital media innovation centre that brings entrepreneurs, multi-national companies and academic institutions together under one roof to build global digital media companies. The Hub is home to more than 120 companies, from start-ups to multinationals.

“The Intel Developer Zone is a welcome addition to the Hub,” said Iain Klugman, President and CEO, Communitech. “We bring together technology start-ups, academics and multinationals such as Intel to boost digital media entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Communitech helps form collaborative partnership between industry, academia, not-for-profits, and government to commercialize a widening range of tech initiatives, including some related to the data services market.

This week, in fact, it is bringing together companies that work with big data to build out the region’s data services ecosystem in a program called DATA.BASE. That includes commercial satellites with global data gathering coverage, and Communitech itself is involved in developing the birds, small as they are.

Through FedDev Ontario’s Technology Development Program, Communitech Corporation is receiving a contribution of up to $6.4 million to construct two next-generation satellites, both smaller than a breadbox but packed with sensing capabilities that collect data of interest to vertical markets like security, environment, mining, oil & gas, forestry/agriculture and maritime among others.

Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy and oversees investments in support of information and communication technology development and start–up business projects in the area.

“With an increasing base of talented individuals and companies coming together in the Region of Waterloo, it is an exciting time in southern Ontario for information and communication technology developers,” Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo, said in announcing investments for a number of companies, Communitech included.

As well, through FedDev Ontario’s Prosperity Initiative, exactEarth Ltd. is receiving up to $2.49 million to upgrade its satellite data gathering and processing capabilities.

Together, the two projects will allow Communitech’ and exactEarth to work with universities and other regional high-tech companies to develop advanced data services for the new satellites in various applications across the world.

“We will be working through Communitech and its Apps Factory and with local university development teams to develop a lot of these applications that will make use of our data,” exactEarth President Peter Mabson said.

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submitted by Lee Rickwood