Ericsson Canada gives $300,000

A reception was held February 2 to celebrate the growing friendship between Concordia's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science and Ericsson Canada Inc.

The communications multinational announced a $140,000 gift to Concordia's Campaign for a New Millennium, which will be used primarily to set up new software engineering laboratories. Seen in the photo in one of the labs are, left to right, Provost and Vice-Rector Research Jack Lightstone, Dean of Engineering and Computer Science Nabil Esmail, chair of the board of Ericsson Canada Lionel P. Hurtubise, and Concordia Rector Frederick Lowy.

This donation builds on a $120,000 grant Ericsson gave the Faculty for Professor Tho Le Ngoc's research projects in wireless technology, and a $40,000 contribution to support and develop the program.

In return, Ericsson looks forward to recruiting freshly minted engineers capable of operating and developing the complex programs that run their wireless-communications systems. Ericsson employs about 1,300 engineers and computer sicence professionals in Montreal, and has made a major expansion of its local facilities to accommodate their growing operations here.

After the reception, Ericsson executives were taken to see the Software Engineering Laboratory in Room 905 of the Henry F. Hall Building, which has been equipped with computers and was being actively used by students. Outside the door is a plaque acknowledging Ericsson's contribution.