Ottawa — Ontario is reinforcing its standing in North America’s semiconductor industry with a major expansion by Ottawa-based Ranovus Inc., which announced a more than $100 million investment to grow its optical semiconductor manufacturing operations. The project is expected to generate 125 new high-paying jobs in the province’s capital, bolstering both local employment and Ontario’s global technology profile.
The announcement comes as geopolitical and trade tensions, including U.S. tariffs targeting Canadian industries, heighten the importance of domestic production. Ranovus’ expansion will focus on increasing capacity for advanced chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, while reshoring elements of its manufacturing that were previously outsourced abroad.
Government Support
The Ontario government has committed up to $2 million through the Invest Ontario Fund to support the project. Officials framed the investment as part of a broader effort to strengthen Ontario’s competitiveness in critical technologies.
“As global competition for next-generation technologies intensifies, Ontario’s world-class workforce, state-of-the-art research institutions and resilient business environment continue to anchor our province as a partner for success,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Our government is proud to support Ranovus in their continued expansion, which will create over a hundred new, high-value jobs across our tech corridor and prepare our province for the future of work.”
Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, underscored the province’s innovation ecosystem. “Ontario innovators are leading the way in advancing critical sectors that drive and protect our economy. Our government is proud to support Ranovus’ expanded capacity, bringing more jobs, investment, and groundbreaking discoveries to the province’s technology sector and further cementing Ontario as a global innovation leader.”
Industry Significance
Founded in 2012, Ranovus specializes in optical interconnect semiconductors, a technology that accelerates data transfer speeds while reducing energy consumption in data centres. Its solutions are integrated into global technology platforms operated by companies such as AMD, MediaTek, and Cerebras (DARPA).
The firm’s leadership in hardware production is increasingly vital as industries ranging from defence to automotive rely on AI-enabled infrastructure. By expanding in Ontario, Ranovus is positioning itself at the centre of supply chains critical to Canada’s technology future.
“At Ranovus, we’re proud to be designing and manufacturing advanced artificial intelligence solutions right here in Ontario, which relies on a world-class workforce,” said Hamid Arabzadeh, Co-Founder and CEO of Ranovus Inc. “We are grateful for the Government of Ontario’s support as we expand our operations, create good jobs and contribute to securing Canada’s leadership in the AI and quantum era.”
A “Silicon Valley of the North”
Ottawa, already home to a strong technology corridor, stands to benefit significantly from Ranovus’ expansion. Local representatives emphasized the potential for the city to strengthen its reputation as a global innovation hub.
“Ranovus is a global leader in advanced solutions that will support the next generation of AI workloads. As the only PC MPP in Ottawa, I am excited that this investment and commitment to growth will solidify our city and province as the ‘Silicon Valley of the North,’” said the Carleton MPP. “As Carleton MPP, it is also exciting because many Ranovus employees, both present and future, live in this riding.”
Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, called the move “a powerful vote of confidence in Ontario’s leadership in advanced semiconductor design and manufacturing.” He added: “By reshoring production and scaling AI-enabling technologies right here in Ottawa, Ranovus is helping to secure Ontario’s place at the forefront of global innovation. This investment reflects the strength of our economy, the resilience of our workforce, and our government’s commitment to building a future-ready tech sector.”
Ontario’s Tech Advantage
Ontario is already the second-largest technology cluster in North America, with more than 420,000 workers across 25,000 firms. Since 2018, the province has added 100,000 new jobs in the tech sector. The province also hosts nearly 1,800 AI master’s students annually and more than 1,100 graduates each year, feeding talent into a growing base of roughly 400 AI and tech companies.
Invest Ontario, the government’s agency tasked with attracting strategic investments, has announced more than $7.5 billion in commitments since its inception, creating over 9,600 jobs. Khawar Nasim, CEO of Invest Ontario, said Ranovus’ expansion “reflects the strength of our province as a destination to innovate, scale up and drive global impact.”
“We couldn’t be prouder to support a homegrown innovator like Ranovus,” Nasim said. “What they do not only plays a key role in shaping the future of AI infrastructure, but also reinforces Ontario’s leadership in critical technologies on the global stage.”
Looking Ahead
The semiconductor sector is increasingly recognized as a strategic industry globally, with governments from Washington to Brussels investing heavily in domestic chip production. Ontario’s latest move signals an intent to ensure Canada remains competitive in this arena.
By securing advanced manufacturing jobs, fostering AI-driven innovation, and reshoring production capacity, the province is positioning itself to withstand global supply chain shocks and capitalize on the demand for next-generation technologies. For Ottawa, the investment represents both economic growth and a strengthening of its role as a Canadian technology powerhouse.
