Cisco establishes university-based research chairs to pursue innovative mining solutions and further e-governance in Canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 20, 2012 2012-11-10-ENG Cisco Canada, together with the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and the University of Regina, today announced the establishment of research chairs at both universities. Cisco is providing each university with a $2-million contribution over 10 years.

At the U of S, the Cisco Research Chair in Mining Solutions will be created. The primary role of the chair will be to promote, support, and lead research, development and innovation at the U of S through industry-linked projects within the mining sector in Canada. The chair holder will be a part of the university's College of Engineering.
"We are thrilled with this investment from Cisco," said U of S President Ilene Busch-Vishniac. "As one of the leading research-intensive universities in Canada, we are continually looking to undertake new research opportunities. The work of these chair holders will undoubtedly produce positive effects not only for our universities, but also for our province."
The chair will engage in activities directed at advanced technologies and strategies that will involve research, development and innovation in the use of transformational business architectures, technologies and solutions for the mining industry. This type of research could be extremely useful in day-to-day mining operations for communication within the mines themselves, or in emergency situations when the use of sensors on human workers could track their health and location within the mine.
"Saskatchewan already has a vast tradition of leadership in energy research along with a large and prosperous mining industry," noted Nitin Kawale, president, Cisco Canada. "There is a great opportunity for the mining industry to be even more productive by exploring the potential afforded by technologies such as networking and communications. This agreement will not only help to position the University of Saskatchewan as one of the world's premier institutes of higher learning, it will also help to expand the Saskatchewan economy, and Canada's, by promoting, co-ordinating and implementing policies, strategies and programs that encourage sustainable economic growth."
Cisco also committed to creating a chair in e-governance to look at ways for governments to more effectively use the newest technologies. The chair holder will be located within the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Regina. Recognized as a provincial centre for advanced education, research and training in policy and administration, the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School is a joint initiative of the U of S and the University of Regina.
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco products and services are supplied in Canada by Cisco Systems Canada Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc. For ongoing news, please go to newsroom.cisco.com/canada
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For more information, contact:
Jessica Elfar
Development Communications Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2718
jessica.elfar@usask.ca
Karin Scott
Cisco
(416) 306-7164
kariscot@cisco.com
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