CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the world’s largest business and IT consulting firms in the UK, is pleased to announce Heriot-Watt University as the latest organisation to join its SEEDS (Sustainability Exploration and Environmental Data Science) research programme, supported by the United Nations (UN). This collaboration will spearhead ground-breaking research and solutions in tackling climate change, social inequality, and environmental degradation.
The partnership will leverage the strengths and expertise of Heriot-Watt’s four global research institutes — iNetZ+, The Lyell Centre, The National Robotarium, and Health and Care Technologies — spread across five campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai, and Malaysia. Together, CGI and Heriot-Watt will collaborate to deliver innovative solutions spanning the depths of the ocean, to the frontiers of outer space.
With a focus on promoting a just energy transition, where a healthy economy and a clean environment can and should co-exist, the collaboration aims to pioneer advancements in carbon capture and storage (CSS), sustainable materials, and alternative fuels. These initiatives will play a critical role in supporting the UN’s global climate goals and improving the quality of life around the world.
Mattie Yeta, Chief Sustainability Officer for CGI in the UK, said: “I am delighted to welcome Heriot-Watt University into CGI’s SEEDS programme. SEEDS is an exciting UN-backed initiative which is fundamentally committed to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. In joining, Heriot-Watt is bringing a huge depth of academic excellence in research and development, which, combined with our IT and business services expertise, will successfully challenge current thinking and practice around sustainability. This will in turn unlock new ways of driving transformational change in key global industries and sectors such as health, transport, logistics and brewing and distilling.”
David Richardson, Chief Entrepreneurial Executive for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said: “Both CGI and Heriot-Watt University have a significant presence across the world. In the case of Heriot-Watt, we have five campuses in three countries and our global network provides huge and innovative opportunities for businesses to collaborate with academia. We believe through this Memorandum of Understanding, and by joining SEEDS, CGI will help us utilise our strengths using new technologies at these campuses to drive largerscale innovation in complex areas such as the energy transition. These innovations will not only support the UN’s global agendas for climate change but also help improve the lives of citizens locally, nationally and internationally."
For more information on CGI, please go to www.cgi.com/uk
For more information on Heriot-Watt University, please go to: https://www.hw.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 90,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organisations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2023 reported revenue is CA$14.30 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com.
About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a global research-led university based in the UK, with five campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. Around 27,000 students from 154 countries are currently studying with us. We have 159,000 alumni in 190 countries. We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social, sports, environmental and life sciences subjects which make a real impact on the world and society. Heriot-Watt was founded in Edinburgh in 1821 as the world’s first mechanics institute. In 1966, it became a university by Royal Charter. The university is named after 18th century Scottish engineer and inventor James Watt and 16th century Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot. 86.8% of Heriot-Watt’s research is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 – the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers.
For more information:
Paul Butler
External Communications Manager
p.butler@cgi.com
+44 (0)7920 784199
