Carleton University is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with March Networks, a global leader in intelligent video surveillance and AI-enabled business intelligence solutions.
Headquartered in Ottawa, March Networks is a leading international video surveillance and intelligent business solutions company with regional offices across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, including key locations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. Proudly supporting Canada’s Big Five banks among major financial institutions, March Networks also serves a global roster of clients across sectors, including well-known brands like Dunkin’ Donuts, Uniqlo, transportation authorities in Los Angeles and the United Kingdom, and New York Fries.
This exciting collaboration will strengthen the Ottawa region’s tech and business talent pipeline, drive innovation in AI research and take meaningful strides to close the gender gap in STEM fields. Together, Carleton and March Networks are shaping a future where innovation is more inclusive and accessible.
“We are glad to begin this new innovative collaboration with March Networks to move forward research and development in generative AI,” said Rafik Goubran, Vice President (Research and International), Carleton University. “As a long-time Carleton supporter, we look forward to seeing the impact of our expanded collaboration on technical solutions valued by March Networks’ clients around the world.”
“This partnership with Carleton University represents the best of Canadian innovation—where academic research meets real-world industry needs. Together, we’re not just exploring the potential of generative AI in video analytics; we’re setting a new standard for how it’s tested, measured, and improved. It’s a powerful collaboration, and we’re proud to be building the future right here in Canada.”
— Peter Strom, President & CEO, March Networks
Advancing Research in Generative AI
Tapping into Carleton’s expertise in research and product development, March Networks and Carleton researchers are collaborating on cutting-edge R&D in the field of generative AI.
The research will build on March Networks’ new AI Smart Search technology—a revolutionary business solution that allows users to find critical events, objects or anomalies across thousands of video snapshots using natural language commands or image uploads. By integrating voice, text and image search, AI Smart Search is transforming how businesses approach security, operations and risk management.
Through collaborative research with March Networks, Carleton Systems & Computing Engineering researcher Nafiseh Kahani will lead the development of an automated testing framework for AI Smart Search to enhance the technology’s quality and reliability.
“Leveraging AI-powered simulation and data generation tools, the AI Smart Search testing framework will create and evaluate diverse cases that mirror real-world complexities, such as environmental factors, image quality issues and complex object interactions,” said Carleton Assistant Professor Nafiseh Kahani. “This proactive and efficient validation approach is crucial for guaranteeing the system’s robustness, accuracy, and trustworthiness—ultimately delivering a dependable solution that users can confidently rely on.”
Growing Talent and Shrinking Gaps
As part of the partnership, March Networks is investing in the next generation of leaders by expanding its longstanding philanthropic support at Carleton. Since 2017, the March Networks Scholarship in Software Engineering has rewarded outstanding academic achievement and supported students with financial need. Building on this legacy, two additional awards now support exceptional students in Computer Science and Marketing programs, broadening the impact across multiple disciplines.
March Networks is not only a longstanding employer of Carleton co-op students and new graduates but also a proud sponsor of Carleton’s Women in Engineering and IT Program (WiE&IT)—a groundbreaking initiative designed to support and inspire women pursuing careers in engineering, technology, and innovation.
Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation
This partnership comes at a milestone moment as March Networks celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 2000 by Sir Terry Matthews—renowned Welsh-Canadian entrepreneur and founder of Mitel and Newbridge Networks—March Networks emerged from Ottawa’s vibrant tech ecosystem. From its roots in Ottawa to becoming a global leader in video intelligence, March Networks continues to push the boundaries of technology, helping businesses worldwide enhance security, efficiency and profitability. This anniversary also marks a celebration of Canadian innovation, as March Networks stands at the forefront of cutting-edge technology development in Canada’s thriving AI sector.
About March Networks
March Networks® is leading the future of intelligent video, transforming enterprise video into actionable business intelligence. Globally recognized for our deep expertise in video security and data analytics, we empower organizations to enhance operational efficiency, security, and profitability. Our cloud-based, intelligent video technologies extend beyond traditional surveillance, integrating AI analytics and advanced integrations like POS systems, IoT devices, and ATMs to drive business growth and improve customer experiences. With over two decades of experience, March Networks is a trusted partner to over 1,000 financial institutions, more than 300 retailers, and over 800 commercial and industrial brands. We are committed to guiding our clients intelligently and cost-effectively through their transition to cloud-based enterprise video. Our extensive network of over 800 certified partners ensures adaptability to a myriad of business needs, integrating with a wide range of third-party cameras and systems.
With global reach, local support, and a dedication to customer service, we ensure seamless operation, maintenance, and optimization of systems for customers in over 70 countries. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and owned by Delta, a global leader in power and thermal management solutions, March Networks stands as a trusted partner and innovative leader in the intelligent video sector. For more information, please visit marchnetworks.com.