Canon Australia to close its R&D operations

Canon has finally confirmed it will shut down its Australian research and development operations.

CRN sibling publication iTnews reported last month that 40 roles at Canon Information Systems Research Australia (CiSRA) had been made redundant, continuing the long-term decline in the number of researchers employed there.

The company said last Friday that it had made the call to shut CiSRA altogether.

“Since its establishment in 1990 against the backdrop of growing digitalisation needs, CiSRA has been carrying out research and development for digital imaging technology and related applications and solutions for Canon products,” Canon said.

“However, in the face of such changes in the business environment as maturing markets and the rapidly accelerating pace of technological innovation, Canon has determined that CiSRA has fulfilled its original purpose.

“As a result, all development-related CiSRA operations will be concluded by mid-April, after which Canon will begin procedures for the company's closure.”

iTnews understands 35 people still employed by CiSRA will be made redundant due to the closure.

CiSRA is one of seven R&D centres operated by Canon globally. At its peak, CiSRA employed 350 people.

It has faced a long-term decline in work from its Japanese parent Canon. Most recently, it has been working on machine learning and intelligent vision research.