As Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau  delivered his innovation budget Thursday, the New Brunswick government said it would spend $160 million over the next four years on innovation and R&D.

Some of the initiatives have been announced previously, such as funding for the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity. But the announcement also showed the government is proceeding with some initiatives that have only been talked about, like the idea of exploring a single, secure digital ID for each citizen.

“By helping our businesses innovate and compete globally, we will create jobs in New Brunswick,” said Premier Brian Gallant in a statement. “That is why we are making strategic investments that will foster innovation and encourage research and development activities in New Brunswick.”

Gallant, which is the minister for innovation in New Brunswick, said the plan outlines government’s coordinated, complementary effort to improve New Brunswick’s economy.

The $160 million will be invested to foster innovation through things such as:

•Implementing new enterprise resource planning.

•Providing open data.

•Investing $200,000 to encourage smart grid technology.

•Supporting startups and entrepreneurs, including investment in the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation.

•Enhancing education and research in the province’s education and post-secondary education systems.

•Building upon the research and development capacity in the province.

•Fostering innovation at a young age by continuing to support Brilliant Labs and its work with schools to encourage creativity, innovation, coding and an entrepreneurial spirit among New Brunswick youth.

•Maintaining support for research initiatives, such as work being done by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, and continuing to support research offices at post-secondary education institutions; developing and promoting innovation capacity in the school system; and supporting innovation infrastructure.

•And investing $1.9 million in the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity to research and develop cybersecurity technologies.