The office reflects msg's expansion into Canada and is the company's first Innovation Lab. The Lab will allow companies to prototype, design, and test innovations, including but not limited to IoT, in an environment that offers collaboration, funding mechanisms, and business and technical consulting. Some of these offerings hinge on the platform and proven methodology of msg's partner, HYVE, who has helped a wide range of world-renowned consumer brands reach innovative solutions to market challenges. Additional partners, working in the insurance space, will also play a role in the Innovation Lab, bringing many perspectives and ideas for financial services.

The office and the Lab will be led by Head of Insurance Innovation and Executive Vice President of msg global solutions Canada, Sven Roehl. "Designed as a catalyst for transforming ideas into marketable products and services, the Innovation Lab aims to develop customized and innovative solutions for financial services companies," said Roehl. "Existing customers will have the first opportunity to participate. But we see this and future labs as a big draw for any company that would like to develop ideas in an incubator setting with input from insurance subject matter experts and access to business and technology consulting."

The office will also develop business in the Canadian market, manage msg group activities for digital insurance, and support sales of msg global services and solutions in North America.

"We built a reputation on helping insurers manage finance and risk," said msg global solutions' CEO Bernhard Lang. "In the past five years we've added the user experience, e-commerce, and omni-channel piece with SAP Hybris. Now adding this approach to sustainable innovation management, we can help insurers put all the pieces together and be most competitive."

"2015 was a year of growth," notes Lang. "This is a further step in our strong growth pattern. We are putting in place systems and environments that give us future-focused ways to answer the challenges of our customers. Collaboration and co-innovation are only the beginning, and our Toronto office will be a model for this and much more."

With its Canadian office, msg global solutions currently count 19 entities in 15 countries around the globe.