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$11.3 B
contributed to GDP in 2024 by Alberta’s enterprise technology sector.
StatsCan, 2025
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1,300+
Calgary is home to over 1,300 core tech companies
Start Alberta
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Top 30
Calgary’s rank among North America’s best startup ecosystems
Startup Genome, 2025
Calgary’s competitive advantages
Global tech giants are learning what local startups have long known: Calgary is a place where enterprise technology companies thrive. The Blue Sky City offers a rare combination of:
- Technically skilled talent
- A critical mass of head offices and decision-makers
- A rapidly growing innovation ecosystem
Add a competitive tax structure, a friendly business environment and an enviable quality of life and it’s easy to see why people who come to Calgary for opportunities stay for everything else.
Global expansions
Local expansions
Unicorns scale in Calgary
Calgary has proven to be a place where technology companies can scale. Three unicorns—Benevity, Enverus Intelligence Research and Shareworks — have achieved unicorn status with valuations of $1 billion. Their growth from small offices to globally recognized brands is a clear indication of the health of Calgary’s $6.7 billion startup ecosystem.
That momentum continues through a growing group of Calgary-based “narwhals" — technology companies that have raised more than $10 million in capital—such as ZayZoon, OneVest, Summit Nanotech, Eavor and Entropy.
Our innovation ecosystem is built with purpose
Innovation strategy
Calgary champions a clear strategy to connect founders to concentrations of accelerators, academic institutions, funders and workspaces. Purpose-built innovation nodes across sectors help entrepreneurs move from ideas to market-ready concepts. They also explain why the majority of Alberta's 2,800 startups are headquartered here.
Grants and incentives
Beyond Calgary's built-in incentive of the lowest corporate tax rate in Canada, businesses operating from the Blue Sky City have access to a suite of incentives to support their growth. We offer one of the most comprehensive support environments in Canada, with access to:
- provincial and federal tax incentives
- growth funds
- productivity incentives
Our team can connect you to the grants and incentives you need to scale.
Our tech ecosystem
We understand how to grow and sustain regional innovation ecosystems. Several organizations exist to support and advance Calgary’s technology industry.
Find current opportunities
Tech accelerators and incubators
For startups across industries, Calgary has a critical mass of over 40 tech accelerators and incubators. Working directly with founders, these organizations connect early-stage ventures to mentors, working spaces and labs, and funders to take startups to the next level.
Find an accelerator
Education and training
Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College is the place to go for short-term upskilling and career-focused certificates. It offers a digital design diploma focused on the digital aspects of design and production. The data management and analytics post-graduate certificate covers data requirements, life cycle, modelling, and gathering and interpreting results.
InceptionU
InceptionU was created for professionals who want to learn in-demand skills across data, design, business and technology. The program combines a practical curriculum with mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and personalized career coaching.
Mount Royal University
MRU offers bachelor’s degrees in data science, computer science and computer information systems. The four-year programs offer work-integrated learning opportunities so students can complement their new knowledge with hands-on experience.
SAIT
The School for Advanced Digital Technology features a state-of-the-art cyber lab offering advanced security training. These programs are complemented by courses in data science, artificial intelligence, information technology, software development and digital media.
University of Calgary
The U of C’s tech programs include computer science and software engineering. Students in these streams mix classroom instruction, advanced research and work-integrated learning to tackle real-world challenges and advance innovative solutions.
Resources
The latest resources related to Calgary’s technology sector.
Reports
Driving Tech Forward
A review of Calgary’s unmanned and autonomous technologies––where they are now and where they’re headed.
Driving Digital Transformation (2021)
Digital transformation spending is set to grow by 13% on average across all industries in Alberta.
Why Calgary: Our Economy in Depth
Data about the city’s economy, labour market, demographics, businesses and industries.
Hiring grants
Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant
A training program where an employer applies on behalf of their present or future employees for eligible training costs.
Mitacs
A nonprofit national research organization that partners with Canadian academia, private industry and government. It provides research and training programs in fields related to industrial and social innovation.
Venture for Canada (VFC)
This national charity links interns and recent grads to paid opportunities at Canadian startups and small businesses.
News
Team Calgary partners
We’re proud to work with these organizations to create sustained economic growth for Calgary.
