TECHNOLOGy
BUSINESS EVENTS LEVERAGING ECONOMIC STRENGTHS TO MEET A nation of innovators WITH PURPOSE IN CANADA businesseventscanada.ca
#meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 1 OPEN UP TO A CANADA IN FOCUS HOST OF NEW CONNECTIONS
MILLION 37.5TOTAL POPULATION → DISCOVER CANADA FOR BUSINESS EVENTS CANADA With world-class expertise across a RANKS 1ST IN Business events play a crucial role in spectrum of innovation industries, Canadian economic growth. When destinations tech hubs are a natural draw for conferences THE G7 FOR focus on their intellectual assets in a particular industry or sphere, they can across a wide range of sub-sectors. When MILLION combined with Canada’s vast landscapes, 19.1TOTAL WORKFORCE help local industries accelerate ahead of those in other communities to become diverse cities and culture, dynamic culinary and DEMOCRACY leaders in their field. By aligning our nightlife experiences, and unique opportunities strategies with Canada’s leading innovation to explore groundbreaking ideas, it’s easy to , we are creating a thoughtful, community- industries understand why organizations the world over are based approach to business event attraction that unites choosing Canadian locations to host their global MILLION tourism, industry, academia, government and economic 1.3BUSINESSES development agencies, lifting up culture, art, community tech events. QUALITY confidence and pride, and ultimately, innovation." OF LIFE — Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, Executive Director, Canadian trailblazers in a host of emerging $ Destination Canada Business Events technologies are shaping the future of work, health care, culture and society. When TRILLION conference-goers meet in our tech hubs, they TOTAL2.0 GDP There is no substitute for the creativity can tap into Canada’s brain trust, connect and energy that ignites when groups with some of our brightest minds and thought of like-minded people come together Source: 2019 Statistics Canada Source: 2020 Best Countries rankings leaders, and explore Canadian technologies in the same place. When organizations powering the future during tech festivals, B2B choose to host their event in one of Canada’s centres of excellence they exchanges, technical tours and more. And when not only gain access to some of the top performers are recognized and rewarded → Destination Canada’s Business Events world’s safest, greenest, creative, culturally with Canada’s unparalleled destinations and team is charged with growing Canada’s share diverse and dynamic destinations, but they gain access distinctive experiences, they’ll return home of international business events by promoting to their industry’s thought leaders and innovators. refreshed and inspired, ready to perform. the country’s unique meeting, convention and These opportunities not only promote the transfer of incentive event possibilities. knowledge, but they can lead to future collaboration, talent attraction, R&D partnerships, trade, Isn’t it time for you to meet with purpose in investment and future leisure travellers. Such is the Canada? Connect with us to learn how. power of business events as a catalyst for economic nourishment, and social and cultural change." → [email protected] — Virginie De Visscher, Senior Director of Business Development, Economic Sectors, Destination Canada Business Events Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash Christina @ wocintechchat.com by Photo
2 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 3 ICTREVENUES BY Canada is a very strategic marketplace for Oracle and we SUB-SECTOR, 2018 2.2% $89.4B % % 4.7 4.5 Sector’s contribution to Canada’s GDP are3.4 %excited to continue to invest in the country. 18.5 % 29.2% Source: Quarterly Monitor, Information and 38.6% 23.8% Communications Technology Council, 2019 Q2 - Rich Geraffo, Executive Vice-President, North American Technology Division, Oracle
$193B NOTABLE RECENT INVESTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS 18.5 % 15.7 % • HSBC (UK) has opened its Global Data & • Accenture (Ireland) has opened a new 32.8% 89.8% 18.2 % 1.49M Innovation Lab in Toronto, employing over 50 innovation hub in Toronto, also adding 800 Jobs in Canada’s digital economy ICT Manufacturing Communications Svcs people in AI-related roles. technology jobs in 2020 and expanding Source: Monthly Snapshot, Information and ICT Wholesaling Software/Computer Svcs Communications Technology Council, February 2020 its apprenticeship program to help under- • Samsung Electronics (South Korea) represented communities. COMPANIES BY announced the expansion of the Samsung ICT SUB-SECTOR, 2018 Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) • Amazon (USA) has expanded its tech hub 2.2% artificial intelligence (AI) Lab Montreal. in Toronto, expecting to create 600 jobs in 4.7% 4.5% 41,500+ 3.4% software development, machine learning, 18.5 % • 29 Ericsson.2% (Sweden) announced the creation cloud computing, digital advertising and Companies in Canada 38.6% 23.8% of a Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator artificial intelligence. Source: 2018 Canadian ICT Sector Profile, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 41.5K+ (GAIA) innovation hub in Montreal. COMPANIES • Fujitsu (Japan) has founded a new 18.5 % • Facebook (USA) expanded its Montreal AI subsidiary in Vancouver, Fujitsu Intelligence 15.7 % lab, doubling its researchers in a facility of up Technology, focusing on developing artificial 32.8% 89.8% 18.2 % INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS to 60 people. intelligence products and services. #1 ICT Manufacturing Communications Svcs In the world in quantum computing science ICT Wholesaling Software/Computer Svcs • Amazon Web Services (USA) has opened • LG Electronics (South Korea) in partnership Source: Economic impact of quantum technologies 2019, a 13,000 sq. ft. office in Winnipeg for AWS with the University of Toronto has opened National Research Council CanadaICT EXPORTS OF GOODS Thinkbox, a cloud computing company a research centre in Toronto for the TECHNOLOGY % 2.2 BY PRODUCT GROUP, 2018 providing services for entertainment, development of AI technologies. 4.7% 4.5% 3.4% architecture and engineering industries. 18.5 % 29.2% IN CANADA 38.6% 23.8% Information and Communications Technology is among Canada’s fastest-growing $11.3B Two years after the Global Skills Strategy was introduced, close to 40,000 18.5 % economic sectors. 15.7 % people have come to Canada under the program, including almost 24,000 32.8% 89.8% 18.2 % highly skilled workers in occupations such as computer programming, Information and Communications Technology—or ICT—encompasses Canada has 41,500-plus companies in the sector, with 90% in Computer Equipment technologies found everywhere: software and computer services; Software & Computer Services (2018 numbers). Audio-Video & Other ICT Goods information system analysis and software engineering. telecommunications and mobile; artificial intelligence; quantum Electronic Components Wireless Communications Equipment Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2019 computing; big data and analytics; cybersecurity; cloud; blockchain; These same 2018 numbers show Canada’s ICT workforce at 652,450, Wired Communications Equipment photonics; the Internet of Things; augmented and virtual reality. of which 55% have a university degree, with the average salary just under $78,000, 49% higher than the Canadian average. Basically, if it involves capturing, transmitting or displaying data and information electronically, that’s Information and Communications NOTABLE FORTUNE GLOBAL 500 TECH COMPANIES About 78% of ICT products manufactured in Canada were exported OPERATING IN CANADA Technology. in 2018, increasing by 1.3% to $11.3 billion.
HERE ARE SEVERAL HIGHLIGHTS: And, in terms of research and development, the sector hit $6.2 billion in 2018, reflecting 34.5% of all private sector R&D expenditures in Canada. As recently as 2018, Canada’s ICT sector has outperformed the overall CONTACT Canadian economy in not only output, but also employment and Invest in Canada promotes, facilitates and Of the world’s top 10 largest tech companies, nine have Canadian innovation growth. accelerates foreign direct investment (FDI) headquarters in the Greater Toronto Area; one is located in Montreal. into Canada. It is the global investor’s primary Touching practically everything in our technological lives, the sector point of contact. Reach out to speak with a contributed $89.4 billion to Canada’s GDP (as of Q2 2019). dedicated advisor. [email protected] | www.investcanada.ca
Data last updated April 15th 2020, provided by Invest in Canada.
@Invest@Invest@I_Cnvest@Ianada@I_Cnvestnvestanada@I_C anadanvest_C_Canadaanada_CanadaInvestInv estInvin CInv estinanadaInv estC inanadaestInv Cinanada estin C anadaC inanada Canada@in@invcan@invcada@inanvc@inadaanvc@invcadaan#anadaInvc ada#vesanInada#vestinCIn#vestinCInanada#InvestinCanadaves#tinCInanadatinCvesanadatinCanadainvestcanada.caanada investcanada.cainvestcanada.cainvestcanada.cainvestcanada.cainvestcanada.ca 4 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada @Inves@Inves@Itirnves@I_Cati@Invesr_Cananvesti@Irda_Canatinvesrti_Cadanar_Catidanar_CanadadaInvnaestir daInvestirInv aInvuestir InvCaaestirunada estirCaInvau nada aestirCau a uCanada Caanadaunada Ca@in nada @invcan@in vcada@inanvc@inadaanvc@invcadaan#anadaInvcada#vesanInada#vestirInau#vestiIn#rCaauInvestinaves#rCaautiIndarnativesCaaurdaauCanatiCardanainvestircanada.caaunadCainvestircanada.caadanainvestircanada.cadainvestircanada.cainvestircanada.cainvestircanada.ca CANADA'S TECHNOLOGY CENTRES TORONTO OTTAWA MONTRÉAL • AI/ML • AI/ML • AI EDMONTON • Communications • Connective autonomous • Cybersecurity technology vehicles technology • Data centres • AI/machine learning (ML) • Cybersecurity • Communications • Digital entertainment & • Big data • Digital entertainment & technology interactive gaming • Digital entertainment & interactive interactive gaming • Cybersecurity • Esports gaming • Fintech • Digital entertainment & • VFX & animation interactive gaming YUKON • Nanotechnologies • Mobile apps • SaaS • SaaS • Govtech VICTORIA NORTHWEST • Telecommunications & wireless tech • Next-generation networks (NGN) & 5G • Big data TERRITORIES • Photonics • Fintech HALIFAX • SaaS • IoT NUNAVUT CALGARY • Cybersecurity • Software as a Service • Data analytics (SaaS) • AI • Digital entertainment & • Communications technology interactive gaming • Digital media & gaming BRITISH • SaaS • Geomatics & autonomous COLUMBIA technologies • IoT • SaaS HUDSON BAY QUÉBEC CITY ALBERTA NEWFOUNDLAND • Applied AI AND LABRADOR SASKATCHEWAN WATERLOO • Cybersecurity • Data centres • AI • Insurtech MANITOBA • Autotech • Interactive • Cybersecurity entertainment • Fintech • Optics/photonics/ • Quantum technology QUEBEC non-destructive testing (NDT) KELOWNA VANCOUVER • VFX & animation ONTARIO • AI • Animation • Cybersecurity • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming • E-commerce • Esports WINNIPEG • Fintech • SaaS • Data centres THE MARITIMES SASKATOON • Web & social media technologies • Digital media & PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND interactive entertainment NOVA SCOTIA • Visual effects (VFX) & animation • Animation NEW BRUNSWICK • E-commerce • VR/AR • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming • Insurtech • Enterprise software • SaaS
6 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 7 SUPERCLUSTERS
When small-, medium- and large-sized companies, academic institutions and non-profit organizations come together to CANADA’S DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY 680 MEMBER generate bold ideas, regional innovation SUPERCLUSTER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING: systems are transformed. Based in Vancouver, the Digital • BCIT Technology Supercluster is a • Canfor Harnessing the power of collaborative R&D, cross-industry collaboration • Dwave of diverse health-care, a $950M investment by the Government • DNAStack communications, natural of Canada matched by the private sector resources, technology and • Genome BC unlocks the power of data-driven innovation transportation businesses who • Finger Food Advanced across a spectrum of industries that co-invest in ambitious, business- Technology Group make up Canada’s five superclusters: led R&D projects focused • Food X digital technologies, protein industries, on transformational digital • Microsoft technologies to solve some of advanced manufacturing, artificial • Telus industry’s and society’s biggest intelligence and blue ocean science. problems. • Thrive Health • University of British Columbia • University of Victoria
AI-POWERED SUPPLY CHAINS (SCALE AI) AMONG THE 110+ PARTICIPATING A consortium of private entities, ORGANIZATIONS: research centres, academia • Air Canada and high-potential startups, • COVEO the Montréal-based Scale AI supercluster is the central pillar • Creative Destruction Lab of Canada’s AI ecosystem • Element AI which identifies cross-sector • Majik Systems collaborative projects, and • McGill University provides funding and expert Mindbridge guidance to strengthen and • improve the productivity of supply • Shopify chains through the integration and • University of Alberta responsible use of AI.
VR/AR Association Vancouver
8 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 9 SUB-SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
ARVR Association Vancouver
1. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 2. DIGITAL MEDIA & INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Hotspots: Vancouver, Calgary, CANADIAN PIONEERS: SUCCESS STORIES Hotspots: Vancouver, Kelowna, SUCCESS STORIES Edmonton, Waterloo Region, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal, Toronto: Deep learning led by Montréal is home to SCALE AI, Canada’s AI supply chain supercluster HomeCanada to the world's 3rd largest With more than 230 immersive technology companies in 2019, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City nd Geoffrey Hinton and the International Centre of Expertise in Montréal for the Vancouver is home to the world’s 2 largest VR/AR sector and the Québec City digital games industry Advancement of AI. largest cluster of the world’s top VFX and animation studios. Montréal: Machine learning led Source: www.bcbusiness.ca/New-report-reveals-a-growing-and-diverse-VRAR-ecosystem-in-BC- Source: www.montrealinternational.com MAJOR PLAYERS by Yoshua Bengio but-challenges-loom and Vancouver Economic Commission/VFX Edmonton is a core member of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy thanks 40,600 th st CANADA IS AT THE Edmonton: Reinforcement to expertise from the University of Alberta and the Alberta Machine Skilled workers Montréal is the world’s 5 largest video game hub, 1 in Canada, and is CUTTING EDGE OF R&D Intelligence Institute (Amii). a world leader in VFX and animation. learning led by Richard Sutton Source: Video Entertainment Association of Source: www.montrealinternational.com/en/keysectors/video-games Montréal’s Element AI, Canada White Whale is a data technology company building AI Toronto’s Vector Institute Calgary’s analytics solutions that empowers businesses to make sound, data- In Halifax, aerospace and defence organizations are leveraging and Edmonton’s Alberta driven decisions. Its flagship solution, DeepSea, is used in several local gaming and simulation technologies to develop various training Machine Intelligence industries including energy, health and wellness, aviation, defence and scenarios. Institute are magnets for the 596 professional sports. Studios world’s top talent. Montréal hosts a number of major esports events each year, such as Source: Video Entertainment Association of Montréal startups Hexoskin and Hykso have made a name for Canada Six Invitational – Rainbow Six and Red Bull player one. The city’s Esports themselves in biometric clothing and wearable technology. Many Central Arena, Canada’s first esports entertainment complex, is a Olympic boxers and professional MMA fighters are getting real-time multifunctional gaming attraction for both amateurs and pros. data via Hykso punch trackers. During the Rio 2016 Olympics, various CONFERENCES Vancouver-based Biba's free mobile games work with any athletes sported Hexoskin Smart Shirt tech wearables. playground to turn screen time into healthy, imaginative outdoor play for The True North Tech for World Summit AI Americas In Toronto, researchers with Uber Technologies Advanced the entire family. Now available at 4,500 sites in ten countries around Good™ conference brings the is an exclusive gathering of the Technologies Group Research and Development Centre are conducting the world, with more than 1000 participating cities, in 2019. biggest minds in tech together major global influencers in AI research in autonomous technology alongside some of the top Source: Vancouver VR/AR report 2020 to discuss the implications of across business, science and universities of Canada. CONFERENCES innovation and the importance tech for two full days of mind- Squeeze, the Québec City-based animation studio, has been given the nod to create five episodes of "What If...?", a brand-new animated of ensuring that technology is boggling innovation, heated The Waterloo Region is ranked #2 in Canada for AI research and is The annual VR/AR Global The largest B2B2C event in series from streaming platform Disney+. guided by ethos above all else. discussions on AI policy, home to Canada’s largest robotics and automation cluster and 150 Summit brings together Canada, MEGA+MIGS brings ethics and regulation, applied research centres, including the largest concentration of math and 2019 the best knowledge and together hundreds of video Calgary is the birthplace of stock photography. Image Club Graphics, solutions for enterprise, computer science talent in the world. Waterloo Region, Ontario networking for enterprise, game creators from around the Veer, iStockPhoto, Dissolved and Eyewire were all founded here. hands-on workshops and Source: Waterloo fact sheet provided by destination hardware, software and world to meet thousands of the development of plans for content providers. visitors in Montréal. Montréal’s Felix & Paul Studios is an EMMY®Award-winning advancing the application of AI INTERNATIONAL AI COMPANIES IN CANADA: immersive entertainment studio creating unparalleled virtual reality, 2018, 2019 Annual for Good in the coming year. Vancouver, British Columbia Montréal, Quebec augmented reality and mixed reality experiences for audiences 2019, 2021 worldwide. Montréal, Quebec
10 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 11 Photo by Soumil Kumar from Pexels Soumil from by Kumar Photo Pexels Sayles from Brett by Photo
3. CYBERSECURITY 4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
As part of its new National Cyber Security SUCCESS STORIES Hotspots: Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Québec City Strategy, Canada is committing to invest Canada is the 5th largest cybersecurity innovation hub in the world by venture capital deals over five years. (2015-2018). SUCCESS STORIES Source:$507M IiC CONFERENCES The Canadian cybersecurity industry contributed has been ranked as the most innovative cybersecurity company over $2.3B in GDP and 22,500 jobs to the Toronto’s Herjavec Group Canadian Telecom Conference Canadian economy in 2018. three years running by responding to a changing threat landscape that goes beyond hackers Québec City’s EXFO is the communications industry's test, 2001 – 2020 Source: Canadian Defence, Aerospace, Marine and Cybersecurity to include state actors and organized crime. Toronto, Ontario Industries Survey (2018 ), 2018 survey, released in 2020 monitoring and analytics expert, pioneering essential solutions and Source: www.investinontario.com/spotlights/10-cybersecurity-companies-watch-2019 technologies for over 30 years. IIC Canada Conference The cybersecurity industry’s R&D intensity was 2019 more than three times that of the total Canadian Ottawa, Ontario ICT industry average in 2018. St. John’s Verafin is the world’s largest financial crime management software company. Since purchasing Ottawa’s former technology giant Nortel Networks’ Source: Canadian Defence, Aerospace, Marine and Cybersecurity carrier ethernet and optical networking division in 2010, , the International Conference on Network and Industries Survey (2018 ), 2018 survey, released in 2020 Ciena second-largest supplier in the world of optical technology, has grown to Service Management do the majority of their global R&D in the nation’s capital. 2019 Kelowna’s Two Hat Security AI-powered content moderation platform classifies, filters and Halifax, Nova Scotia Hotspots: Vancouver, Waterloo Region, escalates more than 102 billion human interactions a month in real time, including messages, Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, Québec City, usernames, images and videos. International Conference on Network and Fredericton Service Management 2019 Vancouver, British Columbia The Things Lab at the University of Calgary conducts high-level The Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity at the University of New Brunswick, research in IoT and low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technologies Fredericton works in partnership with Siemens' team of technical staff and researchers to that apply to the IoT sector. develop robust and practical cutting-edge cybersecurity and privacy technologies. CONFERENCES
World Crypto-Bitcoin, Blockchain and KEY R&D Ottawa’s Thales Canada – Defence & Security is committed to the development of Cyber-Security The University of Alberta in Edmonton houses one of the top five innovative Canadian technologies and made-in-Canada defence and security solutions. conference wireless research groups in North America. May 2019 Toronto, Ontario Waterloo's eSentire® is the largest pure-play Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service provider, keeping organizations safe from constantly evolving cyberattacks. Bell MTS is investing approximately $400M in all-fibre network technology in Winnipeg.
12 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 13 Did you know...
VANCOUVER Vancouver ranked first in Canada and 15th in the Multifaceted and dynamic, Vancouver is one of the world on Startup Genome’s list of the world’s best startup ecosystems. most sought-after destinations for business events Source: www.vancouvereconomic.com/vancouver/place-of-ideas in Canada. It's also a rapidly growing technology hub where innovations in digital media, interactive Electronic Arts (EA), a global leader in digital entertainment, web platforms and software services interactive entertainment with 300 million are drawing the world’s attention (and global worldwide users, was founded in Burnaby, business events). British Columbia. Amazon recently announced it is expanding its footprint in Vancouver with software development engineers, user experience Professionals75,000 work in tech Tech100,000 professionals & ICT in Vancouver, three- across BC designers and speech scientists working to quarters of the total for BC Source: https://www.vancouvereconomic. NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS make Alexa smarter, and to support Amazon com/focus/technology/ Source: ICTC Advertising plus Retail and Operations A global leader in social media Technology divisions. management, Hootsuite was founded and Fastest growth of is headquartered in Vancouver. BestTop Startup 25 Ecosystems in Source: www.vancouvereconomic.com/focus/technology CONFERENCES VR/AR Association Vancouver Tech the World (2019) VR/AR Global Summit Source: www.startupgenome.com/reports 2019 and 2020 inTalent North America Identity verification service Trulioo has Source: CBRE Tech Talent 2019 developed a global ID verification solution SIGGRAPH that is not constrained by geography, 2014, 2018 and 2022 economic status, age or gender. Organizations like TED, SIGGRAPH, and CONFERENCE Source: www.trulioo.com/company/about-us/ INFRASTRUCTURE Ted Conference OpenStack choose Vancouver because of our Annual 10,000+ Companies across BC unparalleled convention infrastructure, set against Source: www.vancouvereconomic.com/focus/technology/ a backdrop of ocean, mountains and forest. Our 13,000 EA Games COMPANIES GUEST ROOMS Annual rd clients tell us the city itself, and our spectacular The 3 largest in the world, Vancouver’s digital media and interactive natural setting, inspires creative thinking and entertainment industry includes close to 1,000 businesses. International DOTA-2 dynamic ideas." 2018 Source: www.vancouvereconomic.com/focus/digital-entertainment-interactive/ 91,740 sq m — Dave Gazley, VP Meeting and Convention Sales, Tourism Vancouver sq FT TOTAL987,482 MEETING SPACE The BC tech industry generates more than $23B in revenue and $15B in GDP. VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE Source: www.vancouvereconomic.com/focus/technology ACCELERATING INNOVATION
Source: Tourism Vancouver sq m The Artificial Intelligence network 43,339 of British Columbia sq FT The University of British Columbia and Simon www.ainbc.ai 466,500 Fraser University are leaders in software development. SUBSECTORS 3,250 Gala • AI Spring Activator • Cybersecurity www.vancouvereconomic.com/focus/technology Cascadia Innovation Corridor • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming The Corridor links Vancouver, Seattle and Portland • E-commerce innovation ecosystems to answer some of the POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS world’s greatest challenges. • Esports • Fintech Blockchain @UBC A multidisciplinary research cluster focusing on • SaaS blockchain research and education to advance the design, • Web & social media technologies development and adoption of blockchain technologies. • VFX & animation Source: www.digitalsupercluster.ca • VR/AR Source: www.vancouvereconomic.com/focus/technology/ 14 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 15 Did you know...
CALGARY Alberta © Travel Calgary is a Living Lab ™ A thriving tech hub and designated LoRaWAN™ Calgary is the first city in Canada to deploy citywide industrial grade LoRaWAN to enable local IoT solutions of up to 30,000 sensors. The Living Lab opens up public spaces, transportation corridors, dark fibre plus LoRaWAN™ living lab, Calgary, with its leadership in networks and other city-owned assets for the testing, validation and showcasing of technological innovation, including communications technology, geomatics, SaaS unmanned and autonomous systems, augmented reality and virtual reality in a real-world environment. and IoT technologies, is a magnet for tech Source: www.calgary.ca/General/Pages/Living%20labs/Living-labs.aspx?redirect=/livinglabs events focused on 21st century technologies. Startup Genome named Calgary as a Top 5 ecosystem for connectedness among 50 cities globally. Source: Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER), Startup Genome, 2019
Employed42,500 in the tech sector Source: 2020 Scoring Tech Talent, CBRE Research
CONFERENCE Calgary’s strong corporate presence, INFRASTRUCTURE entrepreneurial spirit and tenacious startup culture is Businesses in Calgary’s tech sector Source:2,834 Canadian Business Counts for NAICS ICT Variant, Statistics Canada, December 2019; driving an ecosystem that embraces innovation across Calgary Economic Development sectors as diverse as clean technology, agritech, GUEST14,000 ROOMS NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS fintech, biotech and more. Calgary is a natural place Calgary’s Tektelic Communications develops to host a technology conference — even our venue “Pure-Play” AI firms in Calgary and manufactures high-performance wireless sq m spaces are designed to integrate advanced event tech Source:28 Canada’s AI Ecosystem, UToronto + Global Advantage Consulting Group, Page 28, June 111,484 2020 products, including the LoRaWAN™ network used and inspire your delegates!" as part of the city’s Living Lab. sq FT TOTAL1.2 million MEETING SPACE — David Woodward, Executive Director, Meetings + Conventions Calgary
Xingwei Wu of Westaim Corporation realized a CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE technological breakthrough first envisioned in 1936 when he developed the hybrid electroluminescent sq m flat-panel display screen (flat colour TV screen or 11,334 Institute for Quantum Science computer monitor). sq FT and Technology at the University of 122,000 ACCELERATING INNOVATION* Calgary conducts leading research in key 3,600 Gala theoretical and experimental topics of Calgarian, James Gosling, is credited as the quantum science and technology. inventor of the Java programming language in BMO CENTRE 1994, creating the original design of Java and Interactions Lab University of Calgary conducts implementing its original compiler and virtual sq m research in the areas of human-computer interaction 24,619 machine. and information visualization. 265,000 sq FT 2,000 Gala POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS COMPANIES* SUB-SECTORS* • Applied AI/ML CONFERENCES* • Communications technology IEEE International • Digital media & gaming Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal • Geomatics & autonomous technologies Processing • IoT 2018 • SaaS
*Source: Calgary fact sheet provided by destination *Source: Calgary fact sheet provided by destination
16 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 17 Did you know... NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS EDMONTON ST Innovations, the business arm of the University nd A central innovation hub core to the Pan-Canadian The 2 fastest growing software company in of Alberta’s SMART Network, combines a leading Canada, Jobber, a scheduling software and app, research network with specialized equipment and AI Strategy thanks to its leading R&D in AI and is headquartered in Edmonton. market insights to accelerate innovative health ideas at reinforcement learning, Edmonton is home to one of every stage through various human machine interfaces the top five AI research institutions in the world — just using AI, VR/AR (XR) and robotics. one of many reasons Edmonton is an ideal location for a Edmonton-based Serious Labs is an award- meeting of the minds. winning 3D-interactive technology company that develops VR training solutions for the global heavy equipment industry.
Employed19,600 Businesses1,443 (2018) OENano uses nanotechnology to create Source: Edmonton Global Information Source: Edmonton Economic Development and Communication Technology Sector Information and Communication Technology revolutionary products for a number of Profile Sector Profile (2018) sectors including the energy, agriculture and transportation industries.* CONFERENCES The 2019 SingularityU Canada Summit brought thousands of SingularityU Granify provides a SaaS solution that enables 2019 Edmonton is a core member of online retailers to maximize their sales by using Canadians together in Edmonton, and via satellite and livestream events the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy cutting-edge big data and ML technologies. Nano Canada thanks to expertise from the across the country. It was one of 15 International University of Alberta and the international SU Summits that happened Conference Alberta Machine Intelligence Clinisys uses its data migration strategies, around the world, putting Edmonton on 2021 Institute.* including data visualization, big data analytics and the global stage and highlighting our city data mining, in eHealth applications. as a progressive and collaborative place Source: Edmonton Economic Development Information and CONFERENCE Communication Technology Sector Profile in the open data, open government INFRASTRUCTURE and digital innovation spaces. The event was a catalyst for both our city and our innovation sector, and rallied TOTAL12,738 GUEST ROOMS SUB-SECTORS* COMPANIES the community together to see the • AI/ML exciting work that is being done by • Big data Edmontonians." 61,858 sq m • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming — Anna Look sq FT • Nanotechnology Director, Visitor Economy Sales TOTAL665,841 MEETING SPACE Explore Edmonton • SaaS • Telecommunications & wireless tech EDMONTON EXPO CENTRE
Source: Hoovers, Edmonton Global *Source: Edmonton Global fact sheet sq m ACCELERATING INNOVATION* 48,495 sq FT Edmonton 522,000 CMA 6,000 Gala
Nint InnT EDMONTON CONVENTION CENTRE 12,225 sq m POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS* 131,590 sq FT 3,980 Gala
*Source: Edmonton Global fact sheet © Edmonton Tourism 18 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 19 WINNIPEG Winnipeg makes it easy to help In Canada’s heartland, Winnipeg is easily accessed from you bring your next technology all points east, west, north and south. This midwestern meeting or convention here with our city boasts a thriving community of small- and medium- one-stop shop for tourism support and strong network within our thriving sized tech companies making contributions in data techno-creative industry. Economic collection platforms, ML and robotics, and interactive Development Winnipeg can easily digital media/game developments. connect you with local business and academic tech experts for speaking opportunities and facility tours, while
© Tourism Winnipeg/Dan Harper © Tourism our Tourism Winnipeg team provides Employed19,300 Tech1,315 businesses the tools and support you need to CONFERENCES* Source: StatsCan -Table 14-10-0054-01 Source: Stats Can customized table make your event a success."* Western Canada — Dayna Spiring, President and CEO, Economic Information Security NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS* Development Winnipeg Inc. Conference CONFERENCE 2019 INFRASTRUCTURE
COMPANIES* Items International , which offers modular e-commerce Bold Commerce 2017 solutions, grew 414% in 2019 and was named one TOTAL7,100 GUEST ROOMS of Canada’s Top Growing Companies by the Globe & Mail. 56,000 sq m ACCELERATING INNOVATION* sq FT TOTAL604,000 MEETING SPACE North Forge Technology Bit Space Development is ranked in the top 10 Exchange of VR/AR-development companies from around the RBC CONVENTION CENTRE world by Clutch. POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS 24,526 sq m Manitoba Technology Accelerator (MTA) 264,000 sq FT 9,000 Gala Winnipeg startup SkipTheDishes uses technology to connect hungry residents with local restaurants. Industrial Technology Since 2013, the company has grown to include 18,000 Centre (ITC) couriers and 100 locations in Canada and the US.
Red River College Innovation Centre
Check Point Secure SUB-SECTORS* Academy in Canada • Data centres • Digital media & interactive entertainment • E-commerce Wawanesa Innovation Lab • Insurtech • SaaS
*Source: Winnipeg fact sheet provided by destination *Source: Winnipeg fact sheet provided by destination © Canadian Museum for Human Rights © Canadian Museum for
20 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 21 WATERLOO ACCELERATING INNOVATION*
A global technology hub, Waterloo is a powerhouse of tech talent and innovation, boosted by a world- class academic community. Here you’ll find Canada’s © Explore Waterloo Region Waterloo © Explore top technology university, the world’s highest concentration of mathematical and computer science talent, expertise in both hardware and software — and plenty of Canadian experts to champion and enhance your conference agenda.
Companies1,700
NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS Employed21,500+* Startups558 The Waterloo Region has inspiring spaces and venues for all kinds of events. The area is known for being at the cutting edge for thinking and doing Among its many applications, Northern Digital AI130 companies* technology is the foundation of some of the most and is populated by thought leaders — from startups progressive surgical navigation systems in medicine to globally recognized tech firms and research facilitating computer-guided surgery and therapy. One leaders. Best of all, there is a collaborative mindset Did you know... of the company’s products can track a moving object as that permeates every aspect of our innovation small as a blood cell from six metres away. ecosystem."* The Waterloo Region is home to Canada’s largest Source: www.waterlooedc.ca/en/industries/resources/ndi-success-story.pdf robotics and automation cluster, 150 research — Kelly McManus, Senior Director, Community Relations and Events, CONFERENCES University of Waterloo centres and the largest concentration of math and computer science talent in the world. The True North Tech for Good™ conference brings the biggest minds in tech together COMPANIES* to discuss the implications of The region is Canada’s leading IoT cluster. innovation and the importance of ensuring that technology is guided by ethos above all else. CONFERENCE Canada’s first Google for Startups Accelerator June 2018, 2019 INFRASTRUCTURE is here.
TOTAL2,700 GUEST ROOMS The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor is home to 287,000 tech workers and nearly 9,600 tech POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS companies. 55,741 sq m sq FT TOTAL600,000 MEETING SPACE The region has the world’s highest concentration SUB-SECTORS* The University of Waterloo has been ranked Most Innovative of corporate innovation labs. • AI University in Canada for 28 years (2019) and ranked #1 in Canada BINGEMANS CONFERENCE CENTRE • Autotech and #4 in the Americas for innovation in AI and robotics. • Cybersecurity The highest concentration of quality tech talent sq m • Fintech 4,314 nationwide can be found here (2018). sq FT • Quantum technology 46,000 Gala The region has the 2nd highest concentration of 1,200 startups worldwide. *Source: Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation fact sheet
22 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 23 Did you know...
TORONTO Toronto ranks among the top three cities in North One of the world’s fastest-growing tech hubs, Toronto is America for tech talent.* a pioneer in AI/ML, cybersecurity, communications tech and fintech. The city and region’s distinct mix of culture, CONFERENCES* From 2018 to early 2020, Toronto hosted some 200 educational opportunities, diversity and talent draws Collision Conference the world’s best creators and thinkers, and some of the 2019 - 2021 tech events and welcomed globe’s most prestigious tech events. some 100,000 delegates. Palo Alto Networks August 2019
Microsoft Ignite Tour January 2019
The Toronto region’s tech industry employs AWS Partner Summit 2017 - 2019 skilled workers, making it one of the largest tech290,000 hubs in North America. * NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS CONFERENCE INFRASTRUCTURE More than tech companies and startups* 15,000 5,200 ACCELERATING INNOVATION Toronto's Ecobee designs award-winning smart Named the world’s fastest-growing thermostats and devices controlled by voice. 36,000 TOTAL GUEST ROOMS 65+ tech-focused business incubators and accelerators* including: byTech KPMG International sector* Over sq FT of meeting3,260,000 and exhibition space at four major convention Creative Destruction Lab Whoosh!, on Canadian Business' 2018 list of fastest- centres: growing companies, makes products to keep the goo off • Metro Toronto Convention Centre SUB-SECTORS all your touchscreens.* • Exhibition Place Eon Accelerator • AI/ML • The International Centre • Communications technology • Toronto Congress Centre • Cybersecurity TechStars
• Digital entertainment & interactive gaming Content from Wattpad’s worldwide network of 80 million METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE • Fintech users has been developed into Netflix series and best- sq m Ryerson DMZ • Mobile applications selling ebooks. 55,741 • SaaS 600,000 sq FT gBETA Toronto Gala 360insights uses cloud engineering technology to 4,470 create customer satisfaction, drive sales and uncover COMPANIES* market insights. Founder Institute Toronto Canadian startups and the world's leading global tech companies make Toronto their Canadian headquarters. MaRS Innovation
Collision landed in Toronto in 2019 and exceeded expectations, even in its first year, Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence and expect it's only going to grow in size and quality in the years to come. People came and saw that this is a great city — not only to work ventureLAB in but also to explore and enjoy."*
— Sunil Sharma, co-host of the Collision Conference (Web Source: https://fi.co/insight/a-guide-to-toronto-s-best-startup-accelerators-incubators Summit), and managing director of TechStars Toronto *Source: Business Events Toronto Accelerator, the first node of the worldwide network outside on Unsplash Wong Warren by Photo *Source: Business Events Toronto the US. 24 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 25 Did you know...
OTTAWA Located in Ottawa, Area X.O is the futureplex of With the highest concentration of tech talent in North innovation and collaboration. The state-of-the-art facility offers a safe and secure environment to create, America* and world-class R&D capability, Ottawa, test and demonstrate next-gen mobility and connected Canada’s capital, is a thriving global tech hub cultivating technologies. in-demand expertise in disruptive technologies including connected and autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, 5G Ottawa is home to the Canadian Photonics and AI. Fabrication Centre, North America’s only pure play fabrication centre.
Ottawa's tech industry employs skilled workers.* 77,000 L-SPARK is Canada’s first enterprise SaaS accelerator. In addition to supporting SaaS startups, L-SPARK has NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS* Knowledge-based businesses* launched independent accelerators driving innovation 1,750 CONFERENCES on autonomous vehicles with Blackberry-QNX, and in medtech with TELUS, Solace and CIRA, focusing on SAAS NORTH NOW secure IoT. MindBridge Ai has developed the world’s first AI- 2020 COMPANIES* powered auditing solution to help companies restore confidence in their financial data. It currently markets its Impact AI solutions to the external audit sector and the banking 2020 sector. The company has grown to over 100 employees in Ottawa and recently opened a new location in the UK. CONFERENCE CENGN Summit SAAS NORTH NOW, Canada’s INFRASTRUCTURE Annual largest technology conference for SaaS (software-as-a-service) companies scaling up, was founded 10,000 AccelerateOTT TOTAL GUEST ROOMS Annual Headquartered in Ottawa, Shopify’s R&D centre of in 2016 in Ottawa by Cube Business excellence is driving innovation in AI/ML and robotics Media Inc. and L-Spark Corporation. toward the $1B development of its North American The conference brings together the 125,425 sq m network of fulfillment centres. entire Canadian SaaS ecosystem sq FT ACCELERATING INNOVATION* under one roof. Despite pressures to TOTAL1,350,062 MEETING SPACE launch SAAS NORTH in other cities, as founders, we knew the potential of Ottawa as a lifetime host city of SHAW CENTRE Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks the conference, and we’ve never sq m looked back! 17,837 SUB-SECTORS* sq FT — Patrick White 192,000 • AI/ML Managing Director | L-SPARK 3,840 Gala National Research Council of Canada • Communications technology • Connective autonomous vehicles technology • Cybersecurity • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS • Govtech Communications Research Centre Canada • NGN & 5G • Photonics • SaaS Canada’s Advanced Research and Innovation Network
*Source: Ottawa Tourism/Invest Ottawa Source: Ottawa Tourism/Invest Ottawa
26 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 27 Did you know...
QUÉBEC CITY A global leader, the National Optics Institute has generated more than Québec City nurtures a thriving optics-photonics 30 spinoff companies. Creative work industry, features Canada’s largest national defence includes portable 3D cameras for the research centre, and is a world-class hub for geospatial International Space Station, innovative businesses, software, database integrators, plus custom orthotics, ophthalmic devices designers and their sector conferences. and dental diagnostic probes.
Jobs23,366 Companies524 NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS* ACCELERATING INNOVATION* The Québec City area, home to Université Laval, $ is an excellent place to recruit the best optics The first incubator in optics and photonics in 3.5B 65 Canada, Quantino is headquartered in Québec Revenue Research centres, chairs, Eddyfi Technologies is a key player in the non- talent. We’re located in the Espace d’innovation City. clusters and institutes destructive testing equipment business. The 10-year-old Michelet, a next-generation technology park that Québec City startups' technology is deployed across six unquestionably inspires innovation and collaboration Source: Québec international, 2016 brands and 10 industries in more than 110 countries. for ABB’s employees. It’s very promising for the Institute Intelligence and Data expansion of our business."*
— Marc Corriveau, ABB Optics, Photonics and Laser Centre Coveo Cloud's AI-powered intelligence platform cuts through the complexity in data and draws inferences COMPANIES* from behaviour to get to the heart of what users need. CRDM
CONFERENCES Centre for Digital Imagery and Interactive ASME 2018 International Design Media Québec City’s LeddarTech® is an industry leader Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in in environmental sensing solutions for autonomous Engineering Conference vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. 2018 INO
*Source: Quebec international fact sheet provided by destination International Conference on 3D Vision 2019
Education & Training in Optics CONFERENCE INFRASTRUCTURE and Photonics SUB-SECTORS* 2019 • Applied AI sq m TOTAL17,250 GUEST ROOMS 73,860 • Cybersecurity sq FT We have had marvellous collaborations with many event • Data centres TOTAL795,000 MEETING SPACE partners. We couldn’t have pulled it off without the Québec • Insurtech City’s Ambassadors’ Club and Québec City Convention • Interactive entertainment QUÉBEC CITY CONVENTION CENTRE Centre."* • Optics/photonics/NDT sq m — Denis Laurendeau, Professor, Université Laval • VFX & animation 28,000 Co-organizer of the International Conference on 3D Vision 300,000 sq FT 3,830 Gala *Source: Quebec international fact sheet provided by destination
28 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 29 What sets the Montréal technology sector POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS apart from other large cities is the force of its The largest university research hub in Canada: MONTRÉAL academic sector. We are talking about 5,000 tech companies that collaborate with 11 world-renowned Montréal Institute of Learning Algorithms Montréal has earned its reputation as a major global university institutions. This collaboration is the key hub for AI, deep learning, multimedia, video game to the success of the AI field in Montréal. This also production and software development. The city is explains why major events such as NeurIPS and Institute for Data Valorization home to the largest number of researchers in AI in World Summit AI have decided to host their events Canada, and the hub around the Mila research centre in Montréal!"* Computer Research Institute of Montréal and IVADO labs acts as a magnet to attract high- — Guy-Joffroy Lord, Director, development, business intelligence profile, international tech events. and strategic alliances, Tourisme Montréal Ranked Best Student City in the Americas Source: QS Best Student Cities 2019
Two universities in the top 150 best universities in the world © Tourisme Montréal © Tourisme Source: QS Ranking 2019
Montréal is Canada’s university capital, with the highest 4,000+ number of students. 2D/3D NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS VFX & animation specialists CONFERENCES McGill University Tech179,000+ professionals in DreamHack International Conference on Greater Montréal and 5,000 (EDM) 2016, 2021 Educational Data Mining Université de Montréal businesses Montréal Institute of Learning Algorithms July 2019 15,000 Mila is the world’s largest academic research lab in deep International Joint Video game professionals Concordia University learning and reinforcement learning. Conference on Artificial International Conference on 72,000 Intelligence (IJCAI) Artificial Intelligence and Law Experts in software Source: www.montrealinternational.com/en/publications/greater-montreal-an- (ICAIL) artificial-intelligence-hub/ August 2021 development June 2019 Université du Québec à Montréal Video140+ game studios World AI Summit AI for the Americas Neural Information, (NeurIPS) Polytechnique Montréal March 2021 Processing Systems Tech5,000 companies The Canadian government chose Montréal as December 2018 headquarters for Scale AI, Canada's AI supply chain HEC Montréal supercluster, dedicated to building the next-generation Source: Montréal international sector brochures ITC, Gaming, VR/AR supply chain and boosting industry performance by leveraging AI technologies. Université de Sherbrooke Did you know...
La Guilde du jeu video du Quebec, the largest École NAD-UQAC – School of Digital Arts, association of its kind globally, promotes the Quebec Animation and Design COMPANIES* video game industry locally and internationally.* 60 colleges, including the network As of 2018: Cégeps
ICT$5.7B sector exports CONFERENCE INFRASTRUCTURE Revenues$21B+ PALAIS DES CONGRÈS DE sq m MONTRÉAL CONVENTION CENTRE TOTAL27,000 GUEST ROOMS 2,903 $11B+ sq FT Real GDP ($ of 2012) 1,000,000 sq m Source: www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/objectifs/informer/par-secteur-dactivite/technologies- SUB-SECTORS* TOTAL MEETING SPACE 51,280 de-linformation-et-des-communications/page/le-secteur-10878/?tx_igaffichagepages_ pi1%5Bmode%5D=single • AI 551,520 sq FT (Greater Montréal accounts for about 70% of all IT activities in Québec) • Cybersecurity Gala • Data centres 3,240 • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming • Esports • VFX & animation *Source: Montréal international sector brochures *Source: Montréal international sector brochures 30 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 31 VICTORIA KELOWNA
This compact seaside capital is a natural draw for tech Sun-soaked and wine-kissed, this urban resort entrepreneurs and business events alike. The city is in the heart of British Columbia’s acclaimed wine an innovation hub for SaaS providers, big data analysts region provides plenty of creative inspiration for and IoT innovators, plus those focused on cleantech, tech, animation and digital media pros, and the alternative energy and ocean technologies. Victoria’s organizations that choose to meet in Kelowna’s interconnected research, education and industry mountain, lake and vineyard playground. ecosystem, combined with its rich cultural, culinary and historical amenities, make the city an easy choice
for engaging dialogue and forward-focused business © Destination BC/ Reuben Krabbe © Destination BC events.
Did you know... Combined NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS LlamaZOO is a spatial business intelligence Employed15,000 in tech, animation, digital media and film Employed16,775 (2018) CONFERENCES provider with a SaaS platform that enables First Source: ICT Sector Profile provided by Kelowna Source: Business Events Nation bands and stakeholders in mining, oil and Victoria Municipal Information gas, forestry, and other capital-intensive industries Systems Association to make meaningful and impactful decisions by Yeti Farm Creative is an animation studio that services Conference visualizing their complex land data in 3D. renowned and coveted broadcasters like Corus Media, Netflix 2021 Animation,200 film and digital media businesses Source: VIATEC and Amazon while also creating original content. Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Patterns, December 2017 provided Kelowna Esri Canada User COMPANIES Conference 2019 Greater Victoria has become an innovative Reboot Communications Annual Privacy and region with a burgeoning educational sector Hyper Hippo Entertainment connects people from around Security Conference which helps to feed talent to a thriving technology the world through its award-winning AdVenture Capitalist series 2019 sector with a clear focus on clean technology, of games. Fortinet Conference marine technology and innovation. A strong talent 2018 base, excellent educational institutions, our mild climate and high quality of life are all contributors CONFERENCE to our success, and make Victoria a great place to INFRASTRUCTURE With a mission to destroy lag time, Wtfast delivers the best meet."* connection to 800 million gamers around the world. POST-SECONDARY SUB-SECTORS Source: investkelowna.com — Paul Nursey, President and CEO of Destination Greater Victoria INSTITUTIONS TOTAL4,500 GUEST ROOMS • Big data • Fintech • IoT 10,219 sq m SUB-SECTORS* • SaaS CONFERENCE sq FT • Animation INFRASTRUCTURE 110,000 TOTAL MEETING SPACE • Digital entertainment • Interactive gaming sq m TOTAL6,100 GUEST ROOMS 20,903 Source: TK digital tech brochure sq FT ACCELERATING INNOVATION TOTAL255,000 MEETING SPACE
VIATEC Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and VICTORIA CONFERENCE CENTRE The technology sector of the Entrepreneurship Council Central Okanagan, where Kelowna 6,782 sq m is located, has grown 15% year- over-year since 2013. sq FT 73,000 Source: InvestKelowna Matrix Institute for Applied Data Science 1,100 Gala
32 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 33 SASKATOON HALIFAX
Fuelled by prairie ingenuity, Saskatoon is With world-renowned research institutions, a fast becoming an innovation hub for talented growing startup community and established animation, gaming and enterprise software leadership in innovation industries, Halifax’s developers and startups. diversified information technology, gaming and digital media sectors attract a host of business events and talent to the region.
Approximately © Tourism Saskatoon/Greg Huszar Saskatoon/Greg © Tourism Munn Scotia Tourism/Scott © Nova Employed12,900 Companies725 Source: SREDA Source: SREDA 12,000Employees
SUB-SECTORS CONFERENCE • Animation INFRASTRUCTURE • Digital entertainment/interactive gaming IBM chose Halifax in 2012 to create a Client Digital Integration Centre of Excellence at Sask Polytechnic • Enterprise software Innovation Centre and then expanded again in 5,400 focuses on bringing digital solutions to industrial partners, with a Source: Saskatoon flatsheet 2017. The company has been hiring aggressively TOTAL GUEST ROOMS core focus on data integrity, transmission and storage. and leveraging the city’s talent.
sq m EY launched its Canadian Centre for Advanced 64,475 Analytics in 2014 and its Global Centre of sq FT CONFERENCE Innovation Place helps grow Saskatchewan's tech sector and Excellence in Robotic Process Automation in TOTAL694,000 MEETING SPACE provides a supportive environment for startups and early-stage INFRASTRUCTURE 2018 in Halifax. technology companies. HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE 5,286 WattPad announced in late 2019 that it is TOTAL GUEST ROOMS establishing its second headquarters in Halifax. 11,148 sq m University of Saskatchewan sq FT sq m Source: Tourism Saskatoon 74,322 120,000 Gala sq FT SUB-SECTORS 2,000 TOTAL800,000 MEETING SPACE • Cybersecurity TCU PLACE • Data analytics • Digital entertainment & interactive gaming NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS 9,662 sq m • SaaS 104,000 sq FT Source: Provided by destination fact sheet 1,424 Gala 7shifts’ restaurant employee scheduling solution is used by more than 250,000 restaurants across North America, Europe, WORLD TRADE CENTRE AT PRAIRIELAND PARK Halifax is situated on a landing point the Middle East and Australia. Total capital raised in Series A was more than $20M in 2019. sq m for transatlantic network cables. 22,296 Infrastructure like GTT Atlantic's 240,000 sq FT International Exchange Centre allow for fast and secure transmission of Gala Vendasta This cloud commerce platform, which provides 2,880 data between North American and digital solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses, raised European clients.
$40M in growth funding. Source: Provided by destination fact sheet
Source: Saskatoon flatsheet
34 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY #meetincanada businesseventscanada.ca 35 FORFOR TECH TECH WHY CANADA Business events have the power to inspire the next generation, The core technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as CONFERENCESCONFERENCES fuelling innovation. Today’s advancements in cloud gaming, VR/AR big data, cloud computing, IoT and blockchain are being deployed technologies, 5G networking and wearable tech will transform interactive across Canada to modernize supply chains. Such future-focused entertainment and gaming in the coming years. Many of the emerging technologies are being developed in Calgary, Edmonton, technologies driving the industry forward are being developed Winnipeg, Waterloo Region, Montréal, Québec City, Halifax and in Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal and Québec beyond. The unintentional connections made at in-person City — coincidentally some of Canada’s most sought-after locations for meetings has a great impact on the individuals attending, conferences and incentive reward events. and can help advance the field in which they work, translating directly to economic diversity and resilience for host organizers and destinations.
Leadership across the spectrum of technology industries Everything we consume — from a new computer, to the latest Many of today’s “must-have” technologies, such as LED lighting, digital not only makes Canada a competitor on the world stage, but an in automotive technologies — is discussed, debated and cameras, high definition TVs and smartphones, are enabled by optics innovation leader. Business events, like technology itself, debuted at a business event. International business and photonics technologies developed in Québec City and Ottawa — Canada’s dynamic cities and urban innovation centres may accelerate progress and provide a platform for a year’s events are magnets for content-hungry individuals and for two of the country’s most alluring locations with a robust field of industry be a natural draw for business events, but they also provide worth of business to take place over the course of just a few those with investment resources. Impressed by Canadian experts to champion events. international travellers with a taste of Canadian culture, cuisine days. Such events lead to the innovation and reinvention so critical infrastructure, talent and ready access to key markets, the largest and our vast, dramatic landscapes, fuelling the desire to to the economic recovery for businesses and the communities in tech companies in the world are expanding or relocating return with family and friends for future leisure travel. which they operate and meet. to Canada to conduct research and manufacture their products. These local subject-matter experts can enhance speaker schedules and help champion events to grow membership and revenues. As emerging gaming technology makes esports more accessible, more and more organizers are looking to innovation and cultural hotspots like Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver to host global Business events are a fundamental source of learning, tournaments and esports festivals. Such events become the launch research and information sharing — all critical to the pad or testing ground for new technologies, new games and new advancement of technologies. While business events may drive gear, creating real-time feedback from top users for companies. knowledge sharing and engagement, purposeful collaboration Canada is committed to fighting cybercrime and offers is a hallmark of Canadian culture. The strides being made in solutions for governments, health-care and the financial research and technological advancements are collectively services sectors. Innovation hubs in Fredericton, Toronto, reshaping the future of global business. Organizations that Vancouver and Montréal offer conference organizers plenty of meet here gain access to Canadian industry and thought leadership opportunities to connect with Canadian innovators to create through business-to-business exchanges, hosted innovation tours compelling, secure events. and the sharing of best practices. Around the world researchers and corporations are putting AI to work to understand the COVID-19 pandemic. Technologies developed in medtech hotspots like Toronto, Saskatoon, Québec City, Vancouver and beyond create unique opportunities for cross-industry or cross-institution collaboration by spotlighting innovation during events hosted here. In Canada, Events of all kinds (exhibits, conferences and festivals) feed every inclusion is more than a way of doing business — it’s a way of life. With over 650 AI startups and some of the world’s brightest minds industry, connecting supply with demand and people with in the field, Canada is a natural draw for business events dedicated each other. As these events grow, so do regional economies. to the advancement of AI. Business events allow communities of researchers, entrepreneurs and others to come together The architects of the global tech revolution live, work and conduct research here. Canada boasts the world’s highest in one place at one time. Prime conference locations like Business events have the power to progress change and concentration of AI startups, fuelled by the research being Montréal, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary and Québec transform societies. With e-learning and edtech on the rise, virtual done at Mila, Google’s Brain AI and others. Such depth of City offer those AI communities opportunities to explore Canada’s and augmented reality are becoming increasingly prevalent for training knowledge not only helps draw internationally renowned conferences innovation ecosystems on technical tours, through B2B exchanges and simulation and as a way to interact with customers. Technologies to Canada, but also helps to build and maintain productive networks and at networking events. being developed in Vancouver, Montréal, Québec City, Toronto and that can generate economic benefits such as talent attraction for beyond help attract future events interested in leveraging these organizers, host industry champions and host destinations. innovation ecosystems. 36 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY businesseventscanada.ca 37 Get vertical. Ski, snowshoe, heli-ski and Embrace your spirit of adventure. Canada’s snowboard at the top-ranked ski resorts in Yukon, Northwest Territories and the eco-resorts eastern and western North America. In the of coastal British Columbia are change-makers east: Mont Tremblant is a short one-hour drive and some of our most legendary, out-of-the-box CANADA from tech hubs Ottawa and Montréal. In the incentive destinations, each offering an unparalleled west, Whistler is a 90-minute scenic drive from stage for exclusive corporate gatherings and high- Crane Whistler/Mike © Tourism Vancouver, Canada’s centre of excellence for A NATURAL end recognition events. REWARD FOR digital & interactive entertainment. TOP TECH Whistler, BC PERFORMERS Vancouver, BC Jasper, Alberta
Swing for the trees. Canada’s distinctive golf courses are framed against some of the A place not just to explore, but to connect. country’s most iconic destinations: Whistler, Where the extraordinary is rewarded and Victoria, Banff, Mont Tremblant, and throughout celebrated. Where open minds, intrepid spirits Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The fact and glowing hearts are welcome. A place that that these resorts are within close proximity of inspires and refreshes. A place to discover the our tech innovation hubs is merely coincidental. potential within each one of us. © Travel Alberta/George Simhoni Alberta/George © Travel Want your next incentive event to leave an indelible mark on the heart of your organization? Let Canada show you the way. Go wild. Canada’s Hudson Bay is ranked one of the Get your motors running. Whether it’s high- world’s best places to see polar bears in the wild. performance team building driving Canada’s Too wild? Try photo safaris to witness the awe of the iconic test tracks and courses in Montebello aurora borealis — Canada is also ranked one of the
© Scenic Rush Driving Experiences and Victoria, or a road rally through some of our best places in the world to witness the Northern most scenic tech destinations — your teams Lights — or retreat to any of the intimate, authentic will connect with Canadians and our tech and inspirational eco-friendly lodges and resorts communities in an up-close-and-personal way. that dot our vast landscape.
Sea-to-Sky Highway, BC ite r e
Hudson Bay, Nunavut ell i e
rc ill Raise your glass in celebration of your team’s accomplishments. Tech centres like Toronto i tler a er a e i e and Vancouver are a stone’s throw away from a arlev i Niagara and Kelowna, two of the country’s most productive, picturesque wine regions — both re la t te ell a exceptional locations in which to reward and recognize your top performers.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Looking for more inspired incentive ideas? Connect with us to learn more. → [email protected]
38 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY businesseventscanada.ca 39 NO ONE KNOWS CANADA LIKE WE DO
Destination Canada's Business Events team offers in-depth knowledge of Canada. Our team can help you deliver compelling content audiences want to consume when they meet in Canada. Connect with us for solutions and support on the fundamentals of meeting in Canada, including where to meet, recommended innovation hubs best suited to your specific event, introductions to our cross-country network of meeting and event partners, technology experts, leaders and innovators, and those who can help champion your event, augment your program, grow your membership and event audiences, and deliver a return on your event investment.
Consider Destination Canada your first point of contact when considering Canada for your event.
FIND OUT MORE businesseventscanada.ca #meetincanada
Virginie De Visscher Senior Director of Business Development, Economic Sectors [email protected] +1 204-802-0920
Natalia Filemonowicz Business Development Manager, Technology [email protected] +1 514-229-3493
Fall 2020
This brochure is a collaborative effort between Destination Canada, Invest in Canada, Canadian tourism and economic development agencies and partners. All statistics quoted, unless otherwise noted, were as of publication September 2020. For more information on data and sources, contact Destination Canada Research at: [email protected].
40 BUSINESS EVENTS | TECHNOLOGY