Technology
Canada is home to the world’s largest tech hubs, growing and attracting innovative talent from across the globe. Our diverse, highly educated and growing tech talent pool continuously attracts investments from global businesses, including the world’s 10 largest technology companies. Canada’s commitment to talent development and attraction, strong support for innovation and low business costs make it easy for tech companies to make money.
Canada is increasingly recognized as a world leader in technology and the investments we make today and in the future will help ensure that Canada continues to be a pillar of innovation.
Software development in Canada
Software development talent is abundant in Canada: the country accounted for 3.61% of developers in the 2021 Annual Developer Survey, making it the fifth most represented in terms of developer talent globally. Beyond access to an exceptional workforce pool, software companies operating in Canada benefit from strong market growth. The latest numbers show a 14.2% annual increase in operating revenues for Canadian software and computer service industries.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in Canada
With 1,032 AI and machine learning companies and some of the world’s brightest minds in the field, Canada continues to attract global talent and capital. As a result, global companies are choosing to locate in AI hubs across the country to get access to the deepest and highest quality pool of AI talent. Businesses investing in Canada’s AI ecosystems also benefit from strong government support, low business costs, and access to world-class AI clusters.
Cybersecurity in Canada
According to Pitchbook data, Canada is now the 7th largest cybersecurity innovation hub in the world by venture capital deals (2017-2021) and has taken key steps to recognize the importance of cybersecurity. Aligned with the National Cyber Security Strategy, Canada is committing a $80 million investment to support cyber security research and development, commercialization, and skills and talent development.
Investing in technology in Canada
Talent
Canadian tech talent markets aren’t just on the rise, they’re at the top. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa all rank in CBRE’s top 20 tech talent markets in North America, and for good reason. With more than 2.8 million STEM graduates and the world’s highest educated workforce, the depth and quality of Canada’s tech talent pool is undeniable.
However, in a growing sector short on qualified workers, homegrown talent isn’t always enough. That’s why ICT companies operating in Canada can access top talent from around the world through the Global Skills Strategy and bring in highly skilled workforce in as little as two weeks.
Incentives
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program provides income-tax credits and refunds for expenditures on eligible R&D activity in Canada. Examples include:
- Operations research
- Data collection
- R&D in engineering
- Testing
- Psychological research
- Design
The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) bolsters business investments in Canada's most dynamic and innovative sectors by supporting business activities such as:
- R&D projects
- Firm expansion
- Large-scale, global-investment attraction
- Collaborative technology demonstration projects
- Clean technology adoption and decarbonization
Mitacs funds technology-specific internships and fellowships through Canadian universities.
Leading research institutes
- The Institute for Quantum Computing
- Centre for Innovation in Microelectronics of Quebec (CIMEQ)
- MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre (C2MI)
- Canada’s National Research and Education Network (CANARIE)
- Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre
- ENCQOR
- Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (Mila)
- Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence
- Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii)
You’re in good company













