Welcome to real opportunity

Discover the Edmonton region

Edmonton

A thriving hub of opportunity

We're a region without limits. Land, water, talent, food, funding – it's all here waiting for you.

In our region, the people are as real as the opportunities. We're fiercely progressive and passionately entrepreneurial; pro-business and pro-environment; laid back, and incredibly hardworking.

It's a place where different is embraced, bold is celebrated, and life is exceptional.

  1. North America's fastest-growing tech ecosystem
  2. World’s largest low-carbon hydrogen and CCS projects
  3. 8 post-secondary institutions with more than 130,000 students
  4. Canada’s fastest-growing metro region
  5. Top 5 globally for AI research

Livable. Affordable.

We are a major metropolitan centre you can afford to live in. In fact, we're ranked the most affordable major city in Canada and the fourth most affordable, globally.

People walking on Whyte Avenue

Future and families

Universal health care, free primary and secondary schooling, affordable childcare and housing, safe and inclusive neighbourhoods, recreational activities, and competitive salaries – the Edmonton region is a great place to build a family, a future, and a life.

Doing business

As one of Canada's largest metro regions, ideally located to the North, we're perfectly positioned as one of the most business-friendly places in North America. And we are the fastest-growing region in Canada, with more than double the national average in export growth and generating more than $110 billion in GDP.

Culture

Located on Treaty 6 Territory, the Edmonton region is diverse, inclusive, and has something to suit everyone. You can embrace our urban core or slow it down in our smaller towns. Whatever your speed, we’ve got the perfect fit.

Why companies are choosing
the Edmonton region

Skilled Talent

Investing in the Edmonton region gives you access to a pool of talent fed by a world-class education system. With eight post-secondary institutions, and 130,000 students, we are home to a future-focused workforce. 

The University of Alberta is ranked in the global top 100 and is a global leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is the largest technology and apprenticeship trainer in Canada. The region graduates more engineers per capita than anywhere else in Canada – by a large margin. 

Ranked as the best city for youth and youth work (Youthful Cities 2019), the Edmonton region is the second youngest metro region in Canada. Our friendly, affordable, and inclusive culture, make it easy for companies to attract and retain talent. 

Technology & Innovation Hub

The Edmonton region was ranked as North America’s fastest growing tech ecosystem in 2021 according to CBRE.

Edmonton is home to the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), one of three Canadian AI Centres of Excellence. The region’s expertise in machine learning and reinforcement learning has attracted global companies including IBM, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and many more. 

Outstanding breakthroughs in industries such as autonomous vehicles, clean tech, and nanotechnology are happening here, supported by world-class talent in state-of-the-art facilities. 

Cost Advantage

It costs less to operate a business in the Edmonton region. Alberta has the lowest combined corporate tax rate in Canada and one of the lowest in North America. Office space is more affordable and talent costs are approximately 30% less than other major Canadian centres. This gives companies a competitive advantage. Attractive incentives are also available to support your growth and expansion plans.

The Edmonton Region is home to

  • ATCO
  • Jobber
  • Beamdog
  • BioWare
  • Airdar

The fastest growing region in Canada

$110 BILLION
Regional GDP, with double the national average growth in exports
1.5 MILLION
Regional population, including more than 130,000 students
1ST
Ranked first in Canada for retention of immigrants

Key Sectors

AI & Technology

The Edmonton region is an international leader in AI and machine learning, and is home to a thriving tech ecosystem. The region is developing, attracting, and retaining some of the best talent in the world because of its highly ranked post-secondaries, high quality of life, and low cost of living. 

$18.7 billion

ICT sector revenues in Alberta in 2023

1ST

Ranked as North America's fastest growing tech ecosystem

Top 5

globally for AI research, a global leader in machine learning

Digital Media & Entertainment

The Edmonton region has a deep history in video game development with several AAA studios and a vibrant indie developer scene. Artificial intelligence is the next big frontier when it comes to digital media and game development, and the region is home to a large pool of creative and specialized talent. 

2ND

In North America for AI Research

Low Cost

Among the most competitive operating costs in North America

85+

Home to more than 85 game development studios

Food & Agriculture

The Edmonton region’s agricultural sector has scale, built on a foundation of excellence in sustainable practices. As a region that includes both a large urban centre and 2.4 million acres of fertile farmland, agriculture and agri-food in the region includes rural and urban, traditional, and high-tech, with strong research and development ecosystems. 

1.5 billion

Customers - trade agreements are unparalleled - unlocking global access

52 million

Acres of agricultural land across Alberta

5TH

Canada's global ranking for agri-food exports

Global Logistics

The Edmonton region is an international transportation and logistics hub, combining a trimodal inland port and Foreign Trade Zone. The region offers 332 hectares of high-quality, affordable industrial land. Strategically located in the North, the region is well-connected to major markets through circumpolar routes. 

1ST

Fastest shipping times to western Canada ports

#1

Home to Canada's largest industrial park

1ST

Canada's largest airport by land area - no operational restrictions

Life Sciences

Life science companies in the Edmonton region are part of a strong, growing, and tight-knit community working at the cutting edge of scientific breakthroughs. Scientists are at the forefront of research in artificial intelligence, diabetes, virology, oncology, and precision health – and we have world-class facilities to support this work.  

#1

Alberta Health Services is Canada's largest single healthcare system

200%

Growth in biotech and R&D spending since 2014

2ND

In North America for AI research

Hydrogen

The Edmonton region is home to Canada’s largest hydrogen hub, making it the driving force behind Canada’s hydrogen economy. The region produces low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen at a global scale. Through a hub-based approach, we’re generating demand to scale this sector in Western Canada and beyond.  

$30 billion+

New hydrogen projects planned by 2030

#1

World's largest net-zero hydrogen facility

55 km

Hydrogen pipeline in the region

Clean Technology

The Edmonton region is leading Canada in clean energy technologies because of its strong innovation ecosystem, a commitment to sustainability, a history of industry collaboration and investment, and a large pool of highly skilled talent. The region boasts some of the best renewable resources in the country – wind, solar, bioenergy, hydrogen, and geothermal. 

900

Companies in clean tech call the Edmonton region home

22%

Of Clean Tech ventures in Alberta have female founders

2ND

In North America for AI research

We’re designing Canada’s roadmap to a net-zero future

While many places in the world are talking about how to address the climate crisis, the Edmonton Region is one of the very few where action is taking place, and these actions are at a global scale.

Here’s the story of how industry, policy-makers, and Indigenous leaders are pioneering net-zero solutions, advancing hydrogen and carbon capture technologies, and supporting community-driven initiatives that are reshaping the energy landscape.

But this series is more than just a clean energy story. Highlights all the work happening in the Edmonton Region to meet Canada’s net-zero targets and support global emissions-reductions efforts.

Hydrogen, concrete, sustainable agriculture, waste to energy, sustainable aviation fuels, and more, are all a part of the Edmonton Region and Canada’s decarbonization story.

Import here. Export here. here.

The Edmonton region is an inland port known as Port Alberta - where air, rail, pipelines, and roadways converge within a Foreign Trade Zone. Our unique northern location, combined with favorable regulations and incentives, make the region an international manufacturing, cargo, and logistics hub.

Canada has a total of 14 trade agreements with more than 50 countries, opening access to 1.5 billion customers and a combined GDP of $49.3 trillion USD - that's half the global GDP.

Edmonton Night

Latest in the region

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