The Edmonton Metropolitan Region was featured in Startup Genome’s 2020 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER).
The report’s coverage of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region paints an accurate picture of a region bursting with talent and primed for opportunity. The region was recognized as ranking amongst the Top 10 North American Ecosystems for Affordable Talent in 2020.
Earlier this year, the Edmonton region climbed 4 spots in StartupBlink’s global ranking of cities by startup ecosystem, placing it firmly in the top 100 at 91 out of a total of 1,000 cities ranked.
“Within the last month we’ve been in two global rankings – Startup Genome’s 2020 report and cracking the top 100 with StartupBlink growing evidence that we’re being noticed internationally,” said Edmonton Global’s vice president innovation and strategy, Lynette Tremblay. As part of her role, Lynette tracks the Edmonton region’s global competitiveness compared to regions around the world. “Our region climbed 34 spots in the last two years in StartupBlink’s global ranking – demonstrating the growing awareness and competitiveness of what’s happening here.”
Startup Genome highlighted AI, big data, analytics, and life science sectors as Edmonton’s sub-sector strengths. The success of companies in the region such as MEDO.ai, an Edmonton-based startup recently granted FDA approval for the world’s first tool using artificial intelligence to detect hip dysplasia, are a testament to those strengths. According to Lynette, “we are aggressively trending in the right direction and that’s largely thanks to our many entrepreneurs, our universities and colleges, and the incredible talent that calls our region home.”
The lack of a provincial sales tax, as well as the regions 7 post-secondary institutions and “exceptionally affordable quality of life” were recognized as some of the top reasons to move startups to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.
Startup Genome is the world-leading policy advisory and research organization for governments and public-private partnerships committed to accelerating the success of their startup ecosystem. Their mission is to accelerate startup success and ecosystem performance, working with global thought leaders to define and execute robust policies and programs that drive lasting change.
Read Startup Genomes full report. The region is featured on pages 84-85.
Read StartupBlink’s Global Rankings.
