“The Edmonton metro region represents a really rich talent pool for a company like Improbable. Talent is the lifeblood for any technology company now a days. We have to go where the talents is and that means we come to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region.”
-Aaryn Flynn , General Manager, Improbable North America
Leading Investment Opportunities
Companies and industries that are becoming early adopters of emerging technologies and embracing a digital first approach are seeing substantial growth.
As one of 3 national hubs of the Canadian AI strategy, the Edmonton Metropolitan Region represents phenomenal strength in the research and application of artificial intelligence tools. AI’s strength lies in its ability to provide added value to companies operating in all sectors of the economy – providing the tools to make businesses safer, more efficient, and more productive.
Through extensive research, benchmarking and data analysis the following opportunities have been identified as prime candidates for international investment.
Support network
The NanoFab Centre is an open-access training, service, and collaboration centre based out of the University of Alberta. It features $84 million in specialized equipment and infrastructure. The centre and its helpful staff are focused on attracting talent, sharing knowledge, and conducting progressive research.
NanoCanada serves as a catalyst for the commercialization of advanced materials, quantum, and nanotechnologies. Being a part of the NanoCanada community provides the opportunity for national and international exposure for your organization. NanoCanada delivers a competitive advantage to all its members through its wide network of industrial, research, and government partners.
A WORLD LEADER
The Edmonton Metropolitan Region is a world leader in videogames and interactive entertainment. Combining a powerhouse of international experts in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer science with a robust and diverse arts and creative community positions the Edmonton region as the ideal place to grow a games company.
“There’s a unique spirit here. A belief — no, an expectation — that we can compete with the best in the world, and win,” says Casey Hudson, Studio GM at BioWare. “That spirit, combined with the talent and work ethic of Albertans, makes the Edmonton region an ideal place to build a world-class company.”
Powering development is our incredible technical talent pipeline with proven expertise in art and design, publishing, video, creative writing, computer science and especially AI. The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), based in the Edmonton region is one of three national Artificial Intelligence hubs that make up the Canadian AI Strategy along with Toronto-Waterloo and Montreal. The University of Alberta (UAlberta) is globally ranked in the top 5 for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning research according to the world Computer Science Rankings. Researchers from UAlberta and Amii have been at the forefront of AI-game advancements since beating the world’s top checkers players in the 1980s, to tackling the world’s best at poker and Alpha-Go. Today, our researchers are creating AI’s that can build their own playable video games. The advances taking place in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region are at the forefront of internationally recognized AI research and game development.
Founded in 1995 by University of Alberta trained medical doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, BioWare was started to make simulators for the health market before the staff quickly decided they would rather be making videogames. Quickly, BioWare established itself as one of the world’s leading voices in narrative games. In December if 2018, “The Doctors” as they are warmly known as within the community, were recognized with the order of Canada for their impact on games and the creation of the games community in Edmonton.
Led by former BioWare GM Aaryn Flynn, Improbable Edmonton is combining the specialty of the studio’s parent company — building highly technical middleware to ease development across the industry — with the core specialty of the game development community in Edmonton — building award-winning Role-Playing Games. Currently, working toward announcing details of its first project, Improbable Edmonton sits at the heart of Edmonton’s downtown in a custom office space.
Formed in 2009, Beamdog is now the largest independent game studio in Edmonton. The Edmonton-based company of close to 60 people has one eye on the city’s legacy as a game developer, producing remastered versions of past-hits produced in the city, while keeping another eye on the future with talent focused on new, original projects set to grow the studio.
Founded in 2005 as 3D Interactive, Edmonton-based Serious Labs is an award-winning technology company that develops virtual reality (VR) training solutions for the global heavy equipment industry. An experienced team of videogame industry veterans, eclectic professionals, and subject matter consultants, Serious Labs applies the benefits of gamification to non-entertainment fields. Offering companies a significant competitive advantage in the form of innovative skills training and data-driven assessment, Serious Labs’ mission is to provide workforces with the tools they need to get home safely each day.
Startup assistance
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Edmonton Research Park
The Edmonton Research Park is dedicated to fostering research-based growth stage companies within the region, focusing on IT and software development, biotechnology, nanotechnology, clean energy, and oil and gas support.
With over 1,500 members representing more than 55 companies, the research park provides access to workspaces, on-site programs, soft-landing programs, personalized referrals to support and funding agencies, and a network of local, national, and international accelerators, science parks, and incubators all looking to collaborate.
The research park has two buildings designed to nurture different initiatives: the Advanced Technology Centre, and the Biotechnology Business Development Centre.
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TEC Edmonton
TEC Edmonton is a business accelerator program out of the University of Alberta that supports the commercialization of technological innovations. It’s been named the world’s 3rd best business incubator linked to a university, and helped launch almost 200 products and services in 2016-17.
TEC also provides more industry-specific programs to ensure that your business is getting the help it needs.
- TEC Health Accelerator
- Advanced Technology Centre
- Merck Invent Accelerator
- DynaLIFE Accelerator
- TusStar Accelerator Exchange
- TEC Launch Program
- University of Alberta Health Accelerator
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Business Link
This accelerator program helps individuals throughout Alberta start and grow their businesses by giving free one-on-one support and guidance, market research, access to experts, and training and networking events.
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Startup Edmonton
Startup Edmonton focuses on helping tech startups, providing them with mentorships & programs, workspace, access to talent, and community. Since 2010, they have helped successfully launch over 75 different companies.
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NABI
NABI helps tech businesses grow and flourish by offering services such as consulting, marketing, and everyday operational support.
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Start Alberta
Start Alberta connects AB tech startups with investors, resources and programming, all in one place. Thanks to partnerships with Crunchbase and Pitchbook, startups that make a Start Alberta profile will be visible to over 60 million people in the tech ecosystem nationally and internationally.
The Start Alberta platform is continuously evolving to provide you with the best possible experience and connection with Alberta’s growing ecosystem. The platform is accomplishing this by establishing a growing list of new partnerships with incubators, accelerators, investors, and government agencies across Alberta; as well as continuing to improve on features and user experience.
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StartUp TNT
StartUP TNT (Thursday Night Tradition) is a community networking initiative that connects entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, innovators and startup supporters on a weekly basis.
StartUp TNT actively works with local angel groups, seed funds, and early-stage VC funds to educate new and potential investors. Their flagship program, TNT Investment Summit, provides a fun, approachable way to become an angel investor.
Research and Development Centres
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University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a top 5 research institution in Canada with 88 research chairs specializing in areas such as health, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, food safety and security, and cleantech. With access to over 100 world class facilities and an abundance of strategic partnerships, UAlberta is the heart of innovation in the region.
Key Centres include:
- Institute for Oil Sands Innovation
- Centre for Earth Observation Sciences
- Alberta Centre for Surface Engineering and Science
- Centre for Intelligent Mining Systems
- Oil Sands Tailing Research Facility
- Centre for Applied Business Research in Energy and the Environment
- Canadian Centre for Clean Coal/Carbon and Mineral Processing Technologies
- Oil Sands Research and Information Network
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute
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Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
NAIT fosters progressive and dynamic industry growth through their 4 research centeres. Almost all of NAIT’s research is done in partnership with industry to ensure that innovation is relevant and can be quickly adopted. Majority ownership of patents developed through this collaboration is maintained by industry, with a nominal fee for its services.
Applied Research Centres:
- Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability
- Centre for Sensors and System Integration
- Centre for Innovative Media
- Boreal Research Institute
- Center for Culinary Innovation
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Alberta Innovates
Alberta Innovates is Alberta’s largest research and innovation agency with a vision to deliver solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing Albertans and the world. They provide research and financial support to focus sectors including health, environment, energy, food, artificial intelligence, and nanotech.
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UAlberta/NRC Nanotechnology Initiative
The Nanotechnology Initiative is a collaborative initiative between the University of Alberta and the National Research Council of Canada. This 20,000-square-metre facility is one of the most technologically advanced in the world, attracting leading minds and producing groundbreaking research.
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Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII)
Founded in 2002, The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, or AMII, is a world leader in machine learning and artificial intelligence research. As a forward-thinking and influential organization, they collaborate with other sectors to produce innovations that have monumental implications.
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