Bringing Calgary's innovation story to Ottawa

In 2009 Canada’s Tech Network (CTN) was launched to connect technology hubs across the country. Through this network, 27 innovation hubs from Victoria to St. John’s and the Yukon ensure that Canadian innovators are connected to the resources they need, regardless of where in the country they might be. Over the last decade CTN hubs have supported 46,000 startups who have created more than 100,000 good paying jobs and have raised more than $20 billion in capital.

Last week CTN was in Ottawa for meetings with important decision makers in the Government of Canada and the House of Commons. More than 20 hub leaders met with political advisors and senior officials within the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, regional economic development agencies, and key representatives from the Official Opposition parties. I had the opportunity to represent Platform Calgary, along with our Chief Operating Officer Jen Lussier, and share Calgary’s innovation story in Ottawa.

Our focus in Ottawa was on three key factors that impact the success of Canadian startups. First off, how we can boost access to capital to increase new business creation. Second, developing and attracting highly skilled workers in tech. And lastly, creating pathways to international markets for promising Canadian firms seeking new customer growth.

The goal of this trip was to build stronger relationships with key decision makers and present common sense solutions that could help grow Canada’s innovation economy. Government can help innovators. But government decisions can also have unintended consequences that can slow innovators down. By telling our story and sharing feedback from innovation communities across the country, we can ensure that government is making decisions with eyes wide open.

At Platform Calgary, we talk extensively about the power of connectedness. The more connected an entrepreneur is, the more likely they are to be successful. The same is true for how innovation hubs connect with key decision makers across government. By ensuring Calgary’s tech ecosystem is well connected, we can help build a movement that secures Canada’s position as a global leader in innovation. The history of modern innovation has countless contributions from Canadian innovators. We intend to continue that proud Canadian tradition.

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