> Key Target Industries > High Tech High Tech
As a country second only to Korea in broadband connectivity, Canada is exploiting its connectivity as a source of competitive economic advantage.Information and communications technology (ICT) sector growth has outpaced growth of the broader Canadian economy by 300% since 1997. 480,000 Canadians are employed in the ICT sector (2005). The sector is Canada's top research and development driver, spending $5 billion annually, and employing more than 50% of the country's research and development scientists and engineers. Alberta’s ICT sector includes companies engaged in producing computer equipment and services, software, navigational and medical instruments, semiconductors, and telecommunication equipment and services. Approximately 7,000 ICT companies in Alberta employ 54,500, and generate an estimated $10 billion in revenues and $2.5 billion in exports (2002).
A Role for the Foothills Region
Broadband and wireless have broken traditional economic constraints that have restricted opportunity in more rural environments. The Foothills Region will establish itself as a Work-From-Anywhere location by targeting activity that uses readily available broadband infrastructure to establish computer and network-based consulting, tele-commuting, software and applications development, and e-commerce. A high quality of life this cluster is traditionally attracted to and is present locally, and the Calgary Region’s highly skilled labour force and concentration of engineers, are enablers for accelerated growth of this activity in the Foothills Region.
