Industry opportunities

Companies in Alberta are defining and redefining many high-tech sectors and establishing themselves as global leaders. The result is a diversified range of businesses with promising investment opportunities.

Aerospace and defence
Alberta is highly regarded for its capabilities in robotics and unmanned vehicle systems (UVS); defence electronics; aerospace-based geomatics and space sciences; manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MMRO); and logistics support to the military.

Agrifood
Alberta’s extensive network of research and development facilities help develop and commercialize agrifood products and processes.

Architecture, engineering and construction
This industry accounts for about 9% of the province’s annual GDP. It continues to grow because of its participation in Alberta's strong infrastructure and resource development activity.

Building products
Alberta’s building products industry has gained a tremendous reputation worldwide, particularly in the areas of cold-weather construction and green building technologies.

Chemicals and petrochemicals
Alberta has one of the largest petrochemical industries in Canada, characterized by modern, world-scale plants, efficient transportation systems and access to the second largest crude oil reserve in the world.

Energy resources
Alberta is Canada’s energy province. Energy development is the largest contributor to the Alberta’s GDP, capital investments and exports.

Environmental products and services
Alberta has a well-earned international reputation for excellence in water treatment, waste management and the development of climate change solutions. Development opportunities exist in many other areas.

Financial services
Alberta’s financial services industry accounts for a significant share of provincial employment and GDP. The sector has expanded by an average of 6.4% per year since 2002.

Information and communications technology
Alberta has a large, sophisticated and growing information and communications technology (ICT) sector: ICT is Alberta’s third largest value-added sector with more than 4,300 companies and 54,500 employees generating over $10.2 billion in annual revenues.

Life sciences
Alberta’s research facilities and highly skilled workforce support innovative developments in rehabilitative medicine, biomedical engineering, health informatics and nanotechnology.

Machinery manufacturing and metal fabrication
Alberta is one of Canada’s major metal manufacturing centres, in part due to the energy sector. Tens of billions of dollars are being spent in both the oil sands and conventional oil and gas sectors each year.

Oil and gas technology and services
Alberta’s technologies and services are in demand all over the world and generate billions of dollars in revenues.

Tourism
Tourism is one of Alberta’s leading industries. A range of tourist, hospitality and service-related businesses cater to Albertans traveling in their own province and visitors from other parts of the world.

Transportation and logistics
Alberta has one of the best transportation systems in Canada. Through road, rail, air cargo and pipeline networks, more than $100 billion of Alberta products move to international markets each year.

Date Updated:
RDP-2111