Calgary Claims #1 Spot in Canada for VC Growth, Edmonton Ranks #3 in Canada for Patent Density
ALBERTA, May 21, 2025 – Alberta’s innovation economy is gaining global recognition, with both Calgary and Edmonton earning strong rankings in Dealroom’s first-ever Global Tech Ecosystem Index. The report ranked 288 cities worldwide based on startup activity, investment, talent, and intellectual property. The recognition of two Alberta cities in this global assessment demonstrates the province’s growing strength in the technology sector, with each city contributing unique strengths to the overall ecosystem.
Calgary claimed the #1 position in Canada for Venture Capital Growth Rate, along with these global rankings:
- Ranked #78 in the “Champions” category, recognizing mature ecosystems producing $1B+ companies
- Ranked #79 in the “Density Leaders” category, highlighting ecosystems with high innovation output per capita
- Ranked #130 in the “Rising Stars” category, tracking ecosystems experiencing rapid growth
Edmonton earned the #3 spot in Canada for Patent Density, along with these global rankings:
- Ranked #170 in the “Champions” category
- Ranked #122 in the “Density Leaders” category
- Ranked at #226 in the “Rising Stars” category
Edmonton’s strong patent performance is anchored by the University of Alberta and supported by ecosystem players such as Edmonton Unlimited, Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute), and the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network (ERIN). The city has cultivated a strong culture of research-driven innovation and intellectual property commercialization, translating into a growing number of IP-backed ventures that are gaining international recognition.
The formidable placement of Calgary and Edmonton in these global rankings reflects Alberta’s remarkable growth trajectory in the innovation sector. According to CVCA’s Year-End 2024 Canadian Market Overview, Alberta’s five-year compound annual growth rate for venture capital investment reached 48.5% (2019-2024), more than tripling Canada’s national average of 13%.
These Dealroom Global Tech Ecosystem Index rankings reflect the province’s growing global profile and are powered in part by data from Start Alberta, Alberta’s innovation platform and a proud contributor to the Dealroom global database of innovation ecosystems.
“These global rankings validate what we’ve long known here in Alberta: our tech ecosystem is world-class,” said Tamara Woolgar, Executive Director of the A100, which operates Start Alberta. “And this recognition reflects years of intrinsic work by founders, mentors, investors, and ecosystem builders across the province. Whether it’s Calgary’s surge in venture capital or Edmonton’s leadership in patent innovation, Alberta is proving that bold, scalable innovation is happening here, and the world is taking notice.”
For more details on the ranking methodology and to explore the complete Global Tech Ecosystem Index, visit www.dealroom.co/tech-ecosystem-index-2025.
About the Dealroom Global Tech Ecosystem Index
The 2025 Global Tech Ecosystem Index, published by Dealroom.co, offers a data-driven view of innovation activity in 288 cities across the globe. Cities are ranked by startup density, unicorn creation, venture capital, intellectual property, and more, providing visibility into the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing tech hubs.
About Start Alberta
Start Alberta is the most comprehensive database on startups and funding in the province, providing real-time insights on Alberta’s innovation economy while showcasing the ecosystem to a global audience. Operated by the A100 and powered by Dealroom, the platform catalogues more than 2,800 tech companies that call Alberta home. As Alberta’s official contributor to Dealroom’s global database, Start Alberta plays a crucial role in increasing the visibility of Alberta’s maturing tech ecosystem, helping to attract more capital, talent, and support for the province’s innovation sector. Explore more at www.startalberta.ca