Transforming Alberta's Economy: Issue 19

Welcome to Issue 19 of Transforming Alberta’s Economy.

mesh conference landed in Toronto this past week, taking place at the historic The Symes building, December 6 and 7.

I attended not only as a moderator for a discussion on whether Canada’s digital policy has gone off the rails and what the engaged community should be doing but also as an attendee to enjoy the many other sessions.

For the digital policy conversation, I sat down with Dr. Michael Geist . He’s not only an expert lawyer whose website is a fun rabbit hole to explore, he is also a law professor at the University of Ottawa where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law and is a member of the Centre for Law, Technology and Society.?

All mesh events follow the same format: no formal presentations or pay-to-play panels. The result is unique conversations about transformation and innovation with animated, real-time discussions.?

Get the breakdown of my session with Dr. Michael Geist and learn more about Day 2 of mesh conference on Digital Journal .

What you’ll find inside:

1?? Alberta News?

2?? Collisions YYC: November Episodes

Alberta News

Vancouver, Toronto-Waterloo, Calgary among the top 50 global cleantech ecosystems

Startup Genome 's released its climate tech-focused startup ecosystem report recently, which ranks global ecosystems based on the current state of startup activity in cleantech and the “blue economy,” which the report defines as technologies specific to ocean innovation.

Three Canadian regions cracked the top 50 list: Vancouver, Toronto-Waterloo, and Calgary. The country’s largest ecosystems, Vancouver and Toronto-Waterloo, ranked at 12th and 13th place, respectively, while Vancouver ranked in the top five cleantech ecosystems in North America.?

Calgary and Edmonton both cracked Startup Genome’s top five cleantech ecosystems to watch list, which is notable given the cities’ historical roots in the oil and gas economy.

Read the article.

Calgary startups DrivingIt by Ted , ENA Solution Inc , and OraQ AI awarded at Launch Party 2023

Alberta tech continues to reinforce startups in its ecosystem as Innovation Week YYC’s 2023 Launch Party at Platform Calgary bestowed awards upon three of Calgary’s top 10 startups, as named by Launch Party alumni.?

To enter the competition, companies must be in business for less than three years, and show positive revenue and potential for future growth. The applications are then reviewed by a committee made up of three Launch Party alumni founders. This year’s judges were Propra CEO Al-Karim K. , Tall Grass Ventures director Marlise Hunter , and WaitWell co-founder Shannon Vander Meulen .?

Read the article.

Creating innovation opportunities for the energy sector

Alberta Innovates is announcing new funding through the Digital Innovation in Clean Energy?(DICE) program. $2.5 million in funding from Alberta Innovates is available, with up to $250,000 available per project for a term of 18 months.?

Laura Kilcrease , CEO of Alberta Innovates was quoted as saying, “The DICE competition provides opportunities for positive collisions between technology developers and those in the energy sector with pressing needs. Reducing greenhouse gasses, creating value for energy companies, and de-risking new technologies provides Alberta-based companies a clear advantage over their competitors, and when they succeed, it’s good for all Albertans.”

Read the news release.

Alberta announces new carbon capture grant program?

The Government of Alberta introduced a new program to increase investment in carbon capture, utilization and storage facilities (CCUS) in the province. The Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP) will grant up to 12 percent of eligible capital costs to companies adding CCUS to their projects.?

Premier Danielle Smith said the program is projected to add $35 billion in new investment over the next decade. She said government funding will be in the range of $3.5 to $5.3 billion, with some of it coming from the Technology Innovation Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund.?

Read the article.

Collisions YYC November Episodes

Ray S. , Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Kinvest Venture Partners

Ray discusses innovating in the impact investing space, emphasizing mutuality, employee ownership, and the genuine impact his company aims to make in rural Africa.

Listen to the episode.

Marc Binkley , Marketing Expert

Marc showcases the importance of integrating evidence-based marketing, understanding consumer psychology, and adopting a scientific approach to testing and learning in sales and marketing.

Listen to the episode.

Tara Weber , Western Bureau Chief at BNN Bloomberg

Tara offers valuable insights into the evolving narratives surrounding resource development and the importance of finding middle ground and collaborative solutions in the fast-paced and ever-changing media landscape.

Listen to the episode.

Vanessa Gagnon , Director, Community at Platform Calgary

Vanessa explains Innovation Week in Calgary, highlighting the inclusive and collaborative nature of the event, and emphasizing community engagement, diverse content tracks, and the celebration of local tech and social innovation.

Listen to the episode.

Jason McFadden , Vice President of Growth at Build with Assembly

Jason explores the importance of understanding and leveraging human emotions and experiences in SaaS sales and marketing, advocating for a customer-centric approach that focuses on creating genuine connections with customers and evoking feelings through storytelling and product missions.

Listen to the episode.

Erin Thorp , Author of ‘Inside Out’ and Coach, Consultant

Erin highlights the crucial need for empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership, emphasizing the significant impact on employee engagement, productivity, and building inclusive and diverse work cultures.

Listen to the episode.

Zinat Damji , Founder, President and CEO at Alliance Trust Company, Calgary, Canada

Zinat shares her experiences and insights on the significance of integrity, value-driven business, and the unique opportunities for growth and support within Calgary's business community.

Listen to the episode.

Sophia Fairweather , Founder of Key-Angels

Sophia shares her journey into youth entrepreneurship, the challenges and opportunities of starting early, and the importance of parental support and guidance in navigating the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Listen to the episode.

Megan Lee , Managing Director at Quantum City at the 加拿大卡尔加里大学

Megan discusses the rapid advancement and interdisciplinary nature of quantum technology, emphasizing its potential impact on diverse industries, the need for talent generation, and the importance of adaptable strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of quantum computing.

Listen to the episode.

Kathryn Bakos , Director, Climate Finance and Science at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation | Centre Intact d’adaptation au climat

Kathryn provides valuable insights on the economic impact of extreme weather events, the urgency of climate change adaptation, the need for proactive measures in reducing risks, and the significance of practical solutions for individuals and communities to build resilience.

Listen to the episode.

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