Fueling Canada’s Innovation Engine
June 2, 2025
How the Kanata North Tech Park and Ottawa Are Shaping Tomorrow
As Ottawa gears up for Innovation Week, there’s no better time to reflect on the city’s powerful role in shaping Canada’s technological future. With cutting-edge startups, world-class research institutions, and a thriving tech ecosystem, Ottawa is rapidly solidifying its status as a national innovation hub. And at the heart of this surge is Kanata North, Canada’s largest technology park.
Ottawa Innovation Week is taking off from June 9 to 13, 2025, and Wesley Clover International is excited to be on board! Led by Ottawa Unlimited – a collaboration between Invest Ottawa, the Ottawa Board of Trade, and Ottawa Tourism – this week-long celebration shines a spotlight on the bold thinkers and trailblazers shaping the future of our city.
Why Kanata North Matters
With over 570 companies employing more than 33,000 people, the Kanata North Technology Park is more than just a tech cluster, it’s the driving force behind Canadian innovation. Home to a mix of global giants like Nokia, Ciena, and Ericsson, and a vibrant ecosystem of SMEs and startups, the park has become a launchpad for transformative technologies.
This evolution didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of decades of commitment by entrepreneurs, technologists, and community leaders. Companies like Mitel and Newbridge Networks helped lay the foundation for a tech community built on collaboration, commercialization, and global ambition — one that continues to shape the future of Kanata North through technologies like AI, IoT, and edge computing, and, by extension, the future of Canadian innovation.
The Urgency of Innovation in the Age of AI
We’re at a critical inflection point. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are no longer optional. They’re essential to corporate survival and competitiveness in today’s digital-first world. AI is quickly becoming the backbone of every major industry, from finance and healthcare to manufacturing and agriculture.
In Kanata North, this transformation is already underway. Companies like Solink are using AI for smart surveillance and operational insights. Celestra Health Systems is revolutionizing walking analysis, proving that the future of novel digital neurological biomarkers is already here. And Kanata North-based startup Edge Signal is helping global clients manage edge infrastructure, bringing AI and IoT together for real-time, scalable solutions.
These innovations don’t exist in silos. They thrive in a deeply integrated ecosystem, one that the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA) is nurturing with strategic intent. It’s not just about economic development, it’s about creating the connective tissue between research and real-world application, between local startups and global markets.
What sets Kanata North apart is not just its technological prowess, but its commitment to building a community that can support the growth ahead. Nokia’s proposed transformation of its campus into a mixed-use hub with residential towers and new R&D spaces, along with KRP Properties’ plans to convert one of their commercial real estate towers into residential units, show how innovation goes beyond the lab or the data center — it extends into how we live, work, and play.
Ottawa’s Moment to Lead
As Innovation Week puts a spotlight on what’s possible, Ottawa has a chance to reaffirm its leadership, not just in tech, but in building a more connected, inclusive, and forward-thinking community. Our strength lies not only in our world-class companies and cutting-edge research, but in the people who power it all: The entrepreneurs, educators, students, community leaders, and everyday residents who believe in this city’s potential.
Now is the time to come together and shape the future we want to see. That means supporting local talent, encouraging youth to explore careers in STEM, and making space for diverse voices in innovation. Let’s keep building, keep collaborating, and keep pushing boundaries, together.
To learn more about Wesley Clover’s role and global portfolio of technology companies, visit wesleyclover.com/portfolios/technology.
Wesley Clover invests in a range of technology companies, and they bring impressive innovation to markets and clients around the globe. I/O is our way of sharing some of the best insights. I trust you will enjoy them.
Terry Matthews, Chairman