Latest news with #BradParry
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Report paints Calgary's startup ecosystem in a positive light
The 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report has Calgary ranked inside the top 50 cities globally when it comes to having an emerging startup ecosystem. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual In the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, Calgary was ranked inside the top 50 cities globally when it comes to having an emerging startup ecosystem. Specifically, the report cites the city's talent affordability and 'bang for your buck' for startup companies setting up shop. While the results are a positive step forward, there's still a push to keep the momentum moving. 'I think one of the big things for us is unlocking the capital. There's a lot of wealth in our city, and I think for us, what we need to see is local investors invest in local companies,' said Brad Parry, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development. 'And the second piece for us is procurement. We need Calgary companies to buy Calgary products and services from our startup and ecosystem players.' Parry says diversifying the city's economy into sectors like life sciences and agriculture has helped make Calgary a global up-and-comer.
Calgary Herald
06-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
XPRIZE picks Calgary for first international hub; city and province invest $3M
The University of Calgary has been chosen as the site of the first international XPRIZE hub, a $10-million, five-year initiative to connect Canadian innovators with global efforts to tackle some of the world's biggest challenges. Article content Article content Backed by a combined $3-million investment from both the province and the city, the XPRIZE Canada Hub aims to 'empower Canadian innovators to solve the world's most pressing challenges,' the university says. Article content Article content 'This is a huge opportunity,' said Brad Parry, CEO of the Opportunity Investment Fund and Calgary Economic Development. 'Having this in Calgary, as the hub for Canada, just sends a message that there are some amazing things happening in our community. Article content Article content 'It really helps solidify the notion that (Calgary) is truly a city that's been built by innovators and that our future is gonna be driven through innovation.' Article content Founded in 1994, XPRIZE is a leader in designing and operating incentive competitions to solve major global challenges, such as carbon capture, wildfire mitigation and water security. The non-profit acts as convener, raising money for prizes, some as big as $100 million, and hosting competitions with specific criteria focused on a specific topic. Article content The XPRIZE Canada Hub at the University of Calgary will be the U.S.-based non-profit's first international hub. XPRIZE CEO Anousheh Ansari said the hub will strengthen Canada's leadership in global innovation by connecting Canadian innovators to opportunities within the XPRIZE network. Article content Article content 'This is very unique for us, and that's why we're excited about it,' Ansari said. Article content While XPRIZE has long-standing relationships with many universities, Ansari said what set University of Calgary apart was its mission focused on 'impact.' Article content 'This emphasis on . . . positive impact in the world is what made the university really a perfect place for us to have our first international hub,' Ansari said. She said the initiative will look at how to drive more innovation from the university's research labs into creating viable businesses that are focused on finding 'solutions for some of the problems that we've been stuck with for a long time.' Article content Ansari pointed to XPRIZE's first competition, a $10-million prize created in the late 1990s, which she said 'launched the commercial space industry.'
CBC
21-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Calgary poised to join hydrogen sector with new energy hub
Calgary is set to join the hydrogen sector by opening a new energy hub in the area of the city. The Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub (CRH2) aims to create 100 jobs and generate $75 million in private sector development, according to a release from Calgary Economic Development (CED). The hub will be run by the Transition Accelerator, a Canadian charity focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. CRH2 will work with Alberta's hydrogen producers and the businesses and facilities that will act as demand centres for hydrogen consumption, CED says. The hub will focus on airports, heat and power, hydrogen corridors, industrial and municipal fleets and trains. CED says the project is more than two years in the making and builds on the success of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub. Alberta Innovates, CED, the City of Calgary and the federal government — through Prairies Economic Development Canada — have committed more than $3 million in funding to the new hub. Brad Parry, president and CEO of CED, says the new hub will not only help grow energy innovation in Calgary, but also import it. "We're going to become a centre where people can come and try new projects," he said. "For us, it's an exciting piece to be almost like a magnet to draw more of that innovation happening right here in Calgary." Parry says Calgary's hub will work closely with Edmonton's to drive Alberta forward as a leader in the hydrogen sector. "We have been the energy capital of this country and will always be that," Parry said. "We have the decision makers here, we have the talent here, we have the capital here and I think we have the chops to truly make a difference in that sector." Zak Cunningham, CRH2 lead, says the head office for the hub will be located in downtown Calgary but work will be happening in and around the city. "A hub is much broader than [a physical location]. It's really just connecting the dots between and within the city of Calgary and the region more broadly," he said. "So, the activities of the hub kind of span all over the place within the region and they encompass the whole value chain." Cunningham said another component of CRH2 will be to connect with Edmonton's hub by creating a corridor between the two.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Calgary poised to join hydrogen sector with new energy hub
Calgary is set to join the hydrogen sector by opening a new energy hub in the area of the city. The Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub (CRH2) aims to create 100 jobs and generate $75 million in private sector development, according to a release from Calgary Economic Development (CED). The hub will be run by the Transition Accelerator, a Canadian charity focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. CRH2 will work with Alberta's hydrogen producers and the businesses and facilities that will act as demand centres for hydrogen consumption, CED says. The hub will focus on airports, heat and power, hydrogen corridors, industrial and municipal fleets and trains. CED says the project is more than two years in the making and builds on the success of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub. Alberta Innovates, CED, the City of Calgary and the federal government — through Prairies Economic Development Canada — have committed more than $3 million in funding to the new hub. Brad Parry, president and CEO of CED, says the new hub will not only help grow energy innovation in Calgary, but also import it. "We're going to become a centre where people can come and try new projects," he said. "For us, it's an exciting piece to be almost like a magnet to draw more of that innovation happening right here in Calgary." Parry says Calgary's hub will work closely with Edmonton's to drive Alberta forward as a leader in the hydrogen sector. "We have been the energy capital of this country and will always be that," Parry said. "We have the decision makers here, we have the talent here, we have the capital here and I think we have the chops to truly make a difference in that sector." Zak Cunningham, CRH2 lead, says the head office for the hub will be located in downtown Calgary but work will be happening in and around the city. "A hub is much broader than [a physical location]. It's really just connecting the dots between and within the city of Calgary and the region more broadly," he said. "So, the activities of the hub kind of span all over the place within the region and they encompass the whole value chain." Cunningham said another component of CRH2 will be to connect with Edmonton's hub by creating a corridor between the two. "You start with the hub approach, developing some demand, aggregating demand within a region and then you want to connect that to another hub, right? And that's where a corridor approach comes in."
