Canada’s competitive industries
Canadian industry leadership fuels innovation
Canadian businesses have the talent, technology and tenacity to cement Canada’s position as an important global player in a wide range of sectors and industries.
In 2019, Invest in Canada worked closely with partners across the country to promote opportunities and attract investment. The result? Billions of dollars invested in energy and mining, manufacturing, management, finance and insurance, trade and transportation, and more.
Here are the seven sectors that Invest in Canada is currently targeting to draw foreign direct investment and showcase Canadian capabilities to the world:
Advanced manufacturing
More than 1.7 million people are employed in Canada’s advanced manufacturing sector, which includes information and communication technologies (ICT), robotics and 3D printing. Canada is a world leader in system integration, artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, machine vision and automation. We are home to one of the best research and development (R&D) environments in the world and offer a large, highly skilled workforce.
Agribusiness
There are currently over 6,900 organizations in the Canadian food and beverage processing sector. Canada has a large, steady supply of plant, animal and marine life. We’re the first country in the G20 to have a tariff-free zone for industrial manufacturing.
Clean tech
Canada is home to the second largest innovation corridor in North America. Our low R&D costs, highly skilled workforce and focus on innovation are helping us lead the way in developing and commercializing clean technologies.
Canadian leadership and innovation
Canada leads the globe in:-
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Graphic that depicts the sub-sectors where Canada excels in leadership and innovation, broken down by professional field.
Canadian leadership and innovation
Canada leads the globe in:
- Civilian light simulator production
- Dental implants and materials
- Digital radiography
- Home healthcare products
- Hydrogen and fuel cell research
- In-vitro diagnostics
- Potash
- Quantum computing science
- Turboprop and helicopter engine production
- Videogame development, animation and visual effects
Entertainment and media
Known as Hollywood North, Canada is the third most filmed country in the world and home to world-class digital media schools, large film studios and television production facilities. The $22 billion Canadian digital media industry supports more than 120,000 creative jobs. In fact, Canada is a world leader in animation, video game production and visual effects (VFX).
Life sciences
Canadian innovations are improving healthcare and patient care around the world. Canada is one of the world’s largest markets for medical devices and home to the world’s 10 largest biopharmaceutical companies. Investors benefit from access to top academic institutions, research networks and strategic partnerships.
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$1 billion in research by Canadian universities each year
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2nd largest number of biotechnology companies
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3rd largest digital games industry
Natural resources
Canada supplies energy to 145 countries and is the world’s sixth largest energy producer. Canada ranks in the top 3 countries globally for many minerals and metals. We are the world’s second largest producer of softwood lumber. The country is ideally positioned to meet the growing demand for wood from emerging economies worldwide.
Technology
Canada is home to more than 43,000 tech companies. Our world-class Canadian universities offer programs to prepare technology talent for the future – from engineering to AI research, multimedia production and more. With low operating costs, a highly skilled technology workforce, and immigration policies to recruit internationally, Canada continues to draw global technology investors.
Learn more about Canada’s industries