With high levels of broadband penetration and low overall communications costs, Canada offers distinct competitive advantages to software development firms worldwide.

Longstanding leaders in information and communications technology (ICT), Canadians remain at the forefront of discovery in software, telecommunications and digital media. Canadian broadband and wireless technologies are revolutionizing world markets for seamless access, mobile data networks, smart antennas and software-defined radio. Canadian simulation, gaming, special effects and animation technologies are dominant in global entertainment, military and health markets. Canada is also recognized trailblazers in data mining applications, security and authentication, biometrics, Web 2.0 and encryption.

Canada’s software industry includes over 50,000 firms employing more than a quarter million workers and generating over $32 billion in revenues in 2007.  Canada’s software strengths are evident across a number of sectors, including enterprise applications, e-Security, e-Health and financial services.  Canadians companies have developed a global reputation for high quality, cost effective applications that help clients worldwide focus on their core business and strengthen their competitiveness.

• Some 20 of Software Magazine’s Top 500 global software companies originate from Canada, which is second only to the U.S. in terms of the national percentage.
• In September 2009, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Canada 4th overall in its 3rd report benchmarking the competitiveness of the IT industry in 66 countries.  Canada ranked higher than India and most of Europe.
• In Enterprise Application Software (EAS), Canadian innovation has produced global leaders such as business intelligence pioneer Cognos (now part of IBM) and enterprise content management (ECM) powerhouse Open Text Corp.  Canada is home to global giants like Adobe, Oracle, IBM and Microsoft, as well as Canadian leaders such as Brainhunter, Constellation, Descartes, Emergis, Enghouse Systems Ltd. and Matrikon.                          …/2
• Canada also at technology security, from antivirus software and cryptography to mobile authentication and intrusion detection. Besides breeding world-leading e-security developers like Certicom, Radialpoint and Third Brigade, Canada hosts global heavyweights such as CA, Cisco Systems, McAfee and Symantec.
• Across Canada, software research consortia and industry clusters spur business growth by encouraging collaboration and inspiring innovation. Partnerships that bring together government, universities and industry flourish in urban centres throughout the country.  Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Waterloo are hotbeds of software development.
• In the area of green IT, for example, Canadian companies and universities are part of a $50-million research consortium for the Next Generation Internet, while the University of Toronto’s SciNet Consortium is building Canada’s most powerful and energy-efficient supercomputer.

Home Grown Leaders

• Algorithmics
  
• Brainhunter
  
• Certicom
  
• CGI Group Inc.
  
• Constellation Software Inc.
  
• Descartes
  
• Emergis
  
• Enghouse Systems Ltd.
  
• Matrikon
  
• Open Text Corporation
  
• Optimal Payments
  
• Platform Computing Corporation
  
• 20-20 Technologies
  
• Radialpoint
  
• Third Brigade

Global Investors in Canada

• Adobe Systems
  
• Autodesk Canada
  
• CA
  
• Cisco Systems
  
• Corel Corporation
  
• Fujitsu Consulting
  
• IBM Corporation
  
• McAfee
  
• Microsoft Corporation
  
• Oracle Corporation
  
• SAP AG
  
• Symantec

Look Who Chooses Canada

• In 2009, IMAGINiT Technologies opened a new field office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The RAND Worldwide Company is a provider of design and engineering solutions to architecture, civil engineering, geospatial, and manufacturing industries.
• In 2009, Agfa HealthCare announced an investment of $200 million to expand its Waterloo, Ontario operations and develop new applications and markets for digital imaging software that allow the electronic transfer of medical images
• In 2008, Microsoft chose Richmond, B.C. as the site for its newest development centre where over 300 staff work on half of Microsoft’s many offerings.