20 Reasons Saskatchewan Is a Tech Powerhouse
The Saskatchewan tech scene has seen impressive growth in the last few years.
Since 2019, tech sector employment has jumped by 108%! According to Innovation Saskatchewan, this surpasses Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan goal to triple the sector by 2030.
So, why Saskatchewan?
We have a long history of innovation. Historically, we have invented:
Toothbrushes
Vehicle end gates
Snow plows (of course)
Master electrical safety switches
Telephone devices
Breast pumps
ATMs
Universal healthcare
Now let’s talk about the future!
Saskatchewan’s tech sector has the highest employee growth rate of all SK industries according to an Innovation Saskatchewan article.
One of Saskatchewan’s greatest assets is our people. We're known for our problem-solving and hard-working nature.
University of Saskatchewan’s Opus pre-accelerator program assisted 24 startups and raised $90,000 of non-dilutive funding in 2024.
Innovation Saskatchewan has invested $400,000 in the Fedoruk Centre in support of advancing nuclear research. More here.
StartupTNT, based in Alberta and operating in Saskatchewan, is the most active pre-seed investor in Canada! Since 2020, they’ve raised $17.3M from 489 angel investors and invested in 110 Western Canadian startups.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s new Joseph A. Remai Saskatoon Campus, located at Innovation Place on the University of Saskatchewan campus, will bring about a new innovation ecosystem. Proximity is hoped to be a huge spark for innovation and collaboration. More on the groundbreaking of this campus here.
As the home to a globally competitive agriculture industry, we prioritize AgTech research and innovation. Innovation Saskatchewan offers the Agtech Growth Fund to support digital ag software/hardware, smart farm equipment, animal health, agrifood supply chain, and the agricultural marketplace and fintech.
The Saskatchewan tech sector has accounted for 10% of all job creation from 2016 - 2023. Source: Innovation Saskatchewan article.
Innovation Saskatchewan has provided $1.5 million in funding to the Petroleum Technology Research Centre to support the establishment of an Energy Innovation Hub. Learn more.
With funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), a USask soil science lab will be able to accelerate their critical soil research. Learn more.
Co.Labs, a hugely impactful Saskatchewan tech incubator, has put up some impressive numbers: 214 startups incubated, $50.6M in private investment raised, $87.7M revenue generated, and 903 jobs created! Check them out.
Innovation Saskatchewan has invested $166,000 in Saskatchewan Polytechnic research related to bioscience and geospatial science. More in this article.
We are home to some of the most successful tech entrepreneurs in the country, including Brendan King at Vendasta, Report on Business’s No. 235 on the 2024 Canada’s Top Growing Companies and Katherine Renier from Coconut Calendar, 2024 50 CEOs to Watch and a Deloitte Fast 50 company.
Our provincial government has a goal of tripling the tech sector by 2030—a goal we’re well on our way to hitting!
We are home to awesome funders like the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program, Startup TNT, Westcap Management and PIC Investment Group.
Cultivator, powered by Conexus, has significantly impacted Saskatchewan’s economic growth. Since their founding in 2019, they have incubated 180 companies, raised $172M+ in private capital, created 626+ jobs, and helped generate $135M in revenue.
Innovation Saskatchewan offers the Made in Saskatchewan Technology Program (MIST), connecting startups with the public sector. They take applications quarterly.
Saskatchewan has a 45% tax benefit called the Saskatchewan Technology Startup Incentive (STSI) for Saskatchewan residents who invest in eligible tech companies
As a province at the forefront of agricultural trends, we’re all about understanding how we can improve ag efficiency while protecting the environment. A USask PhD candidate is researching the potential for farmers to grow perennial grasses and forages on their marginal land to increase biodiversity, improve soil organic carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save farmers money.
Saskatchewan-based tech innovators can enjoy options like Collider for flexible workspaces, networking, and access to an inclusive community.
The ecosystem has rallied and is working together to build an amazing tech industry. If you have a technology idea, reach out to Co.Labs, Cultivator or the Sask Startup Institute. They can get you started on your path!