Driving Calgary’s innovation ecosystem: Insights from Jennifer Jensen

“Calgary is classified as an emerging ecosystem,” said Jennifer Jensen, adding that the city has “a teenager mentality. You know, we’re a little bit scrappy.”

Speaking with Digital Journal during the Launch Party at Innovation Week YYC, Jensen, outgoing executive director of the Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC), provided an inside look at Calgary’s growing innovation ecosystem. From the challenges of collaboration to the opportunities for scale-ups, she shared what’s needed to accelerate the city’s ambitious innovation goals.

Jensen highlighted Calgary’s inclusion in Startup Genome’s list of the top 30 emerging ecosystems globally but stressed there is still work to be done.

“As much as we claim to be a collaborative ecosystem… organizations are working in silos,” said Jensen. “What would be ideal is if we just really wrapped around entrepreneurs and lifted them up together.”

Another significant challenge Jensen identified is the scale-up gap. She said she often hears about local companies leaving and asks, “Well, why?”

“Because they don’t have customers and they don’t have access to investment,” she said.

Jensen emphasized the need for Calgary’s ecosystem to not only support startups but also to provide the resources, talent, leadership, and customer connections needed for scaling businesses to thrive.

Collaborating across regions to strengthen innovation

Jensen discussed the CIC’s work with seven other Regional Innovation Networks (RINs) across Alberta to deepen collaboration and maximize resources for entrepreneurs.

“So it’s really that connection point to support entrepreneurs the best we can across the entire province, no matter where they come from,” she said.

Each region contributes unique strengths. For example, Jensen pointed out southern Alberta’s expertise in agriculture and Indigenous partnerships, Edmonton’s strong post-secondary institutions and life sciences focus, and Red Deer Polytechnic’s manufacturing capabilities.

“I think it’s just really a no-brainer to use that knowledge and help intersect innovation technology with corporate,” Jensen said, highlighting opportunities for traditional industries like energy and agriculture to work with startups and technology companies.

Jensen also praised initiatives like Innovate Calgary’s Energy Transition Centre and Foresight Canada for driving innovation and fostering partnerships between corporations and innovators. 

“[There’s] lots of organizations working in this space. So I think it’s coming,” she said.

Curious about how Calgary plans to overcome challenges like the scale-up gap and support 1,027 tech startups by 2031? Watch the full interview with Jennifer Jensen for more insights into the future of Calgary’s innovation ecosystem.

Watch the full interview below.

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