Smart Cities

Drive innovation in Canada’s smart city hub

The smart city sector in Ottawa is built upon over four decades of innovation at Blackberry QNX and world-leading expertise from the capital’s larger tech ecosystem. More than 100 industry partners, from multinationals like Ford and Ericsson to SMEs like SmartCone Technologies and Bluewave AI, make our city Canada’s smart city hub.

Our academic institutions provide specialized training and research in machine learning, computer science and robotics which further helps supports the industry through access to in-demand talent and valuable partnerships. Ottawa is also home to Area X.O. This futureplex for imagination, is a technology-rich, secure research and development complex, with the most state-of-the-art communication infrastructure, created for all-weather experimentation.

This mix of world-class talent, R&D facilities and expertise makes Ottawa the ideal location for leading-edge projects, including the first on-road automated shuttle trial in Ontario.

Why Ottawa is the ideal location for smart cities leaders:

    • Ottawa has the highest concentration of tech talent (as a percentage of a city’s total employment) in North America at 13.3 percent (CBRE 2023)
    • Home to 65 federal research labs, including several facilities operated by the National Research Council.
    • Home to Area X.O, one of the most advanced communications infrastructures in the world with 5G
    • Multinationals such as Ford, Ericsson, Nokia and Juniper, invest in AV verticals and help attract top talent to the city.

Smart City Companies in Ottawa

Fact Sheet

Ottawa is at the epicentre of Canada's smart city industry. Home to leading experts and researchers who are shaping the global communications industry.

Examples of Ottawa's smart city brilliance

These companies are contributing to our thriving smart city cluster.

Area X.O

Located in west Ottawa on an 1,850 acre gated site, Area X.O is the futureplex of innovation and collaboration in Canada's Capital that enables and accelerates the safe and secure development, testing, and application of next generation technologies.

Combining diverse expertise with Ottawa's telecom and cybersecurity strengths as a tech hub, Area X.O helps companies of all sizes and governments address grand challenges and opportunities. Equipped with the most state-of-the-art communication infrastructure, integrated systems, sensors, and development tools, Area X.O is a serious playground for developing and validating serious tech.

These applications span note only smart cities, but also telecom, smart agriculture, defence, security, public safety, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Ottawa Smart Farm

The Ottawa Smart Farm, located at the AreaX.O, is a one-of-a-kind operation that aims to help the agriculture industry leverage smart innovations ranging from autonomous systems to drones and IoT technologies. A partnership between Invest Ottawa and the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa Smart Farm is part of a national network of smart farms and benefits from $29 million in public-and private-sector investments.

AutoGuardian by SmartCone

AutoGuardian by SmartCone deploys the latest sensors to collect data on road behaviour for municipalities. Its technology also detects vulnerable road users and alerts to their presence. They do this in bike lanes, crosswalks and on autonomous shuttle routes.

AutoGuardian’s parent company — SmartCone— supplies some sensors, but it also uses off-the-shelf products, such as rectangular rapid flashing beacons, that it makes intelligent.

Hexagon | Autonomoustuff

Hexagon | AutonomouStuff chose Ottawa for an international office as part of its mission to empower the future of autonomy. The company saw potential in Ottawa’s futureplex — AreaX.O.

AutonomouStuff, part of Hexagon’s autonomy and positioning division, offers hardware, software solutions and vehicle platforms with the goal of enabling customers for on- and off-road autonomy applications. This division of Hexagon is a global technology leader, pioneering end-to-end solutions for assured positioning on land, sea and air.

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