Software & Applied AI: The Code You’ve Already Met
Ottawa has been a software city for decades. With 500+ companies building the applications and software in your car, the platforms behind your last online order, the supply systems that ensured that birthday present for your mom arrived on time and the tech behind the live broadcast you watched on Sunday.
Overview
Less Talk. More Deployment.
Global software companies like Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and IBM are here. Unicorn and Centaurs like Shopify, Blackberry QNX, Assent, Kinaxis, and Fullscript call Ottawa home. And we have a few soonicorns too, like Solink, RVezy, and Anvil. With 500+ software and AI companies, we can’t possibly list them all, but you get the idea.
David Rodas-Wright
Senior Business Development Manager, Software
By the Numbers
Proof We’re Not Making This Up
Ottawa’s software and AI ecosystem doesn’t need exaggeration. The numbers do the talking.
35,000+
software and AI tech professionals
560 +
software and AI companies
12.3 %
tech talent in Ottawa, the highest in North America for 5 years in a row
# 1
most educated city in Canada
$ 7 +
million in government funding for Ottawa companies in 2025
1169%
increase in funding in 2025 for AI companies in Ottawa
Ottawa’s Applied AI Ecosystem
Ottawa’s Story is Being Written by the Company We Keep
“We’re proud of our Canadian beginnings and have grown the team here to 400 employees,” Michael Matta, CEO of Solink. “This expansion is both a celebration of our early ambition and a commitment to making Solink a global leader.”
Systems Behind the Software
Why Software and AI Leaders Choose Ottawa
Great software doesn’t happen in isolation. In Ottawa, there’s an entire support system quietly making sure it doesn’t have to. This is a city where research, infrastructure, and commercialization are tightly stitched together which means companies don’t just build faster, they get further. Here’s what’s working behind the scenes:
A federal R&D engine you can actually access
Home to 65+ federal labs and research facilities, including the National Research Council’s Data Analytics Centre, supporting everything from early-stage research to real-world deployment
Built-in strength in 5G, telecom, and hardware
Global players like Nokia, Ericsson, and Ciena are pushing the boundaries of connected systems, while companies like Ranovus and InPho are advancing photonics and AI infrastructure for next-gen data centres
SaaS support that lights you up
L-SPARK, Canada’s first enterprise SaaS accelerator, helps founders navigate the path from product to scale without reinventing the wheel
We know how to throw a party
SaaS North, Canada’s leading SaaS conference, happens here, bringing together the people building, funding, and scaling software companies across the country
Ottawa’s Software and Applied AI Companies
You’ll Likely Recognize a Few Names
Ottawa is home to a dynamic mix of global tech giants, high-growth startups, and innovation powerhouses.
Ecosystem
A Connected Network Supporting Growth
Ottawa’s software and AI sector is supported by an ecosystem of partners that strengthen research, product development, talent pipelines, cloud infrastructure, and access to global markets.
Post-Secondary Institutions
University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College, La Cité, Willis College
Business Support
Invest Ottawa, Area X.O, Bayview Yards, L-Spark, Wesley Clover, CENGN
Industry Leaders
Shopify, Kinaxis, Ford, Warner Bros Discovery, IBM, Adobe, SurveyMonkey, Mitel
Infrastructure and Cloud Providers
AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Equinix, ThinkOn, Purecolo, IBM Cloud
Research Institutes
NRC, CRC, CANARIE
Incentives & Subsidies
Your CFO will Like This Part
Companies in Ottawa benefit from competitive incentives that support R&D, innovation, and long-term growth.
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive
Refundable tax credits and deductions for eligible R&D, including AI and software development. Claim up to 35% on qualified expenditures.
Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
Supports transformative AI and software innovation projects through repayable and non-repayable funding streams.
National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
Grants and advisory services for SME software and AI innovation, including prototyping and commercialization support.
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)
8% refundable tax credit on eligible R&D expenditures performed in Ontario. Can be combined with federal SR&ED.
In Case You Missed It
Stories from the Ecosystem
See how Ottawa-based companies are advancing software and AI through R&D, product innovation, and technical excellence.
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Ottawa-based TACTIQL Showcases Canadian Innovation on the Global Stage at NATO Annual Robotics Exercise
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Spotlighting Larus Technologies’ Ottawa Roots – and the Opportunity Ahead for Canada’s Defence Innovation Sector
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