From within these pages you will be introduced to many of the visionaries and innovators who call our city home and are changing the world through work and research being done at some of our world renowned institutions such as MaRS Discovery District, the University of Toronto, and University Health Network, to name a few.
Visitors from all over the world flock to Toronto to explore and experience its many diverse neighbourhoods, bustling downtown core, and its wealth of arts and entertainment. Our internationally recognized colleges and universities attract the best and brightest from Canada and around the world, many of whom are the catalysts of the extraordinary endeavours found in this publication.
As the fourth-largest city in North America, Toronto is Canada’s business, financial and technology capital, and North America’s third-largest market for technology and innovation talent. The sector is fuelled by nearly 250,000 skilled workers, and is still growing. Between 2013 and 2018, Toronto created more tech jobs than New York, Seattle and Boston combined.
Toronto’s rich industrial diversity drives growth, innovation and cross-sectoral synergies. Spillovers from other sectors have produced new leading edge hybrid sectors including fintech, medtech, cleantech and foodtech. As we move forward in our reopening and rebuilding post-pandemic, we know that the technology and innovation sector will play a big role. We have a lot to be proud of in Toronto, and we’re not done yet. By working together, we can build on our successes to create a more sustainable future.
INNOVATE Toronto is our way of showcasing this success story. It’s about the more than 2.9 million who call this city home, whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most vibrant and livable cities.
I’m proud to launch this inaugural edition and hope that you will enjoy the stories we have to share.
