Part of the strength of Ottawa’s economy is the diversity of its industries. Ottawa’s knowledge-based sectors continue to grow employing over 75,000 employees within 1,922 companies. The Knowledge Based Support Services sector is the largest with 570 companies established in the community followed by the software sector with a total of 362 companies in the region. The Aerospace and Defence, eBusiness, Telecommunications and Cleantech industries also have a significant impact in Ottawa's high tech sector with a total of 609 companies between them. Although the Knowledge-Based Support Services industry employs the largest number of people, the Telecommunications sector follows closely and has the second largest employer. The Software and Aerospace and Defence sectors also play a hefty role in the community, employing 23,155 people between them. IBM is now Ottawa’s largest employer outside of the public sector. Supported by a strong professional services cluster, Ottawa's economy is complemented by a vibrant tourism sector and the presence of more than 110,000 government employees. With the highest level of R&D spending per capita in the country, the Ottawa region has become the home of leading economic clusters. An economic powerhouse with a quality of life second to none, Ottawa is one of North America's fastest growing economies, and one of the world's most progressive centres of innovation. In partnership with the City of Ottawa, Invest Ottawa has identified six key sectors that demonstrate the greatest potential for growth: Wireless, Photonics, Defence and Security, Cleantech, Life Sciences,  and Film, Digital Media and Television Production.

Film, TV, and Digital Media

Recognizing the huge potential that the film, television and the rapidly growing global digital media industry represents, the City of Ottawa is making considerable investment to increase the number of productions in Ottawa and growing local resources.

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Wireless

Wireless

Wireless innovations are transforming the way we live and the way we do business. For the last three decades, Ottawa’s wireless community has been at the forefront of the wireless revolution.

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Photonics

Photonics

Ottawa is well established as a global leader in photonics. Ottawa’s robust photonics sector is supported by a solid base of industry, government and educational initiatives. A magnet for new people and ideas, Ottawa boasts the highest concentration of research scientists and engineers in Canada. The photonics industry in Ottawa has experienced many changes over [...]

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Clean Technologies

Clean Technologies

Increasing demands for energy, threats to global security and concerns about the environment are driving the need for clean technologies and products the world over. Global clean energy markets have been growing at a rate of 14 to 22 per cent a year. Many expect this rate to continue or even increase in the years [...]

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Life Sciences

Life Sciences

World-class research, skillful management, increased capital investment and a growing list of new companies has elevated Ottawa’s life sciences community to the global state of discovery, development and commercialization. Ottawa-based industry leaders include Nordion, Abbott Point of Care, Variation Biotechnologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Ottawa is among the first regions in Canada to capitalize on [...]

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China

China

Invest Ottawa is working with the Canadian office of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to increase the Ottawa participation in their events in China and attract SME investor’s to Ottawa.

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Aerospace & Defence

Aerospace & Defence

With its highly skilled workforce, its dynamic research-and-development infrastructure and its wide array of related businesses and industries, Ottawa has become a leader in the development of innovative aerospace and defence-related applications. Ottawa’s aerospace and defence industry is home to over 165 companies employing in excess of 10,100 people. Outstanding Knowledge and Expertise Offering a [...]

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Government

Government

Government in Ottawa is comprised of three levels: Federal, Provincial, and Municipal. Federal Ottawa is the Nation’s Capital and the seat of the federal parliament. As such, the city enjoys a very balanced and healthy economy; with government employment offsetting the peaks and valleys of Ottawa’s other leading sector, advanced technology. The federal government is [...]

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Financial Services

Financial Services

Ottawa has a diversified economy, growing business ties with Asia, and increasingly favourable tax policies ideal for financial services firms to thrive.

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Key Sector Contacts

Geneviève Ménard-Hayles
Commissioner, Film, TV and Digital Media
(613) 828-6274 ext. 216
gmenard@investottawa.ca
twitter: @iofilmtvdm

Kelly Daize
Business Development Manager, Wireless
Business Development Manager, Photonics
(613) 828-6274 ext. 286
kdaize@investottawa.ca
twitter: @ioWireless
twitter: @ioPhotonics

Walter Noble
Business Development Manager, Aerospace & Defence
Business Development Manager, Government Procurement
(613) 828-6274 ext. 275
wnoble@investottawa.ca
twitter: @ioAero_Defence

Sophie Chen
Business Development Manager, China
Business Development Manager, Financial Services
(613) 828-6274 ext. 212
schen@investottawa.ca
twitter: @ioFinance

Marc McArthur
Business Development Manager, Cleantech
(613) 828-6274 ext. 276
mmcarthur@investottawa.ca
twitter: @ioCleantech

Karen Robb
(Acting) Business Development Manager, Life Science
(613) 828-6274 ext. 242
krobb@investottawa.ca
twitter: @ioLifeScience