Calgary-based ZS2 Technologies is scaling up production of its advanced panelized housing solutions with support from a new federal investment aimed at accelerating homebuilding innovation.
The construction technology company has received more than $2.7 million through the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative, a PrairiesCan program designed to support made-in-Canada approaches to building more homes faster.
The repayable investment will help ZS2 add new manufacturing equipment and expand production capacity for its magnesium oxide-based cement structural insulated panels, also known as SIPs. The company’s materials are designed to support faster construction timelines while improving durability, fire resistance, and climate resilience.
For ZS2, the funding arrives as demand grows for building systems suited to wildfire-prone and climate-vulnerable regions. The company’s panelized approach is intended to reduce labour costs, speed up home delivery, and provide more resilient alternatives to conventional construction materials.
“Support from PrairiesCan through the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative has helped ZS2 scale production of our proprietary fire- and storm-resistant building materials at a time when demand for climate-resilient construction solutions continues to grow,” said Scott Jenkins, CEO and Co-Founder of ZS2 Technologies.
“This investment has helped catalyze private investment, strengthen key partnerships, and support our ability to bring made-in-Alberta innovation to communities across Canada.”
Founded in Calgary, ZS2 develops high-performance building materials and panelized systems based on magnesium cement technology. The company says its solutions are designed to lower the carbon footprint of construction while improving strength, energy efficiency, and resistance to fire, water, mold, and pests.
ZS2 is headquartered in southeast Calgary, where its 48,000-square-foot facility serves as a manufacturing hub, material science lab, and collaborative office space. The company also operates through a North American network of partners and has been expanding its manufacturing footprint to meet demand for high-performance construction materials.
The federal government framed the investment as part of a broader push to address housing shortages through regional innovation and modern construction technologies.
“Made-in-Alberta housing innovations are leading the way in finding practical solutions to today’s housing challenges,” said Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. “People need more homes—built faster, smarter, and in ways that reflect the realities of our region.”
Corey Hogan, Member of Parliament for Calgary-Confederation and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said ZS2’s project shows how targeted federal investments can support solutions to complex housing and resilience challenges.
Across the Prairies, PrairiesCan is investing $9.59 million under the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative to strengthen the housing supply chain and advance innovation in residential construction. Nationally, the initiative represents a $50 million federal commitment over two years to support modern construction technologies and innovative housing solutions.
For Calgary’s ZS2, the investment positions the company to scale a local construction technology at a time when communities across Canada are looking for faster, more durable, and more climate-resilient ways to build.
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