Calgary is making a fresh bid to cement its place as a national leader in agrifood innovation. The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) will invest up to $2.75 million over five years to support the launch of AgSphere, a new hub designed to connect Canada’s agricultural producers, startups, investors and partners under one coordinated ecosystem. […]
Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF)
OCIF Invests $367K in The Knowledge Society to Power Calgary’s Youth Innovation
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is deepening its commitment to youth innovation with up to $367,000 in new funding for The Knowledge Society (TKS), a global accelerator program preparing high school students to tackle real-world challenges in AI, quantum, and other emerging fields. The investment comes as Alberta grapples with a youth unemployment rate […]
Got Aerospace Innovation? Calgary’s Accelerator Program Wants You
Have a breakthrough idea for the aerospace sector? If you’re ready to launch your solution but need a boost, Calgary’s Aerospace Accelerator Program (AAP) may be the runway you’re looking for. Backed by Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and Prairies Economic Development Canada, the two-year accelerator is designed to propel early-stage startups with technology-driven solutions. It […]
$10M Boost Expands Calgary’s Energy Transition Centre
Calgary’s drive to lead Canada’s energy transition is getting a major boost with more than $10 million invested into the ETC Foundation to expand its facilities and programming. The investment is backed by the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) alongside PrairiesCan, Alberta Innovates, CIBC, Avatar Innovations, and Pathways Alliance, reinforcing Calgary’s reputation as both the […]
Calgary Selects Two Startups as Winners of Global Soaring Higher Innovation Challenge
Earlier this year, Innovate Calgary’s Aerospace Innovation Hub alongside WestJet and Calgary Airports launched the Soaring Higher Innovation Challenge. The Soaring Higher Innovation Challenge was a global call for innovative solutions to elevate the guest experience in air travel, inviting startups and smaller enterprises to showcase game-changing technologies. “We are thrilled to collaborate with YYC […]
OCIF Express Injects $3.5M Into Calgary SMEs to Spur Jobs, Tech Innovation
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), with support from the Government of Alberta, has launched a new funding stream—OCIF Express—to rapidly deploy up to $3.5 million into 23 Calgary-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), fuelling job creation, skills training, and innovation across key sectors. With a focus on projects under 24 months in duration, OCIF […]
Calgary Named Home to Canada’s First XPRIZE Hub
Calgary has officially cemented its role as a national innovation leader with the launch of Canada’s first XPRIZE Hub, hosted by the University of Calgary. Backed by a $1.5 million investment from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), the new hub positions the city alongside global innovation centres such as Glasgow and Geneva. For over […]
Calgary Approves $60M Boost for OCIF to Fuel Innovation and Economic Growth
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) will receive an additional $60 million over the next four years to continue driving economic diversification and innovation in the city. Calgary City Council approved the new funding this week in $15 million annual tranches, drawn from the city’s Fiscal Stability Reserve. OCIF CEO Brad Parry said the investment […]
Calgary Launches Bold Innovation Strategy to Drive $28 Billion in Economic Growth
In an ambitious push to future-proof its economy amid growing global trade disruptions and geopolitical volatility, Calgary Economic Development has unveiled a sweeping innovation strategy aimed at positioning the city as the innovation capital of Canada. Announced at the 2025 Report to the Community event, the new strategy lays out a roadmap for Calgary to […]
Calgary Invests in Quantum Future with $675K Boost to QAI Ventures
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is committing up to $675,000 over the next three years to QAI Ventures to bolster Calgary’s emerging quantum technology sector and accelerate the development of homegrown talent and startups. The strategic investment will support a two-phase program — a pre-accelerator and an accelerator — to train 54 individuals and […]