The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, Calgary Parking Authority, Calgary Technologies Inc., and Zinc Ventures have broken ground to build Calgary’s new Platform Innovation Centre.
CTI will run Platform, which aims to provide collaborative workspaces and programming for startups and enterprises. The project is approximately $80 million dollars.
Companies working within Platform will have access to education, expert advice, access to resident corporate partners, and a maker space. “Platform is a key piece of the puzzle as we work towards transforming Calgary into a global innovation hub,” said Zinc Ventures president Brad Zumwalt. Zumwalt co-founded Rainforest Alberta, an organization created to work together to improve Calgary’s innovation ecosystem. “By having both space and programming available to technology companies, especially in this new innovation corridor, we can be a catalyst for the ecosystem.”
“An innovation centre for everyone.” Located in Calgary’s vibrant #EastVillage — #PlatformYYC will be a place where innovators and entrepreneurs collaborate to create new jobs and businesses, helping build an economy for the future. #ableg pic.twitter.com/SWnZIKulTM
— Deron Bilous (@DeronBilous) January 23, 2018
“Over the past year CTI has been repositioning itself to focus on the overall vitality of Calgary’s startup and innovation ecosystem,” said Evan Hu, board chair of CTI. “The renewed direction aligns with the 10-year Economic Strategy for Calgary, which aims to make Calgary a leading B2B innovation ecosystem. The establishment of a ‘Calgary Innovation Corridor’ is a key component of the 10-year strategy, and the Platform project immediately builds momentum towards that vision.”
More information on Platform can be found here.
