Information Communications Technology

Globally competitive ICT in Nova Scotia 

We know what makes the difference here is we work together in a partnership. We work with government, we work with schools, and we work with NSBI. 

- Chris MacIntosh, IBM

A strong workforce

Nova Scotia's Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry is focused on producing innovative products and services in:

• Interactive media
• IT services
• Transatlantic telecommunications
• Enterprise solutions
• E-health applications
• Data analytics
• Niche-orientated software products and solutions

Specialized Education Programs
Nova Scotia offers degrees that relate directly to industry needs, including: graphics, gaming and media, artificial intelligence and intelligent systems, communications technologies, SAP software expertise and cyber security.

• Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) offers a range of ICT related programs including their Advanced Diploma in Business Intelligence Analytics
• Acadia University boasts the Acadia Institute for Data Analytics
• Dalhousie University's Institute for Big Data Analytics was the first of its kind in Canada 
• Saint Mary’s University was one of the first Universities in Canada to offer an applied Master of Science degree in Computing & Data Analytics
• Nova Scotia currently has 52 Canada Research Chairs. This includes one Tier 1 Chair and two Tier 2 Chairs related to ICT
• Over the past two years, enrollments in Dalhousie's computer science program has grown by nearly 50% and enrollments of females in the program have doubled.

Infrastructure

In addition to world-class tech talent, Nova Scotia also has some of the best ICT infrastructure.

• Nova Scotia offers a state of the art fibre optic network with gigabit connections available across the province, a digital communications system, and a self-generating power grid
• Lowest operating costs for companies working in the digital services industry in North America
• One of the highest digital media tax credits offered in Canada (offering up to 50%) 
• Collaborative environment that brings together industry, government, and education
• Some of the world's best internet connections to both Europe and the eastern US, thanks to Hibernia Atlantic’s network of subsea cables

Vibrant eco-system

Nova Scotia has the right mix of post-secondary education, established multinational firms, and an active startup community that results in a well-connected, global, cluster.

• The Nova Scotia ICT industry is 1,000 establishments strong, accounting for 8.2% of Nova Scotia’s business sector output
• The ICT sector accounts for more than 38% of all private sector R&D spending in Nova Scotia
• IBM chose Nova Scotia for their first Canadian Customer Innovation Centre in 2013 and has continued to grow its Centre, as well as create innovative partnerships across the province.
• Ernst & Young launched their Canadian Centre for Advanced Analytics and Global Centre of Excellence in Robotic Process Automation in Nova Scotia
• The Collaboration for Analytics Research Education & Technology (CARET) is a unique partnership between seven post-secondary institutions and the private sector in Nova Scotia
• The ingenuity of our tech startups has put Nova Scotia on the ICT map, placing first in Canada in the Branham Group’s 2015 list of the top 25 Canadian up-and-coming ICT start-ups

You'll be in good company

Global, multinational companies have chosen Nova Scotia for growth and expansion.

• Bell Canada
• BeyondTrust
• Capgemini
• CGI
• Dell
• EY (Centre for Advanced Analytics)
• EY (Global Centre of Excellence for RPA)
• Hibernia Atlantic
• IBM
• NTT Data
• Ping Identity
• Salesforce
• Samsung
• Xerox
• Ubisoft
• Web.com

And, our Nova Scotia companies are doing big things and contributing to this sector as they grow their global operations here. 

• Eastlink
• Marcato Digital Services
• Maritech Dynamics
• Nicom IT
• REDspace
• SimplyCast
• STI
• Ultra Electronics Marine Systems
• Velsoft Training Materials Inc.

For more information view our ICT infographic PDF.