Knowledge Capital

As one of the world’s top seven Intelligent Communities (Intelligent Community Forum 2008/09/22/24) and Canada’s Start-Up Capital (Startup Canada 2016), the City of Fredericton is the smart choice for businesses in the knowledge industry, offering a thriving, cost-effective environment to grow businesses big and small.

Fredericton’s Knowledge Industry is a dynamic ecosystem driven by a highly skilled workforce, world-class post-secondary institutions, and over 60 research and development organizations. With a strong emphasis on human capital development and critical thinking, the city cultivates talent equipped for complex problem-solving and innovation.  

Anchored by strengths in cybersecurity, defense innovation, advanced technologies and natural resource research, Fredericton serves as a foundational pillar for New Brunswick’s economy and a strategic contributor to Canada’s national innovation and security goals.

Proven Start-Up Ecosystem

Fredericton is built for entrepreneurs. From globally recognized success stories like Radian6 (acquired by Salesforce) and Q1 Labs (acquired by IBM), to recent innovators like HotSpot Parking and VeroSource Solutions, the City and its collaborative business culture has a proven track record of nurturing businesses that grow and succeed.

Boasting four universities and numerous training colleges and institutes, including the University of New Brunswick (UNB), St. Thomas University, the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC), and the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD), businesses in diverse sectors and industries draw from a highly skilled workforce with one of the highest university-educated populations in Canada.

This deep pool of professional, scientific, and technical talent is concentrated in Fredericton’s Innovation District, a two-kilometre radius encompassing over 60 research and development organizations, anchored by Knowledge Park, the Research & Productivity Council, UNB, and NBCC.

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World-Class Research and Development

Home to the oldest university in Canada (UNB), Fredericton has a long history of fostering innovation. That tradition continues to this day, with cutting-edge research conducted at these world-leading institutes:

• Research and Productivity Council
• Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity
• IBM Center for Advanced Studies
• Institute for Biomedical Engineering
• Information Security Centre of Excellence
• Planetary and Space Science Centre
• Atlantic Forestry Centre
• Wood Science and Technology Centre
• Canadian Nuclear Energy Research
• Fredericton Research & Development Centre (specializing in agricultural R&D)
• NBCC’s Intelligent Community Forum Institute (Atlantic) and 5G Innovation Lab

Government Support for Innovation

Fredericton businesses don’t go it alone. A robust network of government-funded research programs and support systems helps companies in every stage of growth. Whether you’re scaling up or breaking into new markets, Fredericton offers the resources and funding to fuel your success.

Highlights

• Knowledge Park: Atlantic Canada’s largest research and technology park with six buildings housing 40 companies with over 800 employees, including the recently built Cyber Centre, a state-of-the-art facility supporting the cyber industry.
• Municipal Digital Infrastructure: The City of Fredericton is a pioneer of innovative digital infrastructure, operating Canada’s first free WIFI network built on a city-wide fibre optic network. Both are operated by e-Novations, Fredericton’s municipal telecommunications company.
• Open Data: With a robust open data portal, the City of Fredericton collects valuable data through its Internet of Things (IoT) sensor network and makes it available to students and industry partners to develop and enhance innovative products and services.
• BOOST Fredericton: A nationally and internationally recognized civic innovation lab, BOOST Fredericton engages entrepreneurs and students to explore how technology can solve municipal challenges, enriching community services and spurring industry innovation.
• 5G Centre of Excellence: In 2020, Fredericton became Atlantic Canada’s first 5G city through a partnership with Rogers Communications, positioning itself as the region’s 5G Centre of Excellence and providing entrepreneurs, students, and researchers with cutting-edge wireless technology to drive innovation and applied research.

Consistently recognized as one of the best places to live in Canada, it’s no wonder that Fredericton ranks among the country’s top 10 fastest growing cities. With a population in the greater capital region of over 140,000, it’s a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to work, play, and raise a family.

Learn more about our city’s demographic profile.

Highlights

• Close to Nature: Nestled along the beautiful Saint John River with one of Canada’s densest urban tree canopies, Fredericton offers over 3,300 hectares of parkland and green space—that’s roughly 3,750 football fields worth of nature to explore!
• Short Commutes: Forget traffic jams, getting around Fredericton couldn’t be easier with an average commute of only 13 minutes.
• Active Transportation: The city boasts a 120 km network of multi-use trails, perfect for year-round walking, biking, cross-country skiing, rollerblading, or e-scooting.
• Cultural Hub: With world-class galleries, venues, and festivals, including the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, a new under-construction Performing Arts Centre, and the ever-popular Harvest and Shivering Songs Festivals, Fredericton is a cultural destination with a thriving music and arts scene.

Contact

Fredericton is where innovation, collaboration, and opportunity come together, growing businesses that shape the future.

For more information on what Fredericton can offer you, please contact Laurie Guthrie, Economic Developer, laurie.guthrie@fredericton.ca.