The Greater Edmonton region is blessed with a fair number of advanced technology organizations.
These aren’t just computer bits and bytes companies. These are companies that are in industries such as agrifood, aerospace, biotechnology, health care, multimedia and telecom, to name just a few.
While not all of them make the news every day, they are all providing valuable products and services and all of them are in your backyard, even if you haven’t heard of many of them.
Will Zaichkowski, president of Alberta New Media/Edmonton Chapter, whose membership includes many in the field of advanced technology, says: “Alberta’s new media companies have proven themselves to be among the best and most innovative in the world.”
The same holds true for the Advanced Technology organization. “The challenge lies in convincing local industry that globally competitive solutions can be found locally,” said Zaichkowski.
One step in that direction would be to have all of the relevant information, perhaps a directory, available in one place. In 1999, Economic Development Edmonton, in partnership with the Capital Region Innovation Centre, compiled and produced a CD-ROM format directory that’s updated regularly.
Brad Guthrie is the executive director for the innovation centre. His job is to help early-stage technology companies and to promote innovation within the community, as well as linking educational institutions — not just colleges and universities, but high schools as well. Brad is also in charge of the directory.
The Advanced Technology directory database includes profiles on more than 900 companies, organizations, institutions and high-tech industry associations. It provides not only standard name, address and corporate information, but also key contact names, e-mail and Web addresses, number of employees and a Canadian Standard Industrial Classification.
It’s more than just a directory. It’s helpful for finding products, services and the right people to talk to and, with its searchable tools, it’s easy to locate the information you require by entering the criteria for selections and compiling statistics. Furthermore, once you’ve located the information, you can sort it, browse it, export it and even create mailing labels.
Guthrie adds that while you can refer to Statistics Canada for in-depth studies, the Advanced Technology directory is an easy mechanism for quickly obtaining selected statistics within the region.
Guthrie says that the CD-ROM’s price tag for the last release was based purely on a cost recovery basis — $125 including GST. A modest price to pay for such a valuable asset.
“We are interested in showcasing companies or organizations that play a significant role in the invention or creation or adaptation of new technologies and promote those businesses (locally and) to the world. Sometimes people are looking to invest in the area and want to see what and who else is around. It’s also a good business attraction tool,” says Guthrie.
“The database is designed for true tech companies — those who are in the business of adapting and developing technology for new uses, but not necessarily for those who provide service to these companies.”
If you feel your organization should be listed, there is no cost to submit your information. A submission template can be downloaded from www.innovation.ede.org
To ensure the directory maintains its focus, the publisher reserves the right to decline submissions that don’t fit the criteria.
“All companies, regardless of size, are given the same template — some companies provide less information. While the database does rely on the completeness of the submissions, the privacy of certain information from private companies is truly respected.”
While it’s virtually impossible to track every single company in the more than 20 communities covered in the greater Edmonton region, Guthrie’s department updates the database frequently using good old 19th century technology — his assistant will call them.
For more information, call 917-7666 or e-mail innovationcentre@ede.org .
