Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this edition:
Teen tackles impaired driving
UCalgary’s 50-plus-year space legacy
Local firm works to make “day-to-day easier” for entrepreneurs
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Calgary gets new agrifood innovation hub with $2.75M investment
Photo: Unsplash
Calgary is getting a new hub dedicated to agriculture and food innovation. The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is putting up to $2.75 million over five years into AgSphere, which aims to connect Western Canada's agricultural expertise with Calgary's tech sector, energy industry, and access to capital. The hub will temporarily operate out of Stampede Park and plans to support 75 companies and train 450 people over the next five years.
AgSphere is tackling a looming workforce problem in Canadian agriculture. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council estimates the sector will be short more than 100,000 workers by 2030—a 15 per cent jump from 2023. The hub will bring together producers, startups, investors, and partners including AdFarm, Calgary Stampede, and Olds College.
"On a global level, Canadian farms are already the very best at efficiency, leveraging technology, sustainability, and Canada's brand is highly trusted for delivering quality and safety,” said Chris Paterson, executive director, AgSphere. “However, in a very competitive world, Canada needs to continue to build on that advantage and also become the global leader of ag and food innovation. That is the focus of AgSphere."
The investment fits into Calgary's broader Innovation Strategy, which aims to make the city Canada's innovation capital by building sector-specific hubs and funding networks. If successful, the strategy could add 187,000 jobs and contribute over $28 billion to Calgary's economy by 2034. Alberta's agribusiness sector contributed $13.5 billion to the province's GDP in 2024 and employed more than 76,000 people.
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🤝 Funding, Deals, and Partnerships
Bell Canada-backed Ateko acquires SDK Tek, bolstering AI capabilities to deliver enhanced business solutions. Ateko announced it had acquired SDK Tek Services Ltd.(SDK), a highly respected Calgary-headquartered data engineering and analytics integrator. Ateko
Huumans and Zenbooks collab to empower entrepreneurs in Canada with fintech tools. A Calgary-based financial operating system for small- and medium-sized businesses announced recently that it is working with a Canadian online accounting firm to empower entrepreneurs across the country with “real financial relief and tools that make their day-to-day easier.” Calgary.Tech
SPONSORED BY NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
Chrome extension moves toward market launch through Northeastern University’s BaseCamp Studio, an experiential learning program where Vancouver graduate students develop AI-driven tools that show the impact of fast-cycle, industry-aligned project work. Read the full story.
📰 Need To Know
Calgary teen honoured by Intel for AI tool aiming to prevent impaired driving. The 15-year-old was recently named Canada’s sole honouree at Intel’s Global AI Festival, a worldwide program celebrating young innovators using artificial intelligence for real-world social impact. Calgary.Tech
The sky is no limit: UCalgary’s legacy of space science innovation. Research group has been involved in more than 20 space missions since the 1970s. University of Calgary