The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), alongside PrairiesCan, Alberta Innovates, CIBC, Avatar Innovations, and Pathways Alliance, is investing more than $10 million in the ETC Foundation. The initiative strengthens Calgary’s position as Canada’s energy capital and a global leader in energy innovation.
The ETC Foundation serves as a hub for entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry partners advancing technologies essential to a low-carbon economy. The new investment will expand resources and facilities, including a 17,000-square-foot flexible workspace in downtown Calgary designed to foster collaboration among startups, ecosystem partners, and investors.
Programming will feature structured courses, industry workshops, and hands-on training, with a particular focus on graduate students, PhDs, and professionals seeking to upskill. Over the next four years, the initiative is expected to train up to 60 individuals, support 30 local companies, and incubate 10 new ventures for commercialization.
The Foundation also plays a convening role, bringing together innovators and corporate partners to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy solutions. By building partnerships across sectors, the ETC is helping to position Calgary at the forefront of the global energy transition.
This commitment builds on OCIF’s original 2022 investment, which launched the ETC through Avatar Innovations. Over its first three years, the Centre supported more than 60 startups that collectively raised over $500 million in venture capital.
The stakes are high: the Alberta Energy Transition Study found that a low-carbon economy could generate nearly 170,000 jobs and add $61 billion to provincial GDP by 2050.
“Calgary continues to lead the global conversation on energy innovation, sustainability, and economic diversification,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “This investment into the ETC Foundation underscores our city’s readiness to collaborate internationally and lead by example in creating sustainable energy solutions that have a lasting global impact.”
“Pathways Alliance members are focused on advancing environmental innovation and projects to ensure that Canada benefits from a strong energy sector for decades to come,” added Wes Jickling, Vice President COSIA & Technology Development at Pathways Alliance. “The ETC Foundation’s role in bringing together innovators and corporate partners is essential in helping to advance environmental innovations that will help secure the long-term future of our industry, supporting both businesses and employment opportunities.”
With its expanded footprint and strengthened partnerships, the ETC Foundation is poised to accelerate Calgary’s transition to a cleaner energy future — one that promises economic growth, global leadership, and sustainable prosperity for Alberta.