Information and Communication Technologies

Center of technological excellence, sales in Metro Montreal worth $21 billion, including over $5 billion in exports. Of the 5,000 firms located in the region, 200 are foreign-owned and employ 23,000 of the 120,000 people working in the industry. The region is a hotbed of activity in research and development with nearly 12,500 jobs in R&D in private, public and university centers.

A World-Class Industry Focused on Quality
The size, diversity, creativity and activities of Metro Montreal’s ICT cluster make the region a leading technology hub in North America. The industry boasts a wide range of companies that are active in the following seven subsectors:

• Manufacturing
• Software
• Computer Services
• Telecom Services
• Interactive/Digital Media Services
• Audiovisual and Digital Sound
• Digital Arts

The region is home to a large number of industry leaders, including:

A Skilled and Creative Workforce
Greater Montréal is recognized as a center of creativity and excellence in digital technology. The region excels in microelectronics and advanced materials, mathematics and modeling, computer and networking applications and services, multimedia (video games and e-commerce), photonics and the emerging Bio-ICT and Nano-ICT industries.

Approximately 10,800 university students are registered in ICT-related programs in the region. In addition to the four major universities and their affiliated schools and institutes, a number of other specialized schools offer pre-university and university-level training programs that meet ICT industry needs. These include advanced telecom services, 3D animation and digital imaging, artistic creation and computer-assisted design and manufacturing.

Competitive Operating Costs
According to a KPMG study comparing metropolitan regions with a population of over two million people, Metro Montreal offers the most competitive operating costs in all of North America.