IBM Canada announced an IBM Client Innovation Centre (CIC) for Western Canada, with plans to create 250 new jobs in Calgary and helping to invigorate the city's technology sector, diversify the economy, and fast track cross-industry digital transformation and application modernization. The CIC will have a focus on sustainability, delivering consulting services and technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence, hybrid cloud and blockchain, helping to elevate Alberta's position as a centre for energy transformation. Sustainability challenges impact some of Canada's most important economic engines; in fact, according to a recent study from IBM, 83% of CEOs believe sustainability investments will improve their business results in the next five years.

Through the Western Canada CIC, IBM will help organizations accelerate their environmental and social goals to create a long-lasting impact for their communities, employees, customers and investors in five key areas: climate risk management, infrastructure and operations, supply chain, electrification, energy and emissions management, and sustainability strategies. IBM is working with Invest Alberta, Calgary Economic Development and Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) to establish the CIC. The creation of the CIC aligns with shared objectives of the Province and City of Calgary to create jobs, improve workforce skills training, and further grow the tech sector, which has already been accelerating at a rapid pace.

According to a report from Calgary Economic Development and IDC Canada, Alberta's spending on digital transformation is expected to surpass $20B by 2024, of which Calgary businesses will account for nearly $7.5 billion. This represents an average growth of 13% across all industries. Calgary's growth as a Western Canada tech hub, plus its skilled and diverse workforce, were fundamental reasons for its selection as the headquarters for the new IBM CIC.

 Roles in the Calgary-based centre will include application developers, business and transformation analysts, testers and project managers and more, all of which are in demand by Canadian businesses. The CIC will assume a portion of the 25,000 square feet office IBM currently holds in the Beltline area of downtown Calgary as a collaboration hub for IBM, clients and partners. The Western Canada CIC will be part of IBM's proven model for tech and skills growth with the network of IBM Client Innovation Centres, including ones in Halifax and in Montreal.