330K+
tech workers
#3
AI hub in North America by firm count
#3
tech talent pool in North America
Toronto’s tech ecosystem is the fastest growing in North America
Toronto has more than twice as many tech workers than Montreal and Vancouver
Talent at Scale
STEM Degree Graduates
STEM graduates in 2022/23
universities and colleges within an hour’s drive
Built for Efficient Growth
Tech Talent Scale vs. Operating Costs: North American Comparison
22 to 52%
cost savings vs. major U.S. metros
A Thriving Market for Applied AI
Toronto Region
41%
of AI firms in Canada
AI Firms in Canada
of Canada’s AI firms are in the Toronto Region
The Infrastructure Behind AI
Data Centre Compute Density Growth in the Toronto Region
of new data centre capacity currently under construction across the Toronto Region.
Spotlight On York Region
of dark fibre infrastructure operated by YorkNet, supporting high-capacity connectivity for businesses, research institutions, and telecom providers.
From Research to Reality
| Rank* | City | Change from 2023 | Difference from General Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | New York | +1 | 0 |
| 3 | Los Angeles | -1 | -1 |
| 4 | Boston | 0 | -1 |
| 5 | Seattle | 0 | +2 |
| 6 | Toronto Region | +5 | +10 |
| 7 | San Diego | +3 | +11 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | -6 | +45 |
| 9 | Dallas | -6 | +5 |
| 10 | Washington | -1 | -2 |
Top AI Startup Ecosystems in North America
Note: StartupBlink’s AI ecosystem score measures the relative strength of a city’s AI startup ecosystem based on factors including startup quantity, quality, and business environment. “Change from 2023” reflects movement in the global ranking, while “Difference from General Rank” compares a city’s AI ecosystem rank to its overall startup ecosystem rank.
#6
Toronto Region ranks among the top AI startup ecosystems in North America, moving up five places in the latest global AI startup ecosystem ranking.
Canada’s Global Business Hub
Number of Foreign Direct Investment Projects, 2020-2025
* KCW - Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo
Nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies have a presence in the Toronto Region.
The Toronto Region accounts for the largest share of foreign direct investment in Canada.
North American reach, Global Access
Consumers within 800km
Market within reach
or less by air to key U.S. business centres
Countries to trade with
Expand with Confidence
Our team works closely with international AI companies to provide a comprehensive view of the Toronto Region’s ecosystem, from talent and costs to research, customers, and growth opportunities. Whether entering North America or scaling globally, we help you move forward with confidence.
For a deeper dive, download our How to Start an AI Hub: A Step-by-Step Guide, which outlines the practical, regulatory, and operational considerations involved in establishing and scaling your presence in the Toronto Region.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Data Appendix
Chart 1: Number of Tech Workers
With the third-largest technology workforce in North America, after the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City Metro, the Toronto Region is one of the continent’s largest hubs for technology talent, with 342,000 tech workers. Source: CBRE Scoring Tech Talent Report 2025
Chart 2: STEM Degree Graduates
The Toronto Region consistently produces one of the largest concentrations of STEM graduates in North America, creating a deep and renewable pipeline of talent for AI, technology, and innovation-driven industries. Source: PSIS 2025
Chart 3: Tech Talent Scale vs. Operating Costs: North American Comparison
Combining one of North America’s largest technology talent pools with lower operating costs than many competing innovation hubs, the Toronto Region offers a rare balance of scale and cost efficiency for AI companies. Source: CBRE Scoring Talent Report 2025
Chart 4: AI Firms in Canada
Home to Canada’s largest concentration of AI companies at 41 percent, the Toronto Region creates a dense ecosystem of startups, scaleups, research organizations, and global technology firms. Source: Pitchbook data, accessed October 2024
Chart 5: Data Centre Compute Density Growth in the Toronto Region
The Toronto Region is rapidly expanding its AI compute infrastructure, with substantial data centre capacity already operating and significant additional capacity planned to support future AI growth. Source: Cushman & Wakefield (Americas Data Centre H2 2025 Update)
Chart 6: Top AI Startup Ecosystems in North America
Ranking sixth among the world’s leading AI startup ecosystems behind San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Seattle, the Toronto Region’s AI sector outperforms many of North America’s largest startup ecosystems and continues gaining global momentum. Source: StartupBlink Global AI Startup Ecosystem Report 2025
Chart 7: Number of Foreign Direct Investment Projects, 2020-2025
Compared to peer Canadian markets, the Toronto Region attracts more foreign direct investment, with 780 projects between 2020-2025, compared with Montreal’s 322 projects, demonstrating strong global demand for its talent, research, and innovation ecosystem. Source: fDi Markets, accessed December 2025
Chart 8: Market Access
Connecting companies to customers, talent, capital, and business partners across Canada and the United States, the Toronto Region provides direct access to a dense concentration of major North American markets. Source: Toronto Global
