Page 29 - XperienceAlberta-EDA-2025

BY THE NUMBERS
“The investment is more on
fundamental things,” says Maciejko.
“There’s been a lot of investment [in
Alberta] on product-development type
things, applied research. But this is more
about fundamental research, theoretical
research. The idea is to take a long view.
We’re bridging the gap between the
abstract science stuff, so we can come up
with big breakthroughs that will have a
lasting impact.
“That impact might not be for 50 or 100
years from now. But, if you don’t do it now,
it’s never going to happen. Think about this:
Newton was just doing pure science. But,
if we didn’t have Newton we would never
have cars and rockets and airplanes.”
In 2022, the Alberta government
issued its Alberta Technology and
Innovation Strategy. The goal is to
add 20,000 new jobs and $5 billion in
annual revenue in the technology and
innovations sectors by 2030.
Maciejko says the world has no choice
but to embrace quantum physics. That’s
because we’re reaching the limit of what
traditional science can do. Computers, and
the components we use to make them, are
getting smaller and smaller — and faster
and faster. Their development is outpacing
our traditional physical laws.
“When you think of cutting edge
electronics, we’re getting to the point where
the traditional science we know is starting
to be insufficient. For example, transistor
sizes are getting so small, that we start seeing
quantum effects that are popping up. These
quantum effects are not accounted for in the
engineering textbooks.”
Alberta researchers are already working
in the realms of quantum computing. When
particles are frozen to hundreds of degrees
below the freezing point, they begin to defy
the traditional laws of physics. And, at that
temperature, they have the potential to make
very powerful, analytical computers.
Das is bullish on what the quantum
computer will do.
“It will significantly enhance artificial
intelligence by enabling the processing of
vast datasets that are currently challenging
for normal computers, including, but not
limited to, optimization problems and
machine learning… While it is difficult to
predict exactly when quantum computation
will have widespread practical applications,
research partnerships and investments today
are setting the stage for its rapid advance.”
64.9 PER CENT
Of workers in Alberta have completed
post-secondary education
38 YEARS
Average age of Albertans, making it one of
the youngest provinces in Canada
45,200+
Registered apprentices in Alberta
$575.8 MILLION
In research revenue was received by the
University of Alberta in 2023-2024
95.2 PER CENT
Of University of Alberta graduates are
working in a field related to skills acquired
through their education
$588.5 MILLION
In research revenue was received by the
University of Calgary in 2023-2024
Sources: Statistics Canada, Alberta Advanced Education,
Alberta Skilled Trades and Professions, University of Alberta,
University of Calgary
AT A GLANCE
Pathway to Post-Secondary
Alberta is home to innovative education programs connecting
high school students with post-secondary courses.
In the Livingstone Range School Division, south of Calgary,
partnerships with Lethbridge Polytechnic and Olds College are
transforming high school education. Through dual credit courses,
students can explore careers as diverse as veterinary technical
assistants or heavy equipment technicians.
Further north, Fort Vermilion School Division launched its own dual credit
program where students discover careers from health care to aerospace.
These programs give Alberta students a competitive edge. Upon graduation,
they’re ready to work or jump into a post-secondary program at partner
institutions like Bow Valley College.
Residents and Researchers
Residents in the Lesser Slave Lake region, three hours north of
Edmonton, are taking birding from hobby to science. Through the
Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory (LSLBO), a nonprofit research
and education society, residents have assisted University of Calgary
researchers with studying migratory birds’ role in tick dispersal.
Local birders also contribute to conservation efforts through eBird, a
Cornell Lab of Ornithology website that collects global bird data. To date,
252 bird species have been spotted at the LSLBO.
LSLBO is a cornerstone of conservation in the region, improving the
environment for humans and birds alike.
AMPLIFY. ATTRACT. ACCELERATE.
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