Skip to main content
A scientist inspects a group of large industrial panels

Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced Manufacturing

Made in Canada innovation

A global manufacturing industry leader, Canada is leveraging its homegrown ingenuity, strong commitment to research and development, and a highly educated and skilled workforce to drive the advanced manufacturing sector beyond the modern age and into the future.

Canada’s Industry 4.0 technologies and next-generation manufacturing capabilities are revolutionizing how finished products and components are designed, manufactured, distributed and repaired across a spectrum of industries and climate conditions. Developments in robotics, automation and technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), have far-reaching application in Canadian industry sectors—including aerospace and defence, automotive, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Canadian innovators are producing a diverse range of technologically complex, high-value products for domestic and competitive global markets, which is why influential thought leaders regularly meet in Canada to debut trailblazing developments, share best practices and lay the groundwork for partnerships that shape the future of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Advanced Manufacturing in Canada

$201B

Manufacturing sector contribution to GDP

Source: Statistics Canada, 2019

$378B

Annual exports in the manufacturing sector

Source: Government of Canada, Trade Data Online, 2019

1.7M

Jobs in advanced manufacturing 

Source: Statistics Canada, 2019

172

Robots per 10,000 employees in Canada—74% greater than the world average

Source: IFR International Federation of Robotics 2019

Centres of excellence

Canada's key Advanced Manufacturing centres

Sub-sector spotlight

An airplane flying through the air
  • Hotspots: Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal, Halifax
  • Research Leadership: National Research Council Aerospace Reseach Cente
A robot hand reaching out to a human hand

Advanced robotics

  • Hotspots: Waterloo, Toronto & Montréal
  • Research Leadership: University of Toronto’s Institute for Robotics & Mechatronics, Montréal’s école de Technologie Supérieure and Polytechnique Montréal’s Robotics Laboratory
A farm vehicle

Agricultural equipment manufacturing

  • Hotspots:  Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon & Winnipeg
  • Research Leadership: Alberta Centre for Advance MNT Products Edmonton, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI), Agrifood Innovation Centre
A 3D printer

Additive manufacturing (3D printing)

Hotspots: Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Waterloo, Toronto, & Montréal
Research Leadership: Saskatchewan Polytechnic, University of Waterloo, Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec

The exterior of a Canadian building with modern architecture

"As technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things, robotics and 3D printing become ubiquitous in manufacturing processes, our pool of talent, coupled with our dynamic education institutions and expanding startup ecosystem, will make Montréal a centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing."

Guy-Joffroy Lord, Director of Sales, Tourisme Montréal

Home-grown tech companies

ATTAbotics logo

Using Industry 4.0 processes, ATTAbotics has developed an automated storage and retrieval warehouse system using an innovative 3D storage structure design that significantly improves throughput and storage density compared to traditional and other automated systems.

Integral Engineering logo

Using the latest technology and most advanced mathematical and engineering models, Integral Engineering's simulation model helps maintain safe oil and gas transmission pipeline systems by calculating the probability of failure due to corrosion, cracks and dents.

CropPro Consulting logo

CropPro Consulting's SWAT BOX is an autonomous soil electrical conductivity (EC) mapping technology used by farmers, equipment dealers and agronomists to collect EC data in the field. The technology is a lower cost solution designed to work with the company's proprietary SWAT MAPS process for building zone maps.

New Flyer Industries logo

Winnipeg is home to NFI Group Inc. (New Flyer Industries), North America's largest manufacturer of transit and medium-duty buses and motor coaches, including zero-emission buses. NFI Group actively supports approximately 50% of the installed bus fleet base in Canada and the US.

Brose logo

London is home to Brose Canada, the Germany-based auto parts giant's only Canadian facility. Among London's largest advanced manufacturing players, Brose has stamped more than 180 million seat frames and 22.5 million seat adjusters at its two London plants since 2005.

University of Waterloo logo

Canada’s first Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition (SALD) system was successfully designed, built and operated in the spring of 2018 thanks to the contribution of seven University of Waterloo students. This nanoscience technique, used in the micro-electronics industry, enables a quicker and more economical surface coating of atomic layers compared to traditional systems.

Integran Technologies logo

A leader in metallurgical nano-technologies, Integran Technologies can make virtually any material stronger using an advanced metallurgical nano-technology application process. Industrial uses range widely from aerospace and defence to automotive and sporting goods.

Worximity logo

Worximity's TileConnect smart sensor technology monitors real-time production in the manufacturing industry. The tool collects data from any type of equipment or machine and makes it available via the TileBoard mobile app. Users in industries such as metal production, recycling and pharmaceuticals, can quickly and easily track production speed, direct labour costs and other key performance indicators.

Here's how we can help you get planning

The team at Destination Canada Business Events helps global organizations meet with purpose in Canada. Contact our team for:

  • Specific information regarding Canada's sector expertise
  • Recommendations on destinations based on their sector strengths
  • Introductions to industry leaders, academia, and economic development agencies
  • Recommendations of expert speakers to augment events
  • Assistance in sourcing RFPs for conference placement
Pamela Wilton
Business Development Manager
+1-204-223-1922

Stay up to date

Sign up for event planning tips, resources and the latest news from our team.