Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada 

A Connected Capital Building an Inclusive, Intelligent Future

Where Nature Meets Innovation 

Nestled along the scenic Wolastoq (Saint John River), Fredericton is New Brunswick’s  capital and the heart of the province’s Innovation Corridor. It’s a city that blends  heritage with high-tech — where walkable streets, vibrant culture, and world-class  research coexist. 

Fredericton may be small in size, but its impact is global. The city is home to 70% of the  province’s innovation businesses. Fredericton is Atlantic Canada’s Knowledge  Capital—where innovation, research, and talent come together in the Knowledge  Industry. Home to thousands of knowledge-based businesses, leading research  institutions, and a pipeline of skilled graduates, Fredericton drives growth across sectors  like healthcare, defence, and tech. With a uniquely collaborative ecosystem, this city  isn’t just keeping up—it’s shaping Canada’s future. 

Its unique mix of urban energy and small-town community has made it one of the most  livable and future-ready cities in Canada. 

“Being recognized as a Top7 Intelligent Community for the fourth time highlights  Fredericton’s commitment to innovation and strong partnerships.” 

— Sarah Corey Hollohan, CEO, Ignite 

• How Did Fredericton Develop the Largest Engineering Cluster in North America?
• Reykjavík Accelerates Climate Innovation through Jakobstad Partnership
• PG Conectada Nears 100% Connectivity across Ponta Grossa
• ICF Member News

Fredericton’s Knowledge Industry: A Mid-Year Update on a National Contributor

In my January commentary, I shared the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 vision: to Recognize, Support, and Elevate Fredericton’s Knowledge Economy as Fredericton’s Knowledge Industry. Now, as we find ourselves halfway through the year it’s time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the momentum we’re building amongst this era of uncertainty we have all been navigating together.

Communities from Brazil, Canada, Taiwan and the United States become finalists for Intelligent Community of the Year to be named at the ICF Global Summit in November in Barcelona

(New York, NY, USA & New Taipei City, Taiwan – June 19, 2024) – In an announcement today at the end of a live conference in New Taipei City, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) named the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2024. The 22nd annual Top7 list includes cities and counties from Brazil, Canada, Taiwan and the United States. One of these seven finalists in the think tank’s annual awards program will be named the Intelligent Community of the Year at the ICF Summit in November. (www.icfsummit.com)

In alphabetical order, the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2024 are:

• Assaí, Paraná, Brazil
• Coral Gables, Florida, USA
• Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
• Durham Region, Ontario, Canada
• Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Hilliard, Ohio, USA
• Yunlin County, Taiwan

Fredericton is capital of the maritime province of New Brunswick. In the Sixties and Seventies, as other sources of growth faded, public-sector employment powered its economy. Then crisis came when the Canadian government, running large deficits, pushed public costs down onto the provinces. By the 1990s, Fredericton was saddled with a government that was too large and a shrinking private sector too anemic to support it.

Local government responded with a series of plans and partnerships aiming to build a new economy based on its unique human and economic assets. They sought to tap the power of the city’s universities, the region’s telecom firms, real estate developers, a public utility and small group of software investors. The city and a university developed a Knowledge Park innovation district and new courses of study that engaged students in local companies and entrepreneurship. In the 10 years from 2010 to 2020, this city of 65,000 people created 12,000 new jobs, 75% of them in technology, and developed the largest engineering cluster in North America.

Learn more

Learn from Fredericton and 21 other communities in Accelerate Your Economic Development, a discount bundle of courses in the Community Accelerator online training program. Fredericton is profiled in the course on Innovation: Building an Ecosystem for Growth. Produced in partnership with Economic Development Australia and the Economic Developers Association of Canada.

How did Fredericton do it? ICF tells the story in an online profile - one of hundreds on our site that take you inside technology-centric development of communities that builds inclusive prosperity, strengthens societies and enriches local culture. 
 

Communities accelerate by starting an Intelligent Community Journey. Each is different, but all follow similar paths. Start yours.
 
 

(March 28, 2023 – New York City, NY, USA) – Two award-winning cities in North America and Asia have received the first Intelligent Community Certifications issued by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), identifying them as investment-ready and prepared to prosper economically, socially and culturally amid the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. Meeting ICF’s Certification standard provides objective validation that a community has high-quality connectivity, effective workforce development, a business innovation ecosystem and meaningful community engagement, digital inclusion and sustainability programs in place. These qualities combine to support the growth of innovative businesses, meet their talent needs and provide a high quality of life.

Can global “No-Name” cities act as some of the world's best models as smart and Intelligent communities? You bet! Look at the current list of the SMART21 cities and the TOP7 Intelligent Communities this year to get a clue.

Among the world’s smartest examples include cities you may never have heard of before such as Whanganui, New Zealand; Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Elefsina, Attica, Greece; and Markham, Ontario, Canada. Each one of these cities offers initiatives, programs and governance examples that exhibit best practices that communities around the world can learn from or be inspired to emulate. From the 2022 ICF Smart21 list, you probably have only heard of four cities before: Adelaide, Belfast, Philadelphia, and Rochester. Some of you may have heard of two or three more on that list. But I bet most of you have never heard of the rest. But you should. They may have solutions, ideas and pathways leading to your next innovation staring you in the face.

Ignite, along with the City of Fredericton are pleased to announce that Fredericton has been named one of the world’s Top7 Intelligent Communities by the Intelligent Communities Forum (ICF). New Brunswick’s Capital City joins the Regional Municipality of Durham in Ontario as the only other municipality in Canada to make the list, which includes cities and counties from Australia, Brazil, Taiwan and Vietnam, as announced on June 21, 2002. In alphabetical order, the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2021 are:

Communities from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Taiwan and Vietnam become finalists for Intelligent Community of the Year to be named at the ICF Summit in October

(New York, USA & Binh Duong, Vietnam – June 21, 2022) – In an announcement today at the conclusion of a hybrid live and online conference, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) named the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2022. The 20th annual Top7 list includes cities and counties from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Taiwan and Vietnam. One of these seven finalists in the think tank’s annual awards program will be named the Intelligent Community of the Year at the ICF Summit in October. (www.icfsummit.com)